Museum Advisory Board Report

The Museum has been a very busy and lively place this spring and early summer. We started with the Art Exhibit from May 9-23. We had 32 artists exhibiting and 125 art pieces. Our artists came from Howell, Pinckney, Chelsea, Dexter, Ann Arbor, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Belleville and Ypsilanti. We were very proud to have such a large area participating. We added photography this year. This is the largest art exhibit we have had with a wonderful group of advisory board members, docents and artists helping. In the meantime, the Lost Ypsilanti Committee of Bob Southgate, Jack Livisay and Virginia Davis Brown are preparing for this exhibit to open on July 18. It will run through September 5. Their research topic this year has been Willow Run during World War II. It will concentrate on the effects Willow Run and World War II had on the community and the changes brought about in the Ypsilanti area. It should be very interesting so be sure to see it. Currently on view is the Robert Southgate, Sr. photography exhibit. Mr. Southgate started his photography business after returning from World War II. We have his equipment, photographs of his family, and his other works. Also on display are many cameras from our own collection which take you through the history and advancement of photography. Also on display at this time are Hummel plates and a silver service donated to the Museum by Maxe and Terri Obermeyer. In the former meeting room (now music room) the Barnhill Band and Ypsilanti High School Drum and Bugle Corps are featured. Dr. Barnhill’s clarinets are displayed. Also in the case are stringed instruments. All of the above have been restored by Robert Campbell. Jerry Jennings has installed lighting in the case so the items are more visible. You must see these along with the brass horns and other items. In other areas, the bedroom now has a lovely antique chandelier, a gift from Kathryn Howard. Most of our museum rooms are now lighted by chandeliers. In the Milleman Parlor we have a beautiful antique mirror given by Andrea Schollaeat. We have just received on permanent loan from the Eastern Michigan University Archives 132 eighteenth and nineteenth century artifacts from the Florence S. Babbitt Collection. This collection will be a wonderful addition to our displays as some of the items date back to 1791. The Underground Railroad tours are now available. Call the Museum office at 734-482-4990 if you would like to schedule one. Also, 2011 calendars will be on sale during the Heritage Festival in August. We are in need of docents during the Heritage Festival from August 20-22. Our hours are from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Quilt Show will be our next main event and is scheduled from September 26 to October 17. Be sure to visit the Museum this summer to see all the changes being made to the displays. (Kathryn Howard is the Vice Chairperson of the YHS Museum Advisory Board.) Photo Captions: Photo 1: The Robert Southgate, Sr. photography exhibit is currently on display in the Museum. Mr. Southgate started his photography business in Ypsilanti after returning from World War II.