“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
~Ernest Hemingway
Wasn't it just yesterday that it was warm and sunny and we were first introduced to the May Weber Collection? The bare trees and biting cold wind tell me that those days are long gone. And in that seemingly short span of time, more than the weather has changed. Although it's hard to believe, it's already the end of the semester and nearing the end of my last week in the May Weber Collection. This week we're tying up any loose ends and finishing up researching our artifacts. And then we're done.
Over the past few months a lot has changed in the collection, especially if you count the summer months. When I first arrived in the collection, it was a "cardboard jungle" of boxes, and by the start of the semester it was organized and ready for class. Now, at the end of the semester, it's nice to see how all of our work has paid off. There are still plenty of cardboard boxes, but we're making progress with accessioning the artifacts inside them. Last time I looked at the records, it showed that we had accessioned over 250 artifacts. (round of applause for us) Eventually, all of those artifacts will also need proper mounts, but that can be saved for when we have more storage space. There is still a lot of work to do, but we've given future interns a good start. It's their job now to continue that work.
As I mentioned in my very first post, it is a very unique opportunity to be part of the formation of a new collection. Now, at the end of the semester, I have a better understanding of the importance of our situation. My fellow interns and I have put our fingerprints on the very foundation of the May Weber Collection (hopefully more metaphorically than literally...). We've set the standards for others who work here in the future, and I think we've set the bar pretty high. Without our commitment to the collection, many more improvements would be necessary. In short, we made a pretty darn good team of interns. (So good, in fact, that we're getting t-shirts.) It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to give a collection such a promising beginning with a group of intelligent, dedicated (and hilarious) individuals.
Two things that I learned while working in the May Weber Collection (besides the obvious) that I will certainly take with me are creativity and flexibility. If you've been keeping up with my posts this semester, then you will have noticed that each week brought its own new challenge. There was manual labor, mold, artifacts that were difficult to be photographed, building storage mounts with box cutters and hot glue, and uncertain research. Each of these experiences forced me to think differently than I was used to in order to find solutions with limited resources. Think of it as learning some sort of museum survival skills, although it may not be as exciting as learning jungle survival skills. But then again, haven't I been working in the Cardboard Jungle?
Now that I have just about reached the end of my internship, I would like to say thank you:
To Loyola's Anthropology Department and History Department, thank you so much for making this incredible semester with the May Weber Collection possible. It has been an experience worth more than any grade or paperwork can show.
To my fellow interns (if any of you are reading this), thank you for a great semester!! All those hours each week in the collection would not have been nearly as exciting without you and your punny and fantastic sense of humor.
To Dr. Nichols, who had to teach us and put up with us (and all of our wonderful puns), THANK YOU for all of your guidance and general awesomeness!! It wouldn't have been the same without you.
To all of you readers, especially those of you who have been reading my posts regularly, thank you. It's gratifying to know that what you're writing (even if it's required) is being read and enjoyed by others.
So for the last time (Or is it??), thanks for reading!!!!
