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I think people get a lot more out of an exhibition
when it is organized by themes, rather than
chronologically.  It is much easier to draw parallels
and highlight differences thematically than in a
timeline format.  I always think of timelines as the
"old school" approach to exhibitions.

There are lots of ways to organize subject matter,
even with a general theme, like changes in Chicago.  I
published a book last year on the history of Canton,
and there was a set format dictated by the publisher
that was chronological.  I did what they wanted, and
it was fine.  But I developed a series of slide
lectures based on my book that I give out in the
community which are theme based.  They are:  Business
& Industry, Leisure & Recreation, Canton During
Wartime, The Victorian Age, Aviation, Little Chicago
(we had some serious mob acitivity in the 1920s), The
McKinley Years, and the History of Canton (that one IS
chronological).

I'm sure there are lots of ways you can talk about a
city, state, region, etc. without a timeline.

Sounds like fun!  (and I mean that, because history is
my passion...)

Kim Kenney

--- nicolai kux <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums
> and related institutions.
>
*****************************************************************************
>
> Hi,
> I'm wondering has thoughts about history exhibits
> about countries, states, cities, or regions that
> manage to avoid the use of timelines as the
> organizing principle?  It's much easier to avoid
> timelines when exhibiting concrete or very
> well-known topics (e.g., automobiles, Abe Lincoln,
> ect..). But it's much harder to avoid the timeline
> approach for more abstract topics like changes to
> Chicago or the U.S. over time. Any and all ideas
> welcome!
>
> Nicolai
>
> .
>
>
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=====
Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator
Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW
Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043
Visit the Ohio Memory Project at http://www.ohiomemory.org
"Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war."  --25th United States President William McKinley






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