Words by Jess McManness
I’d like to share with you some thoughts and reflections on my time spent volunteering in collections management at Maryhill Burgh Halls. A bit of background for you—I’m a current postgrad student (soon to be graduate) at University of Glasgow in the field of Museum Studies. As a part of our course load, each student selected a work placement with the goal of gaining practical, hands-on museum experience, and I already had an idea of where I wanted to go. MBHT’s heritage manager, Nicola McHendry, had spoken on a panel for one of my first classes at UofG. Through this dialogue, I came to know Maryhill as a small, but feisty museum with a strong voice and a deep commitment to its community. I wanted to work in an environment that had those close community ties. My placement choice was clear, and I went into Maryhill Museum collections management with another student volunteer, Rachel, who became my project partner and a wonderful friend.
Rachel (left) and Jess (right) in Kelvingrove Park
My first day volunteering for Maryhill Museum was a bit nerve-wracking, but almost immediately I came to understand that Maryhill is a family—one that is warm, welcoming, a bit rowdy, and intensely supportive. Days working for Maryhill Museum were filled with explorations of collection storage, diving through stories of the past, sharing discoveries with others in the office, laughing at the antics of the other volunteers, and frequent trips downstairs to the café for heaping cups of hot mint tea.
Rachel and I’s foremost job was the cataloguing of the Maryhill Museum collections. The end product of this was a collections database populated by artefact profiles. Each profile includes photographs, biographical info, and research pertaining to individual artefacts from the museum collection. My favorite discoveries in the Maryhill Museum collections gave the past new voice and color. Transcribing the backs of postcards offered insight to the everyday stories the past is built on.
Many messages were quick life updates such as the 1906 postcard, Girl’s Industrial School, Maryhill (2010.11) which reads: “Dear Cousin Helen, Mother still pretty weak, not out yet. We got back all right, for which thank you very much. The frocks are very nice. Baby has been ill and the Dr is still coming to see him. I will write a letter soon. Hope you are well.” What has both mother and child ill? What were common diseases of 1906? How much would a home visit from the doctor set you back? The questions raised through an examination of this postcard present avenues of inquiry into local Maryhill life, as well as an opportunity to hear the voice of a local Maryhill woman.
The collections at MBH are held in trust for the Maryhill community. Always remember that they belong to you. One of the most exciting parts of this project is that the beginning of our collections database is now accessible to the Maryhill community, local and extended. You can explore the Maryhill Museum collections for yourself here. There is so much more left to be done within our collections and so many stories yet to be told. Hundreds of artefacts are still shelved in storage, waiting to enter the system.
Research on a Maryhill railway ticket in its wider context
As a museum volunteer, there is always more work to be done. Working at a small, largely volunteer-driven museum, you have a lot of opportunity to expand yourself into other areas of interest, because there’s always a need for more helping hands and ideas. MBH volunteers really run the gamut of day to day tasks and fill many roles, including collections care, research, tours, talks, fundraising, and social media. Though I was working primarily as a collections manager, I also had the opportunity to curate a display case for the entrance hall, hang exhibits, and attend the annual board of trustees meeting. Little opportunities would pop up all the time and really allowed Rachel and I to grow and expand our skill set. As both of us look to take further steps into the heritage sector, volunteering at MBH provided us with necessary skills and experience which have already proven invaluable.
“I came to know Maryhill as a small, but feisty museum with a strong voice and a deep commitment to its community. ”
Jess hanging an exhibit in the Halls.
Though I must now end my time at Maryhill, its vibrancy, stories, and people continue to be in my thoughts. And that’s what a museum should do, isn’t it? It should stay with you, even as you leave.
Thank you, Maryhill Museum!
If you would like to get involved with Maryhill Museum please email heritage@mbht.org.uk