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Letters
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"Archaeology Sunk at Seaport Museum"
July 29, 2004
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Note: ARCHAEOLOGY has obtained a copy of the museum's response to the following letters and has requested permission to post it from Paula Mayo, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum.
June 28, 2004
Ms. Paula Mayo, Executive Director
The South Street Seaport Museum
207 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
Dear Ms. Mayo:
Much to my distress I have just heard that Diane Dallal's position as
Curator of Archaeology and Director of New York Unearthed has been
eliminated. I do not know whether you are aware that the Seaport
Museum is the only repository for archaeological collections in New
York. Its loss has catastrophic implications for the preservation of
the city's archaeological heritage as well as for the invaluable
educational resource it provides for both New York City's school
children and for scholars from all over the world. In a personal way
I am concerned for the welfare of the 18 artifacts that are all that
remains of the Five Points collection. The rest of the collection,
which ultimately would have resided at the South Street Seaport
Museum under Diane's care, was lost in No. 6 World Trade Center on
September 11th.
I sincerely hope some way can be found to avoid eliminating the
Seaport Museum's function as caretaker of this important part of New
York City's legacy. It is irreplaceable and as Annemarie Cantwell and
Diana Wall show so eloquently in their book, Unearthing Gotham,
archaeology adds information to the history of New York that is
otherwise unavailable. Tangible remains are all we have and we need
to take their care very seriously. Please reconsider the decision to
eliminate the position of Curator of Archaeology and Director of New
York Unearthed. We need to know Diane is there watching over the
precious remains of our shared past.
Sincerely yours,
Rebecca Yamin, Ph.D.
Principal Archeologist/Senior Project Manager
Director, Five Points Project
June 30, 2004
Ms. Paula Mayo, Executive Director
The South Street Seaport Museum
207 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
Dear Paula:
I am writing as the archaeologist who was the South Street Seaport
Museum's original Curator of Archaeology. As you know, I set up the
museum's procedures and policies as to its archaeological collections
over a dozen years ago and also worked on the creation of New York
Unearthed, the museum's extraordinarily successful archaeological
program. Today, I often use the museum's archaeological collections
in my own research and I have also used (and credited the museum for)
photographs of artifacts in the collections in many of my
publications (including, with Anne-Marie Cantwell, Unearthing Gotham:
The Archaeology of New York City, 2001, Yale University Press). Until
now, the museum has been the leader in the nation in acquiring and
maintaining the archaeological collections from a modern city, making
them available to researchers, and incorporating the artifacts from
them into exhibits. Each of its collections is unique and
irreplaceable. Taken together, they provide tangible evidence of the
city's history from the 17th through the 19th centuries.
I was extremely concerned to hear about the recent lay-offs at the
museum. Aside from the enormous human cost, I am particularly
concerned about the archaeological collections. Of course I care
about my own professional needs - that the collections continue to be
available to researchers like me. In fact, I understand that a
researcher from the Netherlands is arriving soon to study the
collections. But my primary concern is related to the conservation
needs of the collections, needs which Diane Dallal, as the Curator of
Archaeology, has been attending to for over a dozen years.
Archaeological artifacts are much more physically unstable than
objects in other collections. Each of these artifacts has spent most
of its existence (usually centuries for those in the museum's
collections) in a particular underground environment, and it adapted
to that environment. After the artifacts were excavated, they entered
into a new environment, and many of them need continuous monitoring
and conservation treatment to ensure that they adapt to that new environment.
If they and their storage facility are not monitored, and the
artifacts are not treated as necessary, the very physical existence
of the artifacts is threatened. That is one of the
most important, though less glamorous, tasks that Diane Dallal has
performed so well for the dozen years that she has worked at the
museum. The museum cannot afford to put the conservation needs of the
archaeological collections on the back burner and assume that they
can make up for neglect when they get the money to hire a new
archaeological curator. Without that kind of continuous oversight by
an archaeologist trained as a conservator who understands the
physical needs of the artifacts, parts of the museum's archaeological
collections could literally self-destruct.
When the museum acquired these collections, they took on a
responsibility to maintain them and to make them available to
researchers. Now, in my opinion, they are abrogating their
responsibility. I know the museum has had to make some tough choices
recently. But I strongly urge that the decision to lay off the
Curator of Archaeology be reconsidered. It would be a terrific loss
to the city's heritage if the museum allowed their archaeological
collections to be destroyed.
Sincerely yours,
Diana diZerega Wall
Professor
June 30, 2004
Ms. Paula Mayo, Executive Director
The South Street Seaport Museum
207 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
Dear Ms. Mayo:
On behalf of Professional Archaeologists of New York City, I would
like to express both our regret and outrage over the dismissal of Ms.
Diane Dallal, Curator of Archaeology at South Street Seaport and
Director of New York Unearthed. We are also dismayed with regard to
the expectant closure of New York Unearthed at South Street Seaport,
a significant repository of archaeological collections.
New York Unearthed was born out of the City laws to protect and
preserve our historical and cultural past. Over the years it has not
only been a repository of some of the most important archaeological
collections in New York City, but it became the center for
archaeological research. Researchers from all over the world have
come to South Street Seaport and New York Unearthed to delve into New
York City's past. Ms. Dallal has served in her position as Curator
for over a decade. Her work has earned her the respect and admiration
of all who have had contact with her and she has brought great
respect and prestige to New York Unearthed and South Street Seaport.
As of now, she will no longer be able to continue these important
tasks. Her dismissal and the expected closure of New York Unearthed
will sadly tarnish all that she has worked for.
As professional archaeologists, part of our responsibility is to
preserve the records of what we do. Excavation, by nature, involves
the destruction of archaeological sites. That is why repositories
like South Street Seaport are vital. Without being able to store,
use, and learn from the artifacts of our past, we lose this vital
information.
It is our fear that without Ms. Dallal expertly running and
maintaining South Street Seaport's repository of artifacts and
associated documentary information that the collections will now
become off limits to researchers and eventually be lost forever.
We understand that South Street Seaport's main focus is the maritime
history of The City of New York, but that history has been uncovered,
in part, through archaeology. To eliminate the archaeological
component is to take away an integral part of the history of South
Street Seaport.
New York Unearthed, as the sole archaeological museum in New York
City, has attracted thousands of students and visitors each year. The
museum provides a place for all to go to learn about New York's
archaeological and historical past. Now, we fear this museum, created
out of the need to protect the past, will be gone forever. No longer
will the multitude of school children be able to "walk" back in time
to learn about how we came to this place called New York.
Without an archaeological curator the priceless collections that
reside at South Street Seaport will no longer be cared for and
available as vital research tools. Although some of these collections
are over two decades old, new information is constantly being
generated. Much of this is due in part to Ms. Dallal's tireless
efforts on behalf of the South Street Seaport Museum, making the
collections accessible.
The archaeological collections have been part of many of the exhibits
and programs at South Street Seaport. This too will no longer occur
without the proper care and conservation given by Ms. Dallal during
her tenure. There is no question that the South Street Seaport is
loosing more than it is gaining by eliminating the archaeological
curator position, New York Unearthed, and access to the collections.
We ask that you and the Board of Trustees of South Street Seaport
reconsider the elimination of archaeology from the Museum. If you
feel your decision is irreversible, we would appreciate clarification
on what is to become of the archaeological collections and if there
are plans to allow researchers to continue to have full access to
them.
We look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Christopher Ricciardi, President 2004/2005
Professional Archaeologists of New York City
July 6, 2004
Paula Mayo Executive Director
South St. Seaport Museum
207 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
Dear Ms. Mayo:
It has come to my attention that the South Street Seaport Museum has
recently eliminated Diane Dallal's position as curator and caretaker
of New York archaeological collections, and the existence of the NY
Unearthed Museum is in danger.
This museum serves not only as a repository for some of the most
important historical archaeological collections of its kind, but as
an educational institution it is invaluable. As a former intern of NY
Unearthed, I was taught priceless skills in conservation and artifact
analysis not available in a classroom; I created and conducted
educational classes on archaeology, gained museum experience with
exhibits, wrote scholarly papers for academic purposes, but most
importantly gained an even higher appreciation and respect for the
preservation of these amazing resources. All under the remarkable
supervision of Diane Dallal. I can honestly say I would not have
acquired the proficiency in conservation and analysis that I now have
without the guidance from Diane and the resources available from the
collections at NY Unearthed. To think that future students and
scholars will not be given this opportunity is not only heartbreaking
to me, but simply, an irresponsible decision for a public educational
institution such as the South St. Seaport Museum.
These collections reflect the city's remarkable past through material
culture, and they provide an intangible heritage to the people of
this city and nation. They provide resources for archaeologists and
historians as well as offering educational experience through
exhibits and workshops to local school groups and tourists. What will
become of these collections? How will they be accessed for scholarly
use? How will they be cared for and maintained? What will happen to
the NY Unearthed facility and the exhibits, Where will the school
groups go to experience New York's past through the exhibits at the
unique museum NY Unearthed?
While I understand that financial constraints are significant at this
time, I write to you to urge you to find a way to retain Diane
Dallal's position as curator. For further advancement on the
understanding of New York's history, scholars and students must use
these collections and the valuable information they hold. In
addition, the public must have access to them through your exhibits
and public activities to answer their own curiosities about this
city's past as well as experience them for their own enjoyment. You
must find a way to keep these great collections alive and the
position of curator to oversee them intact, for without a respect for
the past how can we look forward to the future?
Sincerely,
Kelly M. Britt
Ph.D candidate in anthropology, Columbia University
NYAS, Met Chapter Secretary, RPA
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© 2004 by the Archaeological Institute of America archive.archaeology.org/online/features/seaport/letters.html |