1st Newspaper Article

Published in The Lander Journal newspaper Sunday 3/22/09:

Museum personnel sparring over artifacts

* The debate over the artifacts, however, has soured the relationship between representatives of the two museums that often are regarded as one by the community at large.

By James Wynn
Staff Writer

Photo caption: An artifact formerly housed in the Museum of the American West sat in a trailer last week.


With both the Fremont County Pioneer Museum and the Museum of the American West spring openings just a few weeks away, artifacts that belong to the Pioneer Museum but housed in MAW buildings have created friction between the two organizations.

On Monday, March 16, members of the Pioneer Museum board along with director Carol Thieese were taking Pioneer Museum-owned items out of MAW buildings for inventory. The problem arose because MAW members were afraid these items still would be in storage when it came time to open.

Both museums have an opening date of May 16.

The Pioneer Museum's items were removed from the MAW buildings in order to photograph and inventory them. During the removal, however, MAW board chairman produced a copy of a previously completed inventory, with photographs, to show the removal of the items was not necessary.

Thiesse claimed the inventory wasn't complete. In a flurry of emails back and forth between individuals from the two organizations, Pioneer Museum officials relented and allowed the items to remain on display in the livery stable. Items removed from the Episcopal Church and other buildings will be returned when the MAW board signs a document concerning how loans between the two museums will be carried out.

According to a document received by the Lander Journal, no artifact loan agreement previously existed between the Fremont County Pioneer Museum and the Museum of the American West. Since the county museums board meeting on March 12, members revised their Fremont County Pioneer loan policy. In the report to the MAW, museums board member outlined the new policy. Those policies include specific artifact loan date periods, specifying that a broowing institution is responsible for artifact care and security, and loaning only catalogued artifacts. The debate over the artifacts, however, has soured the relationship between representatives of the two museums that often are regarded as one by the community at large.

Butch Tonkin, Pioneer Museum board member, declined to comment on the situation, stating only that this was a non-issue.

In one e-mail, sent to members of both boards, Fremont County Pioneer Museum board member Bob Wood called the situation a fiasco.

History
The original Pioneer Museum on Lincoln Street closed in 1998 after years of deffered maintenance, shifting foundations, leaking roofs and an unsuccessful attempt to obtain approval for a capital facilities tax.

The interest in having a pioneer museum never faded too far from the minds of the public, and an ad hoc committee began meeting to find solutions. That committee formed is now the Museum of the American West. THe idea of rebuilding a Pioneer Museum began shortly after the turn of the century when citizens petitioned the Fremont County Commission for a county-sponsored operation. Those efforts were not in vain, and the new Pioneer Museum was born.

Funding for the building itself came from both the county and the state.

The museum's plans involved a 19,200 square foot building with exhibit and research space as well as room for storage and educational programs on the first floor and additional exhibit space on the mezzanine level. Construction began on the new museum two years ago.

The speed and efficiency with which the new building was constructed made commission chairman Doug Thompson praise the museum board's efforts when emmbers appeared before the commissioners to give them an update. Calls to Thompson about the current situation were not returned by press time.

MAW donated a portion of the land on which the building was constructed.

The opening of the museum hit a snag, however, when former director Heather Pozun-Watson was let go. As a result of that decision, curator Elyssa Dillon also sent her resignation to the board.

MAW executive director Jim Corbett believes there has been discord between the two museums ever since.

"We owe our problems to lack of communication and personalities," Corbett said. "Everyone I work with is interested in a seamless operation. We have always seen it that way."

Corbett said the MAW leases its buildings to the county, where excess items not currently on display in the Pioneer Museum could be placed on display in MAW buildings instead of being placed in storage.

"That is where these items have been the last three years," Corbett said. "We understand that this is their property, we just don't understand why it is being done."

Corbett stated that it is not the removal of the items that was the problem, but the lack of communication between the two museums.

MAW board member Tom Bell is concerned the new loan agreements came after MAW announced it would conduct an opening on the same day as the Pioneer Museum.

Corbett stated that the MAW still will open on May 16 regardless if the buildings are open or not.

Questions asked to Thiesse about MAW board member claims were referred to museum board spokesperson Tom Duncan. Calls to Duncan were not returned as of press time.

Thiesse did state that the museum would be open and ready on May 16.

"We are working hare to make sure we have a good museum for Lander," she said.

Corbett, however, claims the good relationship between the two museums has become strained.

"There seems to be almost a hostility toward us from the Pioneer Museum," Corbett said. "I am ver sadd about what is happening out there. That property was bought and paid for by (MAW) and given to the county for a progressive relevant county museum for everyone. We had hoped the two museums would compliment each other."

Tonkin said the MAW may have the items taken out of the buildings back as soon as the new loan agreements are signed. But Corbett is concerened that the damage is already done.

"Because of the hard feelings this has created, I would imagine it would be hard for the two museums to work well together in the future," Corbett said. "This goes against what these two museums are supposed to do. The last thing our community needs is to have two organizations at the end of Main Street bickering. When we argue and fight like this, its pretty damn bad."