Of all the public history and museum theory texts I have read the one I find most valuable, and the one I continue to take inspiration from is Freeman Tilden’s Interpreting Our Heritage (2008).
Tilden first published this book in the late 1950s after decades of work in the National Park Service. I first encountered an updated edition of the book released in 2008 while taking a public history course in undergrad, and I instantly recognized its benefit to the public history field.
Offering up his six principles of interpretation, Tilden argues that visitors will come to appreciate, value, and ultimately, wish to protect our nation’s history if those working in the public history field invest in bettering their interpretation skills. Specifically, history workers must learn to connect with the public in ways that resonate with them personally. Like Tilden notes, “the visitor is unlikely to respond unless what you have to tell, or to show, touches his personal experience, thoughts, hopes, way of life, social position, or whatever else.”
Each of the principles (you can read them here) combine to help answer the “why” question. Why should I care about this? Why/how is it relevant to my life? Just as historians have to answer the “so what/why does this matter question” in their monographs, museums have to explain why they matter, what their purpose is, and most importantly, why the public should care about the museum.
I am interested in how we can use some of Tilden’s interpretation methods at the Truman Library to answer the “why/so what” question. How well does the Truman Library, through interpretation (both personal and in our exhibits), connect to visitors and ultimately justify its existence and value to the public?
It’s All About You
Tilden’s most prominent point throughout his individual principles consists of making whatever topic matter by connecting to visitors in profound and personal ways. This might mean that a museum docent asks questions like, “what do you know about Truman” and at the end of the tour, “what about Truman’s life or presidency resonates with you the most.” These kinds of questions put the individual at the center of the question for it is their opinion that matters.
Yet Tilden suggests that interpretation need not always be face-to-face. He explains that an object “label can project itself into the personality of the visitor to the exhibit, and make him [or her] feel a direct connection with what he [or she] sees.” Tilden specifically notes labels that say things like “this happened where you are standing now.” At the Truman Library, it might read, “Truman led school tours through this very hall you are walking in,” or “Truman signed the Medicare Act in the very room you are standing in now.” The point here being, labels and face-to-face interpretation must focus on you.
The Truman Library could certainly benefit from using these strategies to connect with visitors (in our labels particularly), especially as the generations become further removed from Truman’s presidency. Establishing a personal connection between the visitor and the object, between the visitor and the narrative is key to helping explain why the museum exists and why it matters.
Lasting Legacy
Now that we have established a connection between you and Truman we can make the case for our relevance.
At the beginning and end of history monographs, the historian discusses the main argument. The conclusion, however, serves as the place to revisit that argument and make the final justification for why this subject matters. Often times, historians draw connections from the topic to current events in an attempt to demonstrate the importance and validity of the work. Museums are no different in that sense. While they may not necessarily have a textbook introduction with main points and a nice concluding paragraph, the goal is to introduce visitors to a topic and leave them with something valuable at the end.
With that in mind, it seems to me that one of the most important exhibits in any museum is the last one visitors will see. It should be a space where museum staff sum up the main points and answer the “why/so what” question.
Tilden writes, “not the least of the fruits of adequate interpretation is the certainty that it leads directly toward the very preservation of the treasure itself.” At the end of a successful museum tour, the visitor will hopefully leave with a personal connection to the stories, objects, or even a small detail he or she discovered. Good interpretation that connects with visitors helps justify the physical existence of a museum, but it goes beyond even that concept.
The conclusion of the exhibit or the final exhibit space is a chance for the museum to remind visitors why the topic(s) itself matters. For us, its why Truman and presidential libraries matter. With government funding for the humanities always in question, we should never be content to simply tell Truman’s story and finish with a “thank you, we hope you enjoyed your visit.” Instead, we should conclude with “and this is why the museum and Truman matters,” which if done properly, should garner the support of our visitors like Tilden suggests.
At the end of the current Truman Library tour, visitors can visit the “Living Legacy” gallery and watch a brief video entitled “Who’s Quoting Truman?” It’s an amalgamation of various significant political figures noting Truman’s successes and leadership qualities. Its effective to an extent, but it does not tell visitors why all of this matters. I would also doubt if visitors leave the space with a personal connection to Truman.
With the upcoming renovation, one of the main goals is to revitalize our now inconsequential “living legacy” hall with its TV monitor and paper print-outs referencing Truman’s relevance in the early 2000s.
The new legacy gallery will include a large wall with the words “Truman Connections: How Truman’s Decisions Affect Us Today.” Here, we are answering that “why/so what” question. Truman’s presidency matters right now because he did A, B, C, and D.
Yet I think we can take this a step further. Using Tilden’s recommendation to connect with the visitors “chief interest,” that is, “whatever touches his [or her] personality, experiences, and ideals,” we can truly answer the “why this matters” question.
One of my favorite 2D artifacts in our collection is a political cartoon which portrays Truman ascending a stairway into heaven with each step denoting a major decision/accomplishment from his presidency. I think this would be the perfect “conclusion paragraph” to our exhibit because it sums up some of the main points. Furthermore, I think we could enlarge the cartoon on this “living legacy” wall and then explore those decisions. One of the steps says “United Nations Founding.” Right now, the Truman Library does not explore this topic further, but what if we played a video showing some of the UN’s current/recent humanitarian work (and all because Truman started the organization). Flashing forward into the future establishes the relevancy of Truman’s decision and reminds visitors why it matters today. Perhaps not every visitor will find interest in humanitarian relief, but most visitors, I believe, will see the benefit of helping foreign nations and it will touch on their good nature creating that personal connection.
Already the wall will cover other important topics such as Civil Rights, Medicare, Social Security, Foreign Relations, and more. I think each of those topics is a chance for us to connect with visitors — “We as Americans have the benefit of medical care for aging citizens and retirement funds” because Truman made these decisions” (something to that affect). Perhaps elderly visitors who use Medicare or collect Social Security benefits may feel a sense of gratitude towards Truman and leave with a sense of why this matters. The point is, we have to do duty to try and answer that question and connect with visitors as best we can.
Whatever exhibits we create, whatever stories we tell, while the Truman Library dedicates itself to the legacy of 33rd President, it should also dedicate itself to you.
Practicing Public History at a Presidential Library 