Eastern State Penitentiary: Diane on watch tower

Winston Churchill Fellowship Report

Fellowship Topic

“To study the formulation, structure and implementation of public, education and interpretation programs in prison, police

and magisterial sites in the USA, UK, Ireland and Finland.”

by

Diane Gardiner

Manager Education and Public Programs Old Melbourne Gaol

National Trust of Australia (Vic) 4 Parliament Place

Melbourne Vic 3001 Phone (03) 9656 9800

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Index 1 Prison, Police and other sites visited in the

USA, Ireland, UK, Norway, Russia and Germany

2 Introduction 3 USA Prison Museums

• Eastern State Penitentiary • Alcatraz Prison

4 Irish Prison Museums

• Kilmainham Prison • Cork Prison • Wicklow Prison

5 UK Prison Museums

• Inveraray Jail, Scotland • The Galleries of Justice, Nottingham • Tower of London • Madam Tussauds • The Clink • The London Dungeon

6 Finish Prison Museums

• National Prison Museum, Hameenlinna

• Hame Castle 7 Police Museums in the USA, UK, and Germany

• NYCP Museum, New York • FBI Museum, Washington • HM Prison Service Museum,

Newbold Revel • The Black Museum New Scotland

Yard, London • The Medieval Crime Museum

(Kriminalmuseum) Rothenburg

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8 Theatre in Museums • Boston Science Museum • Ellis Island, New York • Lower East Side Tenement Museum,

New York • Mt. Vernon, Washington • The Museum of the Moving Image,

London 9 Phrenology in Museums

• V&A Museum, London • Hunterian Museum, Glasgow • New York Historical Society

Museum • The London Science Museum • The Black Museum New Scotland

Yard 10 Sites that interpret the poor

• Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York

• The Tenement Museum, Glasgow • The Workhouse, Southwell, UK • Ellis Island, NY • Cobh The Queenstown Story, Cork

11 Other Museums

• The Norwegian Canning Museum, Stavanger

• Arktikum Museum, Finland • The Jewish Museum, New York • The Holocaust Memorial Museum,

Washington 12 Conclusion 13 Acknowledgements

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Prison, Police & other sites visited

USA: Alcatraz Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia The New York City Police Museum. The Jewish Museum, NY The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, NY Ellis Island, NY FBI Museum, Washington Holocaust Museum, Washington (Other sites -Museum of the American Indian, NY, South Street Seaport Museum NY, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, NY, The J. Paul Getty Museum, LA, The Hammond, LA, Monterey Aquarium, California, Exploratorium, San Francisco, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Salem, Boston Heritage Trail, The Smithsonian, Washington, MT Vernon, Washington.) Ireland: Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Wicklow’s Historic Gaol Cork Prison (Other sites -Trinity College, Dublin, The Castle, Dublin, Longcrew & Knowth, Kells, Ring of Kerry, Cobh The Queenstown Story, Mountjoy Prison) UK: Inveraray Jail, Scotland Tenement Museum, Glasgow Hunterian Museum, Glasgow The London Science Museum The Black Museum, New Scotland Yard, London The Clink, London The Tower of London Madame Tussauds Museum of the Moving Image, London The Galleries of Justice, Nottingham HM Prison Service Museum, Newbold Revel The Workhouse, Southwell The London Dungeon (Other sites-The Robin Hood Centre, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Sloane House, London, The British Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Oxford, Reading Prison) Finland: Hameenlinna Prison, Hameenlinna

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Arktikum Museum Hame Castle (Other sites-Sibelius House, Helsinki Museum, Art Gallery, Helsinki, Street Museum, Helsinki, Somelinna, Helsinki, National Museum and Art Gallery) Norway: The Norwegian Canning Museum (Other sites- The Viking Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Oil Museum, the Archaeology Museum, Historic Houses) Russia: St Peter & Paul Prison (Other sites-Peterhoff Palace, The Hermitage.) Germany: The Medieval Crime Museum (Kriminalmuseum) Rothenburg Bamberg UNESCO World Heritage Site Regensburg dungeon Deutsches Science Museum, Munich Nuremberg

Eastern State Penitentiary Seminar Delegates

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INTRODUCTION The focus of my Churchill Fellowship was to visit a number of 19th century Prison, Police and Court Museums around the world and to study their exhibition and program development.

• How these sites interpreted difficult topics such as capital punishment and murder. • The interpretation and representation of phrenology in various museums and galleries. • The use of theatrical interpretation in museums. • Establish links between the various prison museums world wide, as galleries and museums

have done, and for them to think more globally. • Another area studied was the interpretation of the poor and under privileged in society.

As prison sites have been closed down governments and local communities have pondered what to do with these large imposing buildings that are often prime real estate locations. Unfortunately these deliberations can take a considerable amount of time and the historic sites have deteriorated while waiting for a decision to be made about their future use or are bought by developers. Many small country prison sites have become local community history museums. Sometimes with large city sites the solution found was to turn the site into a prison museum that would preserve the prison and be eventually self-funding. While this is a commendable solution it usually was not carefully thought through and insufficient funding was allowed for the restoration, conservation and administration of the sites. The sites because of their very nature are usually large with extensive building complexes and were abandoned originally by government because they were too expensive to maintain as well as being an outdated facility. Private individuals who have shown vision and initiative to take on such major challenges have restored two of the prisons that I visited, Cork Prison and Inveraray Gaol. Cork in particular is a large site with a restored section and extensive ruins. Local heritage, council, and government funded bodies maintain the other sites I visited. Most of the Police and Prison Museums had an annual visitation of between sixty and one hundred thousand visitors approximately.

ESP Front gates

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USA PRISON MUSEUMS: Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia Eastern State Penitentiary, of all the prisons studied, presents the greatest challenges regarding restoration. ESP is where, in the 1830’s, the concepts began of segregation, isolation and silence for the reform and management of prisoners. The ideas established at ESP spread worldwide. Similar prisons were built not just in the UK & Ireland but also throughout Europe and in the European colonies of the 19th century from Norfolk Island to the Bahamas to Terra del Fuego. The radial style of prison was copied (as it still is today) together with the separate, silent system of punishment. ESP has a very large, extensive, complex of buildings. There is a central guard tower that overlooks the whole site. The cell blocks radiate out from it. Interspersed around the site are other large buildings (kitchen, storage, bakery etc). A massive wall with castle like battlements at the entrance surrounds the prison. ESP was left in a state of extensive ruin after it closed in the 1970s. The roof sections of most of the cellblocks are collapsing, trees grow all over the buildings and hard hats have to be worn for health and safety reasons when visiting the prison. Yet this is one of the most significant, 19th century buildings remaining in the USA. Its design was an attempt to use architecture to mould the human mind and to help in the reform process of criminals. When it was built in the 1830s it was the most expensive building construction in America. Presently the roof is being restored. After this more restoration work will be commenced on other areas as money becomes available. On the site there is a large two-storey hall presently used only for storage. If this could be restored it would provide a large multi function area that could be used for programs and hired out. ESP is meeting the myriad challenges with imagination and verve. In June they organized funding for two three day workshops to be held. They invited museum personnel from the US, UK, Ireland and myself from Australia to attend. The international people were directly involved in prison museums while the US delegates spanned a cross section of cultural institutions with considerable experience in management and the design and implementation of museum programs at their sites. The emphasis was on practical solutions and pathways for the ESP staff to take in the future. The seminars provided an opportunity for ESP to stop and examine the directions it was going in and why. The focus was on education but much of the discussion was applicable to other areas. The seminar also provided an opportunity for the participants to stop and listen to what was happening at other sites and examine their own programs and operations. The seminars provided a profile for the work and potential of prison museums to a wide cross section of people who had not previously been associated with them. It was the first time that a number of international personnel from prison sites had met together. As I had, by then, nearly completed my research I was able to inform these representatives what was happening in a number of other prisons in the UK and Ireland. It fulfilled one of my major objectives, which was to encourage prison museums to share ideas and to think outside their local region with a more international perspective. ESP has an interesting and eclectic series of programs and exhibitions.

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Exhibitions on the history of the buildings are concentrated in three locations spread throughout the site. They cover the building, inmate-made weapons, classification and mug shots, famous cases, as well as hundreds of photos, newspapers, and a 1929 silent film. While I was there they had a travelling exhibit from Alcatraz, “Prisoners of Age”: By Ron Levine and Michael Wou. Levine and Wou spent four years photographing and interviewing inmates in America’s growing geriatric prison population. It was a very thought provoking exhibition. ESP also has a number of art installations in the various cellblocks. “Evidence” by Erin Weckerle filled Cell Block Eight with a carpet of prison-issue pillows; “Evidence” encouraged a rethinking of the landscape of the prison interior. The various art pieces gave an eclectic view of prisons through the artists’ eyes. Art has always had a strong association with prisons. Often the oldest surviving relic of prisons inmates from the past is a piece of graffiti, a drawing or a signature on a cell wall. Art in the twentieth century has been used extensively in the rehabilitation of prisoners. Prison authorities have often encouraged inmates to paint murals on walls and other prison areas. ESP’s most successful public program is “Terror Behind the Walls!” This is the region’s premier attraction for Halloween with laser and special effect lighting, digital sound, sinister scents, animatronics creatures, special effects, and 3-D illusions. This event has become a signature occasion that attracts thousands to the prison (40,000 visitors in 2002). The monies earned from this huge event virtually finance the annual budget. ESP bases some programs on actual events eg. Weekend activities commemorating Inmate-Dog, “Pep” who was given a life sentence for killing the cat belonging to the governor’s wife. An “Alumni Weekend” is an informal reunion for former inmates and guards. The public is given the opportunity to meet these former inmates and guards to discuss their memories of the 173-year-old site. ESP is preparing to develop and introduce an audio guide to their large site in 2003. ESP has an excellent web site that details its various activities. They also send e-mail notification of events. ESP is a fascinating historic site to visit with its original tiny 1830’s cells where prisoners were held in total isolation. Alcatraz, San Francisco Alcatraz prison has worldwide recognition. This instant recognition and fame has come from over thirty films that have been made on the island or stories associated with the island, the most well known film being ‘The Birdman of Alcatraz’. The island has become probably one of the key attractions for visitors to San Francisco. The B&G Fleet delivers 4,000 visitors a day to the island. Most tickets are pre booked and at busy holiday times it is impossible to obtain a place on a boat. Alcatraz is actually part of the huge Golden Gate Park and is managed by the Park Rangers. The Park Rangers are responsible for the buildings and for the native flora and fauna on the island. As well as tours of the prison, visitors can do tours of the native wild life and it is not uncommon to have paths blocked off to protect breeding birds. Alcatraz has 1.3 million visitors annually. However most of the money raised from this incredible visitation goes to government. Alcatraz can retain some money for salaries and buildings. Staff have

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been dramatically cut in recent years and Antenna audio tours were introduced as a means of cutting back on staff. Twenty percent of revenue is retained for the islands needs. Publications and the shops on the wharf and in San Francisco generate revenues. The shops are very good and stock an excellent range of books. Visitors are met at the wharf by the rangers and organised into large groups. The group is given an introduction, then they progress up the hill to the cellblock where the guide leaves them. The visitors then queue for an audio guide that takes them through the inside of the cellblock. It takes about 45 minutes. After their cell tour visitors are free to wander around the site at will. Excellent maps are available on different aspects of the island- its wildlife, historic buildings etc. Visitors can return to San Francisco on any of the boats. Each evening there are night tours of Alcatraz. These vary from the day tours as behind the scene guided tours are given. Visitors can put their name on a list for a particular tour. Places are limited to 20 or 30 people for each tour behind the scenes. These special programs are very popular. The guides give an excellent forty minute tour of the kitchen, hospital, cell door opening and locking mechanism. Visitors have the opportunity to ask questions and hear about people like Al Capone and the Birdman in more depth. Parts of these behind the scenes areas are in desperate need of restoration. There is a curriculum based education program. Schools must book well in advance on the ferries and this can cause difficulties if there are no places available when they want to visit Alcatraz or if they miss the ferry. There is grant money available for schools for buses to the wharf. The ranger takes the education programs that run throughout the year. The Alumni Association for ex staff and inmates has a home day in August. They show slides of the site and discuss what it was like. They tape people and collect documents on past inmates. Alcatraz was the first of the National Parks to have a web page. The audio guide and the interpreters tell the stories of the high profile criminals such as Al Capone, escape attempts, and the hostage situation when grenades were thrown into the prison to stop the riot. Prison life, punishments, and the extraordinary length of some sentences are also described. Interpreters are given two weeks orientation. They are given books on the history of Alcatraz, about its inmates and the occupation by the Indians (1969-1971).

Visitors are encouraged to watch a half hour video about the site next to the large shop at the wharf. There is room for over one hundred people. Behind this area in the original military section are a number of small rooms with exhibitions and a video on the occupation by the Indians and its significance. Visitors could easily miss this whole interpretation area. The exhibitions are basic and lacking in depth. Considering the huge visitation and the place Alcatraz holds in the American psyche it is very disappointing. It would enhance the site if there was a more developed exhibition space. Both the natural and built environments of the site experience huge pressures from the enormous visitor numbers. Large areas of the island have restricted access as the buildings are in bad repair. It would be good if they were stabilized and visitors could explore them.

IRISH PRISON MUSEUMS: The Irish prisons, in their exhibitions, deal with the problems of the great famines and, as the population starved, how people were forced into criminal acts often in order to survive. The prison museums also displayed the stories of the various Irish Rebellions and the dire consequences for some who had participated in them. There were also details on the daily life in prison and individual

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stories of prisoners. Sometimes the prisoner stories were of well-known local or national identities with a political connection. Usually the stories chosen were to illustrate a typical crime or a poignant example of the effects on a family. Transportation and its impact on Ireland were often examined in the interpretation at the prison sites.

All the Gaols I visited were very aware of their Australian connections. Wicklow Gaol actually had life size cutouts with the names of present day Australians and their Irish connections. Wicklow has a Family History Centre Managed by Joan Kavanagh. The Centre has a very extensive set of records available for researchers. Family research is, of course, immensely popular. Prison museums worldwide are aware of this interest and try to cater to its demands. In some cases extensive records, research and databases of prisoners and their crimes are available. The prison records and transportation records required many personal details and therefore provide family researchers with a wealth of details and information to draw on.

Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Kilmainham Gaol was a large prison complex located away from the city centre. After the prison was decommissioned it was neglected and fell into disrepair. However a group of volunteers took it upon themselves to rescue and restore the site. They worked on the site for over twenty years before Duchas acquired the prison. Duchas, The Heritage Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands cares for many of Ireland’s national monuments, parks, gardens and nature reserves. It has a policy of promoting all sites, no matter whether large or small, together on one brochure. Individual sites cannot have their own promotional material. Nor are they permitted to have an individual web site that is linked to the Duchas web site. This would appear to be short sighted as most international visitors would have no idea what Duchas was and would not necessarily pick up a brochure titled “Heritage Sites of Ireland National Parks, Monuments and Gardens.” Duchas is in fine print at the bottom. Trying to find contacts for the individual sites is near impossible if you are not aware of Duchas. Kilmainham prison has a huge circular nineteenth century cellblock attached to older cellblocks. It had a chapel, hospital and administration areas all surrounded by an enormous, stone wall. Some of the areas are now used for a video presentation, permanent and temporary exhibition displays, collection storage, offices, a café, shop area and ticket entrance. The tour starts with a half hour video. (There are plans to have a shorter video in the future.) A guide then takes visitors through the various areas of the cellblocks. Visitors in the huge, three storey, main cellblock cannot go up the metal stairs and walk around the cells because of health and safety issues. However they do get some idea what it was like on the upper levels as they walk to the other areas adjacent, cellblock areas and past the Protestant chapel and the gallows. The poignant stories of the Irish rebels and their imprisonment and their last days in prison are told. The Gaol is fortunate to have records of which cells these prisoners were held in. Visitors can see where the political prisoners have written on the walls. The guides give details of the last days before their execution in front of the firing squad. The tour then goes through the grounds, past where the hangings once took place (nothing remains) and into the execution yard where the deaths of the 1916 and 1922 prisoners who were shot are recorded. A plaque with their names and a simple cross are all that commemorates the end of these Irish independence fighters. Kilmainham is fortunate to have an excellent permanent exhibition space. Here collection items can be displayed in correct conditions. In many prison museums there is no place to display items in temperature-controlled areas. This provides challenges for the display of collection items and makes

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it almost impossible to borrow items from other museums or for exhibitions. In the museum exhibition area aspects of prison life, the history of Kilmainham, political executions, stories of high profile inmates and others associated with the Gaol are featured. In the museum the touch screen exhibition on hanging is very detailed. It provides an overview of all aspects of hanging and was designed to both inform and challenge the ideas a visitor may have on hanging. The program is divided into sections such as –the hangman- James Berry. It lists his weights, the drop he used and his comments on how to deal with those who have attempted suicide and therefore have weakened neck muscles (you reduce the drop or the head will jerk off, which did happen). It lists the hangings from 1796. It also provides an anatomy of a hanging. This is a medical analysis of what happens to the spinal cord and bones and what causes death. It is graphically illustrated. There is a section of the program where visitors can vote for or against hanging and the results are totaled and displayed. It was the most detailed examination of capital punishment that I encountered. They are fortunate to have a number of artifacts directly associated with the history of the gaol to display. It is often the case, unfortunately, with the Gaols that have had a long period between closure and reopening as a museum that most of the items associated with the prison have not been kept. Kilmainham has quite an extensive collection (clothes, guns, eating utensils etc) and this in turn provides opportunities for changing and refreshing exhibition spaces. Space is available to allow the collection to be used for temporary exhibitions. As Kilmainham is a Duchas Heritage Services property the money raised on the site is returned to the central organisation. It controls all the advertising and Kilmainham has no separate flyers and it is grouped with all their other properties. It attracts approximately 116,000 visitors annually. The property is not used for functions. Public programs related to the prison are allowed. A number of films have been shot there. On one occasion the film company was permitted to paint the interior of the prison the color they wanted for the film on condition they repainted the prison the original heritage color. This meant the prison was refurbished at no cost to Duchas. A number of excellent books on Kilmainham have been produced and are on sale at the site. These deal with the child prisoners, women and political prisoners. There is also a very good detailed education kit produced on the prison and on the political prisoners of 1916. Cork Prison, Cork Mr. Dermot Kenneally privately owns Cork Gaol. It is due to his vision and determination that has enabled the restoration of this once derelict prison site to be completed. An initial European Union grant helped establish the museum. The ornate prison complex of buildings was completed in 1824. The prison museum also incorporates an amazing recreation of the1927 air radio station that was installed after the prison closed. The radio station had the dubious notoriety of having been taken over by an armed group and shots fired. The radio museum displays a private collection of radios and other ephemera associated with radio. Unfortunately the small museum tends to be lost within the larger museum. They hope to rectify this problem soon by changing the signage. The prison is located in a very good part of Cork over looking the town. The Georgian Gothic style of architecture of the prison is reminiscent of a castle with battlements. Sir Thomas Deane was the architect. The prison was excavated from a hillside. There is an immense perimeter wall with an

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inner wall and then the three storey cellblocks with their circular turrets at the ends. It had a hospital and other buildings and a treadmill for pumping water and grinding flour. Hangings at one time were done above the front gate where the public could witness them. Later the gallows were placed inside but the location is unknown. Cork Gaol was once considered the best in Ireland. The visitors are given an audiotape that directs them through the site. A number of the cells have life like figures in them to illustrate a story on the audio guide. The tape is very well done and is available in ten languages. The tape can be stopped at any stage and visitors can take their time to read the excellent interpretation panels. Staff were present to answer questions. The tour concludes inside one of the large turrets, where there is a life size diorama of prisoners at a trial. Visitors can sit here and watch the huge screen with its historic audio presentation. The audio commences with a trial charge of rape and the resulting sentence. It goes on to describe the impact of the bread riots, the Young Irelanders, the infamous Cabbage Patch skirmish, the Fenians, the women revolutionaries’ stories and much more. A judge discusses these crimes and gives his sentence. It is a very emotive presentation, though a bit long. The site has a shop with very good souvenirs. School groups visit the prison. However comprehensive notes based on the curriculum have still to be developed. Programs are devised to attract visitors but as always these smaller museums have staffing issues that restrict activities. The site is hired out for functions and the prison is fortunate to have large open areas suitable to erect marquees. As with many Northern Hemisphere sites the winter season with its bitter cold and often snow imposes considerable restrictions on these huge buildings that cannot be heated and that have large out door areas. Generally staffing is halved. In summer Cork hires extra staff. They often use University students. While I was there they were making excellent use of a museum studies graduate from Leicester University Museum Studies to review their radio museum and some other activities. It would be wonderful if finance could be found to restore the hospital and other sections of the site. The prison unfortunately is not on a good bus route and is quite a walk for tourists from the town centre. They have a web site. Wicklow Gaol, 1702, Wicklow Wicklow Gaol is located south of Dublin on the coast. It was a smaller gaol compared to Cork and Kilmainham. The gaol was located next to the court and in the centre of the town close to the wharf. A large wall enclosed the three-storey cellblock, a treadmill and other areas. The entrance and front wall of the Gaol had been demolished. Then in 1998 the local council decided to restore the site and established it as a visitor attraction. Seventy five per cent of the funding for the refurbishment and reconstruction of the building came from European Union funds, the rest was from Council. Joan Kavanagh has done some outstanding research that is reflected in the interpretation panels and in the sound scapes. The interpretation gives a poignant and interesting account of prisoners’ lives and

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crimes often using direct quotes. It discusses the many executions that took place after the 1798 rebellion. A costumed guide plays the part of a warder and introduces visitors to ‘his’ jail. He collects the visitors at the shop and ticket area and unlocks the main prison door and shepherds them into a large cell where up to twenty prisoners could be held. Visitors proceed on into the main cellblock with its dioramas of guards. Visitors can then wander freely and read the panels and listen to the sound scapes. The guide was very well informed and played the part well. He did have an acting background. The jail had a 10-15 minute video that was quite good too. As with any historic building its use and purpose can change with time. This prison had separate cells to accommodate the new theories of reform and imprisonment. From 1790- 1860’s some 50,000 convicts were sent to Australia, many left from this prison. These strong links with Australia are emphasized in the final exhibition area where real Australians today are linked to an Irish ancestor. After leaving the cellblock visitors go into the hold and other parts of a reconstruction of the 1801 ship The Hercules that took convicts to Australia. The recreated interior of the ship was installed in the refurbishment process. Though there is an obvious strong link with the Gaol and its prisoners (and it is something different for the visitors) the ship does not really sit easily within the complex. The Family History Centre is located within the jail complex. The Centre is an incredible resource

for anyone interested in their Irish ancestors or who wants more information on the convicts and prisoners held at the site.

Wicklow has a web site. UK PRISON MUSEUMS: Inveraray Jail, Scotland

Inveraray Jail is privately owned. Some years ago it was restored and interpretation installations

installed. It has won many prestigious awards including European Attraction of the Year. The site has two

cellblocks, a exercise yard and court room. A high wall surrounded the prison. The former police station next to it is not part of the museum. The jail is located in the center of the tiny town on the edge of the loch.

Convicts were held at the gaol and then shipped to the colonies. Extensive research has been done on

the convicts and their details are being placed on the Jail web site. It is a fantastic initiative by management. The web site is presently being constructed to also include a list of prison museums worldwide (with links to many). By linking other prison museums it should help to raise the visitors awareness of the number of prison sites to visit worldwide. Visitors will be able to see the many similarities as well as discovering the individual stories that reflected the life and times of society in which they were located.

The jail has different forms of interpretation – exhibition panels, sound scapes, life like figures and

costumed guides. The two main guides who were trained actors provided excellent tours. The site guides role- play various jail staff- such as the gaolers, matron, turnkey, etc. Scattered throughout the building are costumed mannequins. These representations of prisoners are very well done and life

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like. Inside the courtroom all the personnel –judge, defense, witnesses, and jury are recreated in this manner. The mannequins move and talk and discuss two trials. These models are very expensive. It is an unusual court as it was built in a semi circle. This enables visitors to either sit in the court and listen to a trial or walk around the back of the court and out.

The two original cellblocks contain a variety of interpretation. Inveraray is lucky to retain a number

of original features throughout the buildings such as the boilers and baths. Upstairs in one cellblock they have recreated a replica of a real cell from the 1990’s. The backdrop has a photo from the modern cell with two modern prisoners sitting in it.

This was the only prison I saw with an indoor exercise area. It was in the attic of the prison roof. A

“prisoner” was exercising while a rat watched. They have recreated a byre that was once in the prison grounds with a highland cow in it. They have recently refurbished a kitchen area displaying prison food rations.

Their style of interpretation has been replicated in Cork and Wicklow Prisons as well as some other

prison museums in the UK. The staff were very helpful to visiting museum personnel wanting to research their site and its operation.

No executions took place on the site after 1805. The Jail and the local Castle are the two key tourist attractions of the area. The Jail has created a

tourist guide to the area. It is very proactive in initiating and providing assistance to developing tourism in the area. Inveraray Jail well deserves its prestigious awards.

The Galleries of Justice, Nottingham

The Galleries of Justice in Nottingham provided me with an outstanding ‘template’ for operating a site with a prison, police and court complex. The Galleries is an autonomous site that relies on funding from visitors and grants. The site has a manager supported by administrative personnel, a marketing manager, curator, archivist, and web manager. The education manager has a support staff of five people responsible for the design and delivery of the education programs. The education section has been extremely successful in gaining funding for educational purposes. The income from school visitation is the major source of finance for the galleries. The Galleries consist of dungeons that date back centuries and these are over laid with 19th century cellblocks. There is a 19th century police station and courts as well as a more modern court. The Galleries also have a reasonable sized exhibition area. In addition to the historic section of the building there is a refurbished area of the building called the ‘Education Zone,’ from where the National Centre For Citizenship and Law operates. The Galleries have an extensive archive area and an archivist. There is also an excellent on site collection storage section. The permanent site interpretation looks at the courts and displays some court robes; the prison area has displays on prisoners and the crimes they have committed, capital punishment, the laundry, and treatment of prisoners in gaol. The various guides augment the written interpretation with stories of prison life through the ages. Capital punishment is discussed in the interpretation and guides explain details of the hangmen and hangings to visitors. There is a separate area for the extensive changing exhibition programs held throughout the year. These four exhibitions are related to themes associated with the site and prisons in general. The curator usually creates all these exhibitions in house. Judge Dread, Lord Lucan and the Great Train Robbery are some examples of the creative and provocative

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exhibitions held in recent years. The exhibitions can provide an opportunity to tell the stories in depth of people associated with the Galleries. They also deal with crime related issues. The necessity for a number of changing exhibitions in order to encourage visitation places an enormous strain on the personnel of smaller museums. The Galleries are fortunate to have a full time archivist who assists with research and exhibition development. People can book times to use the archives for research. The Manager of Education oversees the administration of grants for the various education projects undertaken on site. Education at the Galleries has taken on a whole new focus since it has become the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law. Their motto is ‘Learn about the past, act in the present, change the future’. A whole section of the Galleries has been called the ‘Education Zone’. Here a number of rooms have been designed for student activities, meetings, discussion areas, as well as a small original courtroom. The education programs are for all levels of students. Schools use it for normal museum type visits, for court reenactments, and special programs for the involvement of students deemed to be at risk. A number of innovative programs have been devised for schools. Indeed schools often spend a whole day at the Galleries and complete a number of different programs offered by the Galleries.

• Tours are given to schools starting with a trial in the court and sentencing. A guide dressed as a clerk of courts role-plays the part in the courtroom with the students and a judge (another guide). The students then proceed down into the gaol admission area and cells where the clerk hands the students over to a warder. He takes them through the laundry, medical area, and dungeons and to the exercise yard where the hangings occurred. Costumed guides meet the students in each sector and explain the gaol routines and procedures. Students are given a criminal identity tag at the start and at various locations can find out from panels how they are progressing with their sentence.

• ‘Burglar Bill’. This education program is held in a specially designed area with worktables,

costumes, artifacts and other facilities to stimulate and interest students. Here the students participate in the allocated tasks and solve the questions on the work sheets. They examine and handle a number of artifacts associated with the crime they are solving.

• Mock courts are held in the ‘new’ 1980’s courtroom. In this real space some students participate

in a reenactment of a trial while the others watch. It concludes with questions and a short discussion about the trial.

• In addition much work is being done with disadvantaged students and students at risk. The

Galleries staff work closely with local police, social workers and others on projects designed to help these children. The program I observed had a dozen students working on producing a video. They had chosen a topic and who was to play the various roles. Staff only acted as facilitators. Professional video operators, police and social workers were involved in the program. The student’s progress was closely monitored. At the successful completion of the course the students were allowed to participate in a weekend away.

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• Students could also be booked to visit the historic Police Station where the admission process was explained. They then proceeded through the holding cells to a multi media interpretation of police work.

Schools are given teacher notes relevant to the sessions they have chosen to do at the Galleries. The school programs are related to the school curriculum. The students enjoyed the programs and were very involved in the activities offered. Staff were helpful and assisted students when needed. The Education Zone has been carefully designed to offer students a number of bright stimulating areas where discussions and activities can take place. It is outside the confines of the heritage area and provides a more relaxed zone for students to under take their activities in. The 1909 Police Station is a separate building adjacent to the courts and prison. It has been restored and various forms of interpretation installed. Visitors enter and a “Police Officer” explains the admission procedure. Visitors then pass through an original holding cell and proceed on into a multi media presentation of police life and work. However I felt it was too dense and hard to take everything in as there were sound scapes, holograms, exhibition panels and items to touch. Some of the questions asked in the next section seemed irrelevant. There were interactive touch screens that recorded visitors opinions on topics such as what they think will help crime prevention. There is an interactive video of an investigation, where the process is followed and witnesses are interviewed at a crime scene that takes fifteen minutes to complete. It is a long time given all the other activities a visitor may want to complete too.

The Tower of London Royal Armouries at the Tower of London was given the Sanford Award Winners for Heritage

Education. The award is made for properties whose Education Service makes an outstanding contribution to heritage education in historic houses, castles and gardens. They were also given Highly Commended in the Category of Most Imaginative Education Work in the Gulbenkian Awards. The Education Centre has recently moved into a new suite of rooms in the Tower. The education programs are directed at Infant school, Junior, Middle and Secondary. All with a National Curriculum focus.

The Tower has two and a half million visitors annually, 70,000 school students of which 12,000 have

contact lessons. Once a term local schools can have free entry. All the groups are taken in the schools area and the Tower buildings are self-guiding. There are changing themes offered and favourite topics (eg. the Tudors) once a term.

One of the primary purposes of the Tower has been to operate as a prison through the ages. Kings,

Queens, nobility, and important citizens have been detained there. It has a reputation for torture and cruel practices when in actual fact the records show that torture was only used forty times over the centuries - the worst time at the end of the Elizabethan period. It was used to hold German spies and Hesse during the Second World War. Many of the misconceptions began with tourism back in the Victorian period. They are slowly trying to change these misconceptions.

Many of the education programs feature object handling. They have a superb set of reproduction

crown jewels. Also students can handle armour and look at the development and uses of modern day

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armour in ice hockey, police, buildings, fencing, etc. “Body Protection” has a science theme too. They have an Artist in Residence program. The artist looks at art in copper and metal work and holds one and a half hour workshops. The building as evidence of change is given as a class. Excellent class notes accompanied all of these programs.

Madam Tussauds Madame Tussauds has an extensive exhibition of prison artifacts and high profile criminals. They are

quite well done considering the graphic, sensationalism of the presentations. There is for example an extensive interpretation of Jack the Ripper. They have a recreation of Victorian prison conditions with the cell door of Newgate Prison. There is a hanging scene, a guillotine, and 20th century cells with models of notorious criminals and a brief description of their crime. Oscar Wilde is featured in the main hall with other notables of the 19th century.

The Clink, London The Clink Prison is located near the Thames River. It is an attempt to recreate sections of this famous

11th century prison. It has a number of poor quality displays and prison artifacts and dioramas. It shows instruments of mediaeval torture, prisoners begging passers- by for food, the stocks, stories of some of the high profile people held there, protestant and catholic sympathizers. Considering the importance of this site as the location of the first prison in London it is a great pity that its interpretation is of such poor quality. In 1780 the prison was burnt down and its notorious history ended.

The London Dungeon The London Dungeon is a bizarre theme park approach to history. Elaborate sets and dioramas of

terrifying events in English history are recreated using multimedia effects and costumed actors who direct visitors, tell them about the horrifying events and generally attempt to scare, surprise and horrify visitors. The staff were trained actors. The sets are crudely graphic and save nothing to the imagination eg the photos of Jack the Rippers victims are prominently displayed. The visit ends in a café and shop area. The goods on sale are of the worst taste imaginable. Despite all this it is a very popular site.

FINISH PRISON MUSEUMS:

National Prison Museum, Hameenlinna. The Prison Museum is part of a complex of four excellent museums in this small town. The Historical Museum manages The National Prison Museum, The Palander House, and Sibelius Birthplace. There is a modern conservation workshop facility available for restoration and care of the collections. There are also extensive storage areas for various collection items. Palander House is a domestic museum that tells about life in a wooden house one hundred years ago. Its interpretation and attention to detail are superb.

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Birthplace of Jean Sibelius is where the master composer spent his childhood. It has an excellent collection of photos of his early life. It is a delightful place. Small concerts are held regularly of his works. The Historical Museum has a permanent exhibition on the history and changing life of the city and its rural surroundings. It incorporates the Savings Bank Museum and Hame’s Inhabitants over the centuries. It also has a temporary exhibition space too where I saw a delightful exhibition of historic photographs of Fins on holiday at their superb lakes where they swim, boat, walk and enjoy life. The Historical Museum and administrative headquarters are housed in part of the former Hameenlina Provincial Prison administration area. In addition the town has an Art Gallery, Hame Castle and the Artillery Museum that are run independently of the other group. All of the museums in the town are fully restored and are well interpreted. All the attractions are within walking distance of each other in the town. The national Prison Museum is located in the former Provincial Prison, from where the last inmates were transferred to new facilities at Kylmakoski in 1993. The three storey building was completed as the first cell prison in Finland in 1881. It is an excellent example of the same style of prison being constructed in the UK and other countries. Previously, the prisoners used to live in common dormitories. The prison was built as a house of correction for men. Ten years later, the inmates were moved to Helsinki and the provincial prison in the adjacent fortress was extended to the cell building. There have been prisoners in the Hame Castle area since the Middle Ages. There used to be a correction and work prison for women adjacent to the provincial prison. The prisons in the area were amalgamated administratively in the 1920’s to become the Central and Provincial Prison of Hameenlinna. Prison activity in the area of Hame Castle gradually disappeared. The renovation of the old castle into a museum began in the 1950’s, when the women’s prison went and it provided space for repairs. The interpretation in the castle barely mentions the modern use of the castle as a prison and only displays a few photos. The story was told however of a woman in the Middle Ages being put in charge of the prison and receiving equal pay. The Castle has climate controlled exhibition space. There was a travelling exhibition of renaissance royal clothing on display in this area. The four-storey cell building used by the women was demolished in 1976 from the north end of the prison museum. The prison museum’s neighbour, the building completed as a correctional institution, served its final period as a prison as an open prison ward of the Provincial Prison. Hameenlinna’s prison traditions are continuing at the prison located at Pikku-Parola, which began at new premises in 1972. I was fortunate to be shown over this facility by the prison governor Mr Aaltonen who explained how modern Finnish prisons work and showed me over the whole facility. The Governor had worked for many years in the old prison. I even met and spoke to some female prisoners. Every attempt is made to house the women with children in surroundings that are conducive to caring for their children and that will help the children’s development. The prisoners are provided with the opportunity to work and learn new skills. The needs of minority groups such as the gypsies are carefully considered. When the Prison Museum was being restored the modern Department of Prisons helped fund the restoration and advised on the interpretation. The museum as part of the interpretation looks at the

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modern prison service and how it operates and how prisoners are treated today. There are booklets available on the modern system. The national Prison Museum is located in the former Provincial Prison, from where the last inmates were transferred to new facilities at Kylmakoski in 1993. In the Prison Museum cells have been restored to their appearance from the 1870’s to the 1990’s. Visitors can enter solitary confinement, see the clothing worn by prisoners and warders and read the thoughts of the prisoners written on the walls. Equipment used in the prison is also on display. While the prison sentence was to be the main form of punishment there was a system of advancement too whereby a well-behaved prisoner obtained more privileges and was promoted to a superior category. The idea was to educate the prisoner away from the path of iniquity by means of instruction, toil and discipline. The crimes of the nineteenth century were similar to the rest of the world- infanticide, vagrancy, drunkenness etc. The work of prisoners was a little different. They were employed as loggers, and cut peat. Later on they made boats, furniture, street signs etc. They were paid wages and paid tax on their earnings. Prisoners even had a sauna once a week at the prison. The interpretation was excellent, interesting, imaginative and engaging. Capital punishment from a historical perspective is discussed in the interpretation video. Torture was abolished in 1772 and hanging ceased in 1826. The multimedia interactive computer program gave an entertaining way of deepening your knowledge of past and present prison life, as well as honing your skills with a prison game. On the top floor was a research facility that could be booked by researchers. It has a small lift for disabled access. Health and Safety issues have been very carefully incorporated into the building. Also stored in the top floor cells are numerous collection items, plus a large number of modern prison uniforms that are hired out. The Prison joins with Hame Castle next door in joint programs, especially in school holiday periods.

They have some excellent school notes for teachers and students that look at prison life, conditions of prisoners, rules and regulations and other aspects of prison life. Interpretation panels in museums in Finland were often in three languages Finnish, Swedish and English. Many Fins also speak German and Russian. Finnish museums were excellent. Their interpretation was interesting, well presented and engaging. Police Museums in the US, UK & Germany: Police museums are often under the control of and run by local police forces. Usually they are located inside a police administration building and run by ex or serving police officers. While all of these factors have advantages they also limit the operations and independence of the museums in various ways. In some cases such as New Scotland Yard’s Black Museum you can only gain entrance if you are a serving officer or attached to a museum. The physical location inside a police station is often intimidating and a discouragement for visitors. Being operated by police officers may also interfere with taking an independent stance on police matters.

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The New York City Police Museum is located in the historic first police precinct station house at Old Slip in Downtown Manhattan. It has only finished relocating from inside a police building to its own site this year. The move was delayed by the tragic events of September 11th. This new physical independence will be of enormous benefit to the museum. It will provide a more independent identity and give ease of access. The new museum captures the rich history of the NYPD right back to its colonial roots when “Watchmen” patrolled the cobble-stone streets of what was then called New Amsterdam. The museum gives visitors an insider’s look at the dedicated men and women of the NYPD. The visitor enters past an original precinct entrance bench. The museum is divided into various areas with displays of police vehicles, weaponry, uniforms, medals and law enforcement techniques used throughout four centuries of police work. The Transportation Gallery on the ground floor includes vintage motorcycles and scooters, as well as an authentic 1972 Plymouth patrol car. The gallery also displays models and photos of every mode of New York police transportation throughout history, from the role of horses to today’s radio motor patrol cars. The Notorious Criminals Gallery has photos and stories of many real-life characters that tried to elude the NYDP. The sombre Hall of Heroes lists all the men and women who have died in the line of duty while protecting New York City. It displays a number of medals and commendations. This type of commemorative display is becoming more common in Police Museums. The Interactive Crime Scene is where the visitor can play detective. It recreates a crime scene in an East Village apartment. The exhibit allows participants to follow the actual steps that NYPD investigators use to solve crimes, such as, collecting forensic evidence, to questioning witnesses, to tracking suspects over the Internet. NYPD has a full time Education Manager who oversees the organisation and development of the various education programs offered. There are separate rooms that can be used for classes. The school programs are for 3 levels: lower elementary K-3 grades, upper elementary, 4- 8th grade, and High School. Pre and post Packet activities for classroom teachers are sent prior to a visit. Groups have free entrance. The programs are to be interactive and there are a number of interactive computers throughout the museum for students to use. The K-6 students can do “Unsolved Crime”. The small kids arrive and have to solve a crime and find the “Perp” (Perpetrator). The Education person makes it the chaperone and it is his/her description that is given. They take mug shots with a Polaroid. The Middle Group examined the job of a police officer, what is needed and what they do. They discuss the uses of the weapons on the officers’ belt, cuff links, notebook, protective vest etc. The Older Group are familiarised with Police terms, DNA, scientific procedures, history of the force and what officers do. The person who takes the group has served as an officer in the NYPD and can give an intimate glimpse into the work and life of a police officer in New York. Issues such as gun safety and drug awareness are discussed. The museum also has a temporary exhibition space. While I was there it had an exhibition on the destruction of the World Trade Center. The image and popularity of the NYPD had received a tremendous boost after their assistance in the terrible events of Nine Eleven.

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FBI Museum, Washington The FBI Museum is housed in the actual FBI headquarters. Given the sensitive location of the museum a number of restrictions are in place. A guide conducted all the groups, everyone passed through an X- ray machine, there was no photography allowed and in some places you were not to touch the walls or alarms would be triggered. The tour lasted for one hour. There was a general introduction to the work of the FBI and five minute video. The FBI has responsibilities in the areas of computer crime, pornography, environmental crimes, kidnapping, terrorism, violent crime, illicit drugs, spying and organised crime. Next you passed through exhibition areas with detailed interpretation on the historical development and work of the organisation. The story of the capture of a number of high profile criminals was displayed along with the contraband and some of the weapons used in the crimes. A fascinating display was of the “Ten most wanted criminals in the USA”. Visitors were asked to look closely at the pictures and descriptions as over the years a number of visitors had recognised someone from the list and assisted in the capture of 145 criminals. Rewards were offered in most cases. The workers in various sections could be observed through windows. You could see the DNA laboratory, the car paint analysis, the ballistics section, and the gun collection. The tour finished in the basement where a serving FBI agent demonstrated the use of firearms (a revolver, pistol and machine gun) in a shooting range! He did encourage the safe use of guns and for the children not to go home and try to do anything that he had demonstrated. He conducted a question and answer session. He outlined the requirements to be an agent and that they had to complete a four year degree. Also that it was usually the police who were in more gun battles than the FBI. The Police were the first response unit. The Galleries of Justice Police station details have been outlined previously. HM Prison Service Museum, Newbold Revel, UK The museum is in a very isolated location and cannot be reached by public transport. The Museum is housed in the former stables of an old historic house. The house is now used as a prison training college. The museum has an enormous collection of amazing, original artifacts and parts of buildings once associated with prisons. There is a permanent and temporary exhibition space designed to be self-guiding. The exhibitions traced the development of prisons and policing in the UK. It incorporated original artifacts into the exhibitions. For example, a description of locks with a real lock. Or Oscar Wilde’s cell door from Reading Jail. Various restraints were displayed. The museum is the major repository of artifacts associated with prisons in the UK. The curator also undertakes original research into prisons and police. The museum is used for training prison and police personnel. School groups also use the museum. But the isolation is the main reason for the low visitation. The Medieval Crime Museum, (Kriminalmuseum) Rothenburg, Germany Rothenburg is a beautiful walled town dating back to the tenth century. The town is renowned for its German Christmas Museum that has a superb collection of Christmas trees and wonderful decorations. The town also has The Medieval Crime Museum (Kriminalmuseum ). The law and order

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museum gives an insight into the past 1000 years of European Legal history. It also displays the development of jurisprudence to the 19th century. It displays state and constitutional law, civil degradation penalties and police laws, which are quite revealing in respect to the laws, customs and cultures in the past. The museum displays an extensive collection of instruments of torture, items used in the execution of sentences, books, graphic arts, documents of emperors, princes, the nobility and towns. It includes caricatures of the judiciary, schools and their punishments. The collection was quite amazing and was a wonderful contrast to 19th century and present day attitudes to punishment. The collection of punishment items exhibited, such as, the mask of shame for women, (The long tongue and big ears symbolized gossip and nosiness), the mask of shame for men who acted like swine, (A metal pig’s face), the chastity belt for wives, and the donkey of shame for lazy pupils were very evocative of past punishments. A variation of these iron masks were still being used as a punishment for prisoners who broke the rule of silence in prisoners in the 19th century. THEATRE in MUSEUMS: Theatre has long been acknowledged as an exciting, fun, involving, challenging and informative experience for museum visitors. I was fortunate on my Fellowship to experience some outstanding examples of Museum theatre. Programs devised by Catherine Hughes at the Boston Science Museum were creative and stimulating. Theatre is used to explain scientific topics, provoke thought about various issues, explored misconceptions and looked at historic aspects of science. The visitors can watch a variety of performances through out the day in different locations. The performances are free and visitors do not have to pre book. Performances lasted about twenty minutes. For example: In the Theatre of Electricity, “Lightning! Battle of the Currents”. The performance contrasted the contributions of Edison and Nicola Tesla. Tesla invented alternating current supplies and Edison direct currents and light globes. ‘Battle’ tells Tesla’s story of obsessive behaviour and how he lived in hotels. Edison became a household name with his invention of globes. The lightning display was incredibly spectacular with the electronic flashes and bangs. It showed how society could identify and remember historic facts incorrectly. “Secret Codes! Baseball, Peacocks, & Babies” explored communication without spoken language. It had a large video backdrop with the two actors miming in front, going to work, driving, sleep etc. There was sound and music too. This lighthearted performance showed how there are many ways to communicate without speech. This idea was mirrored in the animal video playing behind the performance. On Ellis Island in New York visitors can buy a ticket and watch a performance in a theatre. Buffy King’s production s of “Embracing Freedom, The Immigrant Journey To America” traced the migration story of a woman and her daughter leaving Europe to join the father in New York. The sadness of separation, the uncertainties of traveling alone for women, ship board life for migrants, the worries of passing the immigration health checks and finding your partner on arrival. All these issues were dealt with imagination, humor, and pathos. The audience gained a real sense of what was involved in migrating to America in the 1890’s.

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Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York uses theatre in a variety of ways to interpret the tenement buildings and those who lived in them. It has a theatre program for students during the summer holidays. Mt Vernon, in Washington. Mt. Vernon was the home of the first President of the USA. The house and outbuildings and slave quarters are surrounded by Washington’s experimental farm. The play “Mysterious Martha” was a lighthearted, 20 minute, piece held in the Washington’s conservatory. Here her two maids talked about what they had to do in the household. They engaged in comic banter to prove who knew the most about their charming and admirable mistress. They talked about their reaction to doing certain tasks and commented on Mrs. Washington and her houseguests. Theatre was used to show the manners and life style of the period. It also provided a glimpse into Martha’s life. There were other costumed people on the site who discussed what their jobs were in the past eg. the bullock driver with his two bullocks. Andrew Ashmore at The Museum of the Moving Image has a number of very active museum theatre productions. He produces pieces about a films production and he also does performances for other museum locations. The piece I saw was to help students gain an understanding of the production of a film. Students were actively involved in the theatre piece. This required considerable skill and sensitivity from the actors. Students found the piece both involving and informative. A number of sites had guides in costumes. These guides usually role played a particular person and interacted with visitors both answering and asking questions of the visitors. The Inveraray Prison had people dressed as warders, a matron, a governor and turnkey. They took visitors on tours and discussed aspects of their work as visitors passed them. The Galleries of Justice had costumed interpreters who conducted tours. Visitors were met by a clerk of courts and taken to the court where a judge heard their case and sentenced them. The clerk escorted them to a warder who explained the need for prisoners to be shaved and have their hair cropped. The Beefeaters at the Tower of London in their ordinary and ceremonial costumes have become an integral part of the persona of the Tower. They take tours, answer visitor questions, give directions on the site and assist the visitors in any way they can. Many museums had reproduction costumes for visitors to try on. Visitors were able to experience in these museums what it was like wearing a seventeenth century three-meter wide dress at the Victoria & Albert Museum or prisoners clothes at the Galleries. Costumes and reproduction artifacts were used extensively in most museums in the education section. Programs using props such as the Queens jewels, Viking musical instruments, or workhouse clothing can help transport children to another time and place. The props can act as a stimulus to discussion. They provide students with an opportunity to handle and examine artifacts more closely and gain an idea of how these artifacts were operated and functioned. PHRENOLOGY in MUSEUMS: I hoped as part of the Fellowship to see how death masks were interpreted in various museums. I was also interested in discovering which institutions held collections of death masks. Death masks have been used for millennia to record the features of kings, queens and other important individuals. The Victorians were fascinated with trying to understand and explain the criminal mind and used the

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science of phrenology and masks to provide an understanding of this feature. Universities once used death masks as teaching aides in anatomy and anthropology departments. The Plaster Gallery at the V&A Museum was a revelation to me. Housed in the gallery were huge casts made in the 19th century to show students the best examples of sculpture and architecture. Casts of Michelangelo’s David or Trajan’s Column and a myriad other items that took the Victorians fancy. There is an explanation of how the casts were made from moulds, taken from the original objects. It is no wonder then that the Victorians also took plaster moulds of criminals, artists, writers and other important individuals. Some Gaols and museums had one or two death masks on display. Many collections of death masks have been lost or destroyed over the years. Often only photos remained. Unfortunately the major collection of death masks in the UK was packed up just before my arrival. It is in the process of being transferred to an Art Gallery. Indeed I discovered that many art galleries held phrenology collections. In Scotland there was a small exhibition at the Hunterian Museum entitled ‘Last Impressions’. The exhibition was about some famous individuals and their death masks. The New York Historical Society had some death masks of American presidents and others randomly displayed in a showcase with other items. Apart from names there was no other interpretation attached to the masks. The London Science Museum has an extensive collection on display and in storage. The Science Museum is also fortunate to have in storage a number of plaster heads and skulls with phrenology markings on them. I was given special access to their off site storage and inspected their collection of phrenology related items and death masks. The tiny thumb sized phrenology heads on display in the museum, as part of an exhibition on the mind and body, were particularly fascinating as they are quite unique. The New Scotland Yard Black Museum has a large collection of 37 masks including Himler’s. They have a mask of Frederick Deeming, the 19th century, serial killer who killed his family in Raintree in England and proceeded to kill his new wife and family in Australia. Deeming was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1892 where the original death mask was made. This museum is only available to UK police. Many museums and galleries displayed death masks. Visitors are fascinated by these representations of criminals and others. SITES THAT INTERPRET THE POOR: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York. The museums mission is “To promote tolerance and historical perspective through the preservation and interpretation of a variety of immigrant and migrant experiences on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a gateway to America.” A series of five-storey tenement buildings were restored and furnished to show the life styles of the immigrant workers who lived there in the 19th and 20th centuries. The tenement was built in 1863 and

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had 7,000 people from 20 countries make their homes there over this time. It was the first tenement to be designated a National Historic Landmark. The residents had few facilities and even less space. There was no hope of individual privacy. Residents devised ingenious ways of saving space as there were not enough bedrooms or living areas for the numbers in each apartment. The site works closely with the Bank Street School of Education. These tertiary students do research and teach in the various education programs offered to schools. The students combine education and museum studies and are awarded credits towards their course. School groups meet off site and can watch a short film on the area. Immigration to the USA and the procedures for passing through Ellis Island and into the US is explained. The school groups are divided into small groups of 15 as the tenements have very small rooms. Conservation issues such as not touching are explained to the students. One group observed the life style of the various periods and the changes to tenement living is explained. While the other group do some activities such as observing and discussing objects (a potty, carpet beater, coal scuttle, etc) that were commonly used in the buildings. The site has 30,000 students visit annually. The City College, Urban Museum Studies Department has a full semester, three to four days a week involvement with the site. They work on travel and tourism issues and write brochures, teach and do research. Theatre programs are held in the summer. Origins with the City life Theatre Company. LEST provides space and historical information. Flyers are sent to high schools and auditions are held. It requires a commitment everyday for six weeks. The program was endowed but now funds itself. Students and playwrights develop a play. It aims to build self-esteem through theatre. Various programs are offered to schools and there is a walking tour that looks at waves of migration, tenements, and changes in the area. The area around the tenement still retains some of its original character with its sidewalk vendors and individual shops. LEST have excellent support materials for schools. LEST have a good we site. The Tenement Museum, Glasgow The Tenement Museum in Glasgow is in direct contrast to the one in New York. In Glasgow the word tenement is not synonymous with poverty. Tenements were for more middle class residents and far less crowded than in New York. The Tenement in Glasgow had four small rooms that were comfortably furnished for the one family. Very little had changed in the tenement over time. In the entrance area below the tenement rooms there was a small exhibition space and an interpretation area. Near this was a separate area where school groups could carry out some hands on activities. There were good education notes available for schools.

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The Workhouse, Southwell, UK The 19th century, red brick, workhouse building is very similar to the prisons built at the time. It was built in 1824 and introduced a harsh and revolutionary system that was designed to cut the cost of caring for the poor. This system was later adopted across a national network of over 600 Union workhouses. It was to act as a deterrent to the poor and to encourage them to work hard and avoid having to live off the charity of the workhouse. Men, women and children lived in dormitories. Families were divided on arrival and children saw their parents briefly only on a Sunday. Work was similar to that in prison as was the food ration. It was a very bleak existence and certainly deserved the reputation gained and passed on through the generations. The building had only been open for a week. Visitors were given an audio guide. The interpretation and stories on the guide were good but were rather too long in each section. Also the instructions as to where to find things in the rooms were sometimes confusing. Volunteer guides were in most rooms. They were very well trained and informed on the history and life of the workhouse. The permanent staff were not as helpful. The building has minimalist interpretation with only a few areas recreated. For most visitors with no prior knowledge of what the building was like this is to my way of thinking rather boring and hard to understand. ‘Let the building speak for itself’ is not necessarily the best form of interpretation.

Workhouse Southwell, UK

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Ellis Island, New York Ellis Island was a superb interpretation of the immigrant experience. The buildings where the immigrants arrived and were examined by the doctors and then processed are very evocative. The various exhibitions detail what was involved in migration to America, the hopes and fears of the new arrivals, their confusion, and fear of rejection by the immigration official. They had very good education resources materials for schools. The theatre program enhances the site with its poignant and humorous tales of migrants. The American Family History Center has a new interactive research area where visitors can pay to access the files and trace the details of their ancestors. The passenger records of the ships that landed some 22 million immigrants, crew members and other passengers at the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924 have been computerised, making it easier to trace a family history. There is also on line access to the database of the Center. Cobh, The Queenstown Story, Cork The story of Cobh’s unique origins, its history and legacy are dramatically recalled at the Queenstown Story –very good multi-media exhibition at Cobh’s restored Victorian Railway Station. It explores conditions on board the early emigrant vessels, including the dreaded “coffin ship”. Life on board a convict ship leaving for Australia in 1801 is recreated together with dramatic footage of ships rounding the Horn. The ill-fated Titanic’s last port of call was Cobh and the story is told. The poignant ‘Irish Wake’ that was held for emigrants is described. Most of the emigrants never returned to Ireland or saw their family again. Cobh provides a sad picture of the immigrant process for poor Irish workers and others leaving Ireland to go to America, Australia and other countries.

OTHER MUSEUMS There were many other museums that I visited that were of interest and of particular significance with unique collections. Some had special exhibitions that were outstanding eg “Brazil: Body and Mind” at the Gugenheim in New York; “The First Lady – Political Role Public Image” and “Field To Factory” both at the National History Museum Washington; the new British Galleries at the V&A Museum in London; Tate Modern; the Education services at The J. Paul Getty Museum, LA; the Isabella Gardiner Museum in Boston; the Witch Museums and Salem; the Boston Heritage Trail buildings; Longcrew and Knowth interpretation centre and site; the village of Kells; Trinity College Dublin; the great museums of Oxford –Pitt Rivers, The Ashmolean and Blenheim Palace.

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The Getty building of white marble was an exhibition piece in itself perched as it is on a cliff overlooking LA. The collection is good. The education section is in a separate building with a library and other resources. Surprisingly they are experiencing difficulties in attracting teachers to in service sessions and schools to the Museum. The problem is the location of the Getty. It can take hours to get there especially if the traffic is bad. Otherwise it has an excellent education service and programs on the art and artifacts located at the museum.

While in Europe I was able to observe exhibitions and programs at a number of outstanding museum and sites. In Norway the Oslo Museum provided an interactive, modern interpretation of Norwegian history and life styles of the past and present. Stravanger is a small town on the North Sea with a remarkable collection of museums such as -the futuristic Oil Museum, The Archaeology Museum, Historic Houses, The Maritime Museum, and the renowned Norwegian Canning Museum. In Finland I have already outlined the numerous museums located in Hameenlinna. Helsinki Museum, and Art Gallery gave a comprehensive view of Finish society and art. The Street Museum was a fascinating way of interpreting changes to streets over the centuries in Helsinki. The World Heritage site of the island Fort of Somelinia, just of the coast from Helsinki, was a fascinating place with its huge defensive walls and fortifications, superb rows of terrace style houses, huge dry dock and other military buildings that are still in use. I was able to go to Arktikum Museum on the Arctic Circle too. In Russia I visited The Hermitage and many other superb palaces, churches and historic sites in St. Petersburg. The Peter and Paul Fortress also contained a harsh prison for political prisoners. My hostel was adjacent to the Knasty Prison. This 19th century prison is still in use and is over crowded and prisoners are held in appalling conditions. It was a great shock to observe this prison daily from my room. In Germany I was fortunate to stay in the World Heritage town of Bamberg. Bamberg is renowned for its stunning buildings and wonderful museums. In Nuremberg I visited the historic fort and the site of the Hitler rallies at the Stadium. In ancient Regensburg I saw the Roman ruins, historic museums in the various churches and other ancient buildings and memorials. The Old Town Hall dating back to the13th century was of particular interest as in its cellar it still housed an interrogation chamber. It was here that prisoners were tortured during the middle ages and held in small, windowless cells. A singularly arresting experience to see it so well preserved and located in the heart of the old town under the seat of government. In Munich I went to the huge Deutsches Science Museum with its amazing interactive displays. I have chosen to describe only a few museums that were particularly outstanding below and also ones that most people would not have the opportunity to visit. The Norwegian Canning Museum, Stavanger The Canning Museum operated from 1880 until 1930 approximately. It still smokes sardines twice a week for visitors to observe the process and they can eat the sardines. The small factory has all the machinery involved in the cooking, processing and canning of sardines. Visitors can see how long it would take them to pack a tin of sardines compared to the few seconds a professional worker took. It is a wonderful eclectic museum that beautifully preserves and exhibits the work process of the factory. The noise, the tedium and the dangers and various work conditions of the women workers

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are shown and discussed. Canning and fishing were the major industries of the region for many decades. Upstairs the managers’ offices and facilities are displayed. There is an exhibition area and historic video on canning. The museum has an extensive collection of original sardine tin labels. The labels were beautifully designed to entice the shopper to buy them. The museum is located in the centre of the town on the edge of a fiord. An exquisite village of tiny, white, wooden workers houses surrounded it. Recently the adjacent workers house has been fully restored and interpreted. The ground floor is furnished in the early 20th century style while upstairs is done as in the 1960’s. It gives a very clear idea of the living conditions and changes experienced by the workers. The house is a perfect compliment to the canning factory. The museum offers a very good interactive schools program. The museum has a program of changing exhibitions on various aspects of the canning industry. The guides are multilingual.

Arktikum Museum, Finland The Arktikum Museum is located in Rovaniemi in the North of Finland on the Arctic Circle. It is a comparatively new museum and the landscaping was still being completed. It is located on the bank of a large river. A small botanical gardens and herbal plantings surround the museum and stretch along the river. It is a very contemporary and futuristic building with a long, glassed atrium. Arktikum has a research centre for Arctic studies, a library, a museum of the Arctic and its indigenous peoples, the Sami, and Arctic life, natural habitats, history, and exhibition spaces for temporary exhibitions. The exhibitions were superb. They gave an explanation of the formation of the region over the millennia. There were films of the wonderful Northern Lights, whales and other activities located in the region. They skillfully contrasted the changing life style of the Sami people of the region. Relating their life style, customs, culture, transport and clothing. Environmental issues were dealt with and details of the flora and fauna of the region were displayed. The impact of recent settlement was discussed. There were two temporary exhibitions while I was there one was a photographic exhibition of the Antarctic region and the other was the story of two sisters who had been photographers in Rovaniemi in the 1920.

Arktikum Museum interior. Sami mask exhibition

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The Jewish Museum, New York Their exhibition “Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art” was very thought provoking with its controversial installations. Art has a knack for confronting a visitor, for making them approach a topic in a different manner, and for making them think about a topic from another perspective. “Mirroring Evil” was an exhibition of the work of various artists looking at the evil of Nazi Germany from different perspectives. These artists incorporated modern iconic images and objects into their work such as Zbigniew Libera with the Lego box and pieces turned into a replica of a concentration camp with Nazi attendants. It was to evoke the Third Reich’s propaganda used for children as well as the pervasiveness of violence in children’s products today. The exhibition asked a number of questions at the beginning that I felt had relevance to people working in Police and Prison Museums. The introduction was film clips of Jews in films-Danny Kay and others in such films as “Spring Time For Hitler,” and “Cabaret”. An adjacent panel asked- Who can speak for the holocaust? How has art used Nazi imagery to represent evil? What are the limits of irreverence? Why must we confront evil? (What are the dangers of ignoring the past, or being complacent about the present?) How has art helped to break the silence? (-How can art keep the memory alive?) The exhibition wanted to promote discussion about this and more. The Museum had a facilitated dialogue about “Mirroring Evil” in the rear of the café between 4.00-5.00 p.m. that was well attended. There were warning signs for visitors at the commencement and at other stages of the exhibition that visitors may be offended or distress by the contents of the exhibition. Children under 13 years were not allowed. The Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington The Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington was a graphic recreation of the experience of going to, entering, and living in a concentration camp. Through photos, film, dialogues with survivors and others and recreations of living areas the visitor is shown all aspects of the harrowing lives of these people. I felt more warnings could have been in place for the visitor before some of the horrifying films shown. Art installations are used in the museum and are a jarring realization of the representation of the death of thousands of people at the camps for the visitor. The whole museum experience is powerful and overwhelming.

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CONCLUSION: The Churchill Fellowship enabled me to undertake what I think is the first world wide study of Police

and Prison Museums by an Australian. I was only able to see the major police and prison museums in the countries I visited. It was interesting to see the many similarities of interpretation but also the individual differences of each site were very apparent. Each country and region interpreted the concepts of imprisonment and the police system that suited their societies needs and requirements. Each site had adapted to the local circumstances and conditions.

Frequently in Australia and overseas people questioned me as to the relevance and purpose of prison

museums. They considered a prison a prison and that was that. However prisons are mirrors of the society around them. When a society is healthy and flourishing then generally prison numbers are low. Where as if a society is experiencing stresses in the form of unemployment, and economic depression then the prison population usually rises. The stories of the ordinary people who find themselves in prison can be a reflection of what is happening in the society around them. Often it was the unemployed, ill, migrants, widowed or injured that found themselves forced into crime in order to survive during the 19th century. The introduction of pensions, welfare services and agencies and compulsory education helped change the situation these people had previously found themselves in. It could be very difficult for migrants in America, Australia and other places where people found themselves without friends or family to support them in times of need. Prisons are places where political and military prisoners were held too. Their stories can reflect a nations struggle towards independence and home rule, such as in Ireland. The convicts’ stories are particularly poignant as they left their countries usually never to return. How the convicts after their release helped develop and shape new nations is a fascinating story.

Prison museums can be places that record the progress of a society, its changing laws and attitudes to

crime and punishment. Prisons were often places of terror and cruel injustices that by present day standards would not be condoned let alone sanctioned as they were in the past. It is easy for a society to forget its past and slip back into concepts and ideas that have been shown to not work. It is easy for people to advocate the reintroduction of capital punishment for instance or sanction its use when they only see the elements of revenge and not the effects it has on all those people who are involved in the process of carrying out the sentence.

There is enormous education potential in Prison and Police Museums. Many of the sites I visited are

exploring and developing that potential while others have yet to begin. The Galleries of Justice is the leader with its numerous programs. While the NYCP Museum in New York makes good use of its serving police officers to speak to students and explain their roles and duties. There is the potential in other Police Museums to develop links with local police forces and explore the use of police staff in school programs.

Historic sites have a duty to their visitors to provide a true record and accurate interpretation of the

history of the site. Prison museums in particular have the potential to be sensationalised and the stories of the events and prisoners associated with the site distorted. Many of the sites I visited have gained a reputation through the films and television that have been located at their sites and through the stories of their high profile prison inmates and the crimes they committed. The Hollywood style interpretation is often inaccurate but known and believed by the visitor.

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Visitors need to be reminded that these 19th century prisons were a brave new experiment to reform and improve the squalid conditions that prisoners had previously been housed in. Prison design itself was an attempt to mould the criminal mind, change and improve it. Visitors should realize that this experiment should be on going and evolving. Societies themselves change and evolve and attitudes to punishment differ and develop too.

It seems appropriate to conclude with the following quote from Churchill - Sir Winston Churchill in the House of Commons in London, July 1910 outlined his penal

philosophy: “ The mood and temper of the public in regard to the testament of crime and criminals is one of the

most unfailing tests of the civilisation of any country. A calm and dispassionate recognition of the rights of the accused against the State, and even of convicted criminals against the State, a constant heart-searching by all charged with the duty of punishment, a desire and eagerness to rehabilitate in the world of industry all those who have paid their dues in the hard coinage of punishment, tireless efforts towards the discovery of curative and regenerating processes, and an unfaltering faith that there is a treasure, if you can only find it, in the heart of every man-these are symbols which in the treatment of crime and criminals mark and measure the stored-up strength of a nation, and are the sign and proof of the living virtue in it.”

Interior and holding cell in the National Prison Museum, Hameenlinna Finland.

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Acknowledgments: I would like to thank the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for providing me with the opportunity to research Prison and Police Museums worldwide. Also for their help and support this year. Thanks also to friends and the numerous people at the museums who shared their expertise and valuable time with me. Many of these people recommended other sites to visit that would assist my research. I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful hospitality I received from friends and colleagues. I am very fortunate to work in the Museum world: Kevin Fewster, Power House Museum, Dr Helen Light, Jewish Museum of Australia, Henry Gaughan, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Ian Watts, Ian Hocking, Geoffrey Goldsmith, Louise Connell, The Galleries of Justice, Sara Elk & Sean Kelly, Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Jennifer Pollick, New York City Police Museum, Kate Fermoile, Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Jim Linley, Inveraray Prison, Elizabeth Kearns, Dermot and Mary Kenneally, Cork Prison, Pat Cooke, Sara Ronan and Brian Crowley, Kilmainham Gaol, Duchas The Heritage Service, Marja-Liisa Ripatti, Hameenlinna Historical Museum, Saja Sillanpaa, Hameenlinna Prison Museum, Esko Aaltonen, Hameenlinna Prison, John Ross, The Black Museum, Joan Kavanagh, Family History Centre Wicklow, Peter Neill, South Street Seaport Museum, Janet Carding, Science Museum London, Catherine Hughes, Boston Science Museum, Irene Davies, Tower of London, Professor Eileen Hooper Greenhill, University of Leicester, Richard Sandell, University of Leicester, Alan Carter, International Police Association British Section, Professor Norman Johnston, Arcadia University Philadelphia, Piers Crocker, Norweigan Canning Museum. Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, Reading Prison, UK. Dianne Eamonns & Curt Prouse, Boston, Alex & Klaus Dingleby, Munich, Pius, Rosie, Esther & Christian Wiedenmaier, Bamberg, Caritas, St Petersburg. Thanks also to my family Kevin, Emma, and Katherine Fell for all their help & assistance. It was a long time to be away. Since my return I have written a number of articles, given talks and newspaper interviews. The Leader Newspaper article, The Museum National Magazine article, The Museums Australian Education Group Newsletter article, The National Trust of Australia (Vic.) Magazine article, spoken at The Museums Australia Education Group AGM, at the National Gallery of Victoria, The Churchill Fellows evening, The History Teachers Association of Victoria Conference, and to National Trust of Australia (Vic.) staff, and at the Museum of Lilydale.

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The Galleries of Justice. Education Zone entrance and drug display.

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