Fourteen of the nation’s leading maritime scholars, historians, and advisors visited Mystic Seaport January 12-13, 2012 to assist in development of exhibit and programming for the Charles W. Morgan and her groundbreaking 38th Voyage. Set for the summer of 2014, the much-anticipated voyage of the last wooden whaleship in the world will include visits at historic ports of call along the Northeastern Seaboard.
The two-day charrette was made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Bridging Cultures Grant and was awarded to the Museum for its “In the Wake of the Whalers” program. Feedback from NEH reviewers has been quite positive for the program and its four key humanities themes: 1) The Cultural Crossroads of Globalization (cultural crosspollination), 2) Profit from the Deep (economic endeavors), 3) The American Sailor: Making an Icon (American identity), and 4) Thar She Blows: From Whale Hunt to Whale Watch (changing perceptions of the natural world).
Visiting scholars worked with Museum staff in the development of the program’s sub-themes, confirming that they are consistent with the best recent scholarship in the fields of maritime history, literature, art, and history of science. Mystic Seaport plans to match each sub-theme to the best delivery system to maximize audience impact and understanding. Ultimately, the Museum will ensure that intellectual and research-grounded content is consistently strong across all formats and outcomes. Charrette results will move the Museum forward towards implementation of its final onsite, online, and onboard programming concepts.
Consulting scholars, historians, and advisors included:
- Jeff Bolster, Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire
- D. Graham Burnett, Professor, History Department and Program in History of Science at Princeton University
- Stuart Frank, Director Emeritus of the Kendall Institute and Senior Curator at New Bedford Whaling Museum
- Lisa Norling, Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Minnesota
- Joe Roman, Conservation Biologist
- Helen Rozwadowski, Associate Professor of History and Maritime Studies Coordinator at the University of Connecticut
- Tim Runyan, Special Project Assistant in the Maritime Heritage Program for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
- Elizabeth Schultz, Professor Emerita in the Department of English at the University of Kansas
- Nancy Shoemaker, Professor of History at the University of Connecticut
- Julie Winch, Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston
- Revell Carr, Assistant Professor at the School of Music, Theater and Dance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Karen Jamison Wizevich, Ph.D. in Architecture/Museum Studies from Victoria University, New Zealand
- Jamie L. Jones; Professor of American Literature and Writing at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Jason Mancini, Senior Researcher at Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.
