The Missouri History Museum and Washington University are making sure artifacts from Ferguson are preserved.
since Michael Brown鈥檚 death on Aug. 9 in Ferguson. In addition to a lot of photos and video, that also includes minutes from community meetings, stories and art, Shannon Davis, digital projects librarian at the university, told 鈥淐ityscape鈥� host Steve Potter on Friday. The university created , a digital repository, in August.
The Missouri History Museum is collecting physical artifacts through its Ferguson Collecting Initiative. On Thursday, the , looking for artifacts to add to its permanent collection.
鈥淚t was a unique opportunity to collect artifacts from the present, really, that we hope will represent history in the future,鈥� said Christopher Gordon, library and collections director at the museum.
The museum and the university are seeking artifact donations, which may include protest signs, fliers, T-shirts and other memorabilia.
鈥淚 know this is an emotional issue, and some people may not want to part with what they have now,鈥� Gordon said. 鈥淚 hope that they will consider us in the future, certainly. As much as we can collect now, the better the story will be told.鈥�
The Washington University library has not yet decided what it will do with its collection. Davis said it will be used as research and in teaching, but the staff is just starting to figure out what鈥檚 next.
The history museum also will use its collection for research. Some pieces also may appear in future exhibits.
鈥淭he goal right now is to build a research collection. It鈥檚 build that story through documents and artifacts,鈥� Gordon said. 鈥淎ll of our collections are open to the public, so anyone can come and request to look at the items and study them. There鈥檚 not a specific Ferguson exhibit that鈥檚 planned right now, but there is a civil rights exhibit that鈥檚 coming up in a couple (of) years. I鈥檓 sure that will be incorporated.鈥�
To add items to Washington University鈥檚 Documenting Ferguson, visit ferguson. To add items to the Missouri History Museum鈥檚 Ferguson Collecting Initiative, visit , or call 314-746-4599.
鈥淐ityscape鈥� is produced by and and sponsored in part by the , the , and the .
