Story Corp Visits Children's Museum

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis won a gold medal award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. And as part of that award, Story Corps is in town to document the personal stories of people connected to the museum. 

"It's kind of to celebrate the people who made the library or museum what it is, and to recognize why they won the award." says Christina Kim, a Story Corps facilitator.  

Kim helps people record their stories, which are then are preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and may even be broadcast on NPR.  This week she helped Esther Rosen and her son-in- law Dan Davis, both museum volunteers, record a 40-minute conversation about their time working there. 

Rosen’s handiwork can be found in exhibits around the museum, from the couture 1904 dress she restored to a 1960s outfit displayed as part of a Barbie doll exhibit. She’s been volunteering at the museum for 20 years --- and she won’t have it any other way. In fact, when she was asked to make waterproof aprons for the new Playscape exhibit, she had to play a little hardball with the volunteer coordinator:

"I found out that they want to pay me and I wouldn’t take any money.  And knowing me, I looked at her and said ‘if you’re going to be that way, I’m walking away.  I do not want to be paid.'  Well, we compromised." says Rosen.

That compromise? She made the small aprons, and someone else made the larger sizes.

The museum is recording a total of 18 other interviews.  Participants will receive a copy for their personal use and the museum will also get copies to use.