Grinnell College and the Drake Community Library have again partnered to bring the latest Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) exhibit available for viewing at the Library. This partnership allows Grinnellians and Iowans to have access to the cultural resources of the Smithsonian right here in our community. The Way We Worked is a tribute to the workforce, and features stories about how we worked, the way we did it, who worked and the why behind working.
As we explored earlier this week for a Chamber Ambassador visit, the group was enthralled by the interesting facts and photos donning the display, sparking interesting conversation about tales from previous generations. Fran Conn, retired from Starnes TV & Appliance, noted that her father started the business in 1952 when televisions were just hitting the market, and recalled large groups of people standing outside the downtown storefront to watch the television for the first time. What a fun memory!
Grinnellians have their chance to share more memories of the way we worked in our community as the next Smithsonian exhibit (Winter 2020) will be taking elements of the current feature and molding into a uniquely curated display for Grinnell using bits and pieces of our own history and work culture. As you explore the exhibit currently at the library, I encourage you to jot down memories or ideas that come to mind so they can soon be shared with the team working to curate our own exhibit. You can submit your stories HERE.
In the meantime, make a trip over to the library to explore the current Smithsonian exhibit to learn more about the history of the way we worked.