more than scuttlebutt…. · 2012-02-24 · director’s log more than scuttlebutt…. page 2 at...
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1 s t Q u ar t e r F Y 2 0 1 2
The National Museum of the Marine Corps
saw 521,294 visitors during 2011 and con-
tinued to solidify itself as part of the fabric of
the community and as ―the Marine House.‖ It
was a year filled with reaching out to the
community and beyond, while also looking
inward at successes and sharing lessons
learned with other organizations.
The Museum started out strong in earned
media with a cameo appearance on the pre-
game show of Super Bowl 45. The media
continued to rely on the strong imagery of the
NMMC and the large pool of subject matter
experts for filming documentaries and inter-
views. Some examples include CBS and ABC
conducting interviews with the young Marine
who invited a celebrity to the Marine Corps
Ball, an Okinawan documentary about WWII,
and a Russian TV RTR news feature on the
Sikorsky family of helicopters.
It wasn’t just the media looking to the Mu-
seum as subject matter experts. Museums
also turned to NMMC when looking for exam-
ples of best practices. The entire Museum
team offered advice and training nationally
and internationally during 2011. Some ex-
amples include the Wisconsin Historical Soci-
ety/Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Armed
Forces Heritage House, Museum of the
Armed Forces and Military History in Belgium,
and Lackland Air Force Base.
The Education Branch’s impact on the com-
munity continued to be significant as evi-
denced by another record breaking year in
2011 for the number of people participating
in the educational programming. NMMC wel-
comed 42,000 students and chaperones on
field trips. The staff took Museum program-
ming out to the schools who could not visit –
presenting Teaching Trunk programs to
1,950 students. Family days and special
events, with subjects ranging from the Revo-
lutionary War to Halloween, were enjoyed by
an additional 2,800 visitors.
Growth and outreach were also major factors
in 2011 for the Curatorial Services Branch.
With an ever growing inventory of priceless
artifacts, the team spent many hours on ac-
tivities associated with collections manage-
ment, to include rehousing objects, updating
loan agreements, and resolving collections
processing backlogs in support of AAM ac-
creditation.
Continued on page 2, Year in Review
2011 Another Busy Year for NMMC Oct—Dec ‘11 Highlights:
120,059 people visited
the Museum during
this quarter.
The Museum consis-
tently earns a 5-star
rating on tripadvi-
sor.com, with review-
ers praising everything
from the exhibits to the
food and the docents.
Read more at http://
www.tripadvisor.com/
Attraction_Review-
g60940-d562393-
Reviews-
Na-
tional_Museum_of_the
_Marine_Corps-
Triangle_Virginia.html
NMMC’s facebook has
24,847 fans. Have
you ―liked‖ it yet at
http://
www.facebook.com/
USMCMuseum?
The Museum won the
South Eastern Mu-
seum Conferences
award for its new gal-
lery guide in the 2011
Publications Competi-
tion.
More than
Scuttlebutt….
Nat ional Museum of the Marine Corps , 18900 Jef ferson Davis Highway,
Tr iangle, V i rgin ia 22172 www.usmcmuseum.org
Visit www.usmcmuseum.org
or join as a fan on Facebook
to learn about exciting events
at your community’s Mu-
seum.
The world famous Clydesdales were a spe-
cial treat for visitors in November.
In October Museum visitors enjoyed a per-
formance by the Band of Her Majesty’s
Royal Marines, Scotland.
Director’s Log
Page 2 More Than Scuttlebutt….
At the end of the year, most of us are besieged by spasms of gift-giving, hopefully along with a generous dose of good will toward
others and thoughtful reflections on the 12 months that just passed us by in a rush. The National Museum of the Marine Corps
gets even a bit more magical each December, especially at night, lit by four holiday trees and decorated for the season. This year,
staff and family members were joined by friends from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Regiment, and
Combat Camera, who decorated our three ―guest trees.‖ We even got a visit from Santa and his Mrs., who looked a whole lot like a
retired Marine Corps couple we know. Taking center stage in Leatherneck Gallery is a restored World War II jeep we move in each
year, which we fill with toys—hopefully several times over—for Toys for Tots. Yes, it’s a time of the year for giving and remembering.
The Museum actually is the recipient of the generosity of others throughout the year. Did you know that most of the artifacts that
are added to the collections annually come from individual donors? In 2011, NMMC added 1.652 artifacts to its rolls, and 85 per
cent were donated, mostly by ordinary men and women with pride in the Marine Corps and an interest in preserving the history rep-
resented by these treasures. If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter or a Facebook friend, you’ve heard about some of them.
This year’s crop was indeed diverse, ranging from 19th century flatware commis-
sioned by a Marine serving at the Washington Barracks, to Pappy Boyington’s wings,
to a Smith & Wesson revolver carried by a WWII Marine. And all these artifacts had
to pass muster by our collections committee before they came to me for approval.
And we ask tough questions! A museum’s job is to collect only those objects so spe-
cial that they warrant the resources needed to preserve and steward them forever.
We take that job very seriously. NMMC also deaccessioned 415 artifacts that did
not meet our high standards for retention. And that part of our job is even harder—
but it has to be done.
NMMC is also generously supported all year long by the Marine Corps Heritage Foun-
dation. Federal dollars pay staff salaries, keep the lights and A/C on, and pay most
our bills. But there are some things that are really hard to do with Federal dollars,
and MCHF really makes a huge difference! Highlights this year include another
year’s support of the Teacher-in-Residence program, design and fabrication of new
children’s exhibit/activity areas scheduled to open this spring, object conservation,
framing for artworks, and marketing—including a radio blitz. And those are just the
wave tops. We are ever so grateful to the Foundation and its supportive and creative
staff for all they do!
In addition to their work directly with the collection, the curatorial staff responded to hundreds of queries for research, dona-
tion offers, and support requests from the public, other Federal Agencies, museums, and Marine Corps units. Requests aver-
aged two per week while the public offered donations at the rate of six per week. The curatorial team also found time to pub-
lish articles, present monthly curator chats, host the 3d Artifact Road Show in February, escort tour groups and VIPS, and
much more.
Although there weren’t any major gallery openings in 2011, the Exhibits Branch stayed busy upgrading existing exhibits and
supporting other commands with designs and exhibits. The team designed and installed several temporary exhibits (see 2011
Exhibits, page 3). In addition to their duties within the NMMC walls, the Exhibits team is often looked to as the subject matter
expert for displays and presentations beyond the walls of the Museum. Some of the numerous projects they’ve worked on in-
clude exhibits for Marine Corps University buildings, displays at the Pentagon, and updates to the Home of the Commandant.
Their reach, however, extends to commands as far south as Parris Island and as far west as the Mountain Warfare Training
Center in Barstow, CA. The exhibits team even fabricated an artifact mount to replace a failing mount holding a Medal of
Honor at the WW II Museum in New Orleans.
The Restoration Branch continued work on several large artifacts, most of which will be included in Phase 2 of the NNMC. Res-
toration and preservation of the Dauntless SBD included the completion of the center wing section and forward fuselage air-
frame and initiation of repairs and preservation of the aft fuselage. The larger components of the Roebling Alligator were sent
out to be blasted and were returned. In addition to these major projects, the Restoration team also worked on the preserva-
tion, restoration, and storage of other artifacts to include the Sherman Flame Tank and an M1A1 tank.
With expansion likely in coming years, the NMMC team continues to serve the Corps and the public today while preparing to
extend that service into the future.
Year in Review (cont from page 1)
Santa made a special appearance during the
Holiday Concert by the Quantico Marine Band.
This young visitor couldn’t wait until the end of
the song to run to the jolly old elf.
Visitor Services Enhances Museum Experience
Page 3 More Than Scuttlebutt….
With more than 520,000 visitors to the Museum during 2011, the Visitor Services
team certainly had plenty to keep them busy. Providing tours and supporting all
aspects of the Museum visitors’ experience continued to be the main focus for
the branch. Although the VS team helps to enhance the Museum experience for
all patrons, they provided tours for nearly 45,000 of them. That is in addition to
the tours for approximately 4,000 VIPs, including the Japanese Ambassador and
the Minister of Defense, WW II Honor Flight veterans, German Command and
Staff College students, and numerous Wounded Warriors. Of significant note was
a tour and event requested by Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer for his fam-
ily following the ceremony at the
White House. The VS team also sup-
ported 290 ceremonies at the Mu-
seum, including presentations of the
Navy Cross and Bronze Stars as well
as multiple Officer Candidate School
commissionings. Staff and docents
assisted when OCS candidates vis-
ited the Museum to learn more
about Marine Corps history during
their training evolution. In accor-
dance with the Museum’s mission statement, professional military education
classes were facilitated by the VS team at an average of more than two a
month. Amid all this activity, the team also found time to plan and execute a
Marine Corps Birthday cake-cutting ceremony for several hundred visitors, an
annual event that is becoming a local tradition. Providing superior customer
service to all Museum visitors would not be possible for the team without the
228 dedicated docents who gave 21,420 hours of service to the Museum.
These men and women add so much to the visitor experience as often evi-
denced in online travel site reviews. A recent one from Tripadvisor.com read in
part:: ―From the soaring architecture to the seemingly endless dioramas, this
place is a special treat. Best of all are the retired Marine docents who will show
you around.‖
Most of the Museum branches were also involved in some way in supporting temporary
exhibits in the NMMC in 2011, either through research, planning, installation, or promo-
tion. Some of the exhibits were ―Native
Words, Native Warriors,‖ the story of the
Navajo Code Talkers, which opened in
Jan; the 20th Anniversary of Operation
Desert Shield/Desert Storm, which
opened in February; the 10th Anniver-
sary of 9/11, which opened in Septem-
ber; Eugene Stoner, firearms inventor
and Marine, a single case, which
opened in September; and ―Partners in
Diplomacy,‖ an exhibit co-sponsored by
the Department of State and the Marine
Security Guards, which opened in No-
vember. Additionally, the Aviation and Art Curatorial Sections were fully en-
gaged with the National Air and Space Museum in planning an art and artifact
exposition to celebrate the Centennial of Marine Aviation which opened to the
public in January 2012 for one year.
Temporary Exhibits Have Lasting Impacts
―Fly Marines!‖ opened at the Na-
tional Air and Space Museum in
January but Museum staff worked on
the show for a good part of 2011.
Cpl Travis Vieyra and Sgt John Lewis (L to R)
wore Marine Corps Civil War uniforms for the
150th Anniversary commemorations of the
First Battle of Bull Run at Manassas.
The Museum’s 9/11 Anniversary exhibit in-
troduced a departure from the norm by invit-
ing visitors to touch two special artifacts.
Docent Marie Luedke leads a tour using the
NMMC’s new VOX Radio wireless tour guide
system. Using 5 transmitters and 160 re-
ceivers, the system allows the Museum to
run up to 5 tours simultaneously, without
interfering with other tours or guests.
More than Scuttlebutt…. Page 4
The flag-raising at Iwo Jima has long been a symbol of the Marine Corps
and now influences the architecture of the National Museum of the Ma-
rine Corps. Even more fascinating are the stories of the individuals
behind that historical moment, one of whom serves as a docent at the
Museum.
Frank Matthews, 85, knows what it was like to charge onto that sulfur-
stenched island while dodging enemy gunfire. He did exactly that back
in 1945 as 18-year-old Private First Class Frank Matthews of the 2d Bat-
talion, 24th Regiment of the 4th Division.
Matthews spent 28 days on Iwo Jima in February and March 1945. His
mission was clear and direct - kill the Japanese. ―We talk about Iwo’
because it’s the worst loss of life in the first day of battle in American
history,‖ Matthews says. More than 2,400 Marines died on day one of
the battle.
Matthews has been telling Museum visitors about his Iwo experience
for nearly four years. What he hasn’t told them is his life outside the
seven years he spent in the Corps.
Matthews was born in the summer of 1926 in Columbus, Georgia, the son of a Presbyterian minister. Matthews moved to
Newberry, South Carolina, at the age of seven and remained there until 1943 when he enlisted in the Corps, even before his
graduation from Bush River High School in June. After a summer of southern humidity and Marine Corps humility at the re-
cruit depot at Parris Island, South Carolina Matthews earned the title ―Marine.‖
During the following months, Matthews trained on various weapons systems that he would later use instinctively when he and
his fellow Marines risked their lives to take Iwo Jima, an island crucial to victory in WWII. Four weeks later he received his
discharge, but his days in the Corps weren’t over.
For a time Matthews traded in his combat boots for academics, using the GI Bill to earn a bachelor’s degree in music at the
University of North Carolina. He realized he wasn’t finished with the Corps or his education so he signed up for a Marine Corps
Officer program that allowed him to earn his masters degree in hopes of someday teaching college level music. This led him
to Baton Rouge to attend Louisiana State University.
While in the Cajun state, Matthews got involved in church music programs, playing the piano and organ, something he did
throughout his upbringing. However, now in his early 20s, he was reminded of something he learned during his active duty
days. ―I found the girls were prettier at church functions than they were at other places,‖ Matthews said. ―It wasn’t long be-
fore some of my buddies wanted to come to church with me because of the pretty girls I was meeting.‖
One of those pretty girls was Margaret, who sang in the choir. The two hit it off, had a rather long courtship while Frank
served another five years as an officer in the Corps, and eventually married in 1958. In 1964 they moved to California where
Matthews taught music at various colleges in the San Jose area until he retired in 2001. Frank and Margaret raised two
daughters, one of whom he lives with in Stafford, Va.
Today Matthews divides most of his time between music and the Museum. He teaches piano and organ lessons to approxi-
mately 30 students between the ages of 7 and 17. He also composes music, and his favorite composers are Chopin, Bra-
hams, and Beethoven.
Matthews is in his elder years now. His wife has passed on, and his own health has slowed him down some, but he still
spends a few days each week sharing his knowledge and passion of Iwo Jima with visitors who want to know more about
American history. ―Not many people know much about World War II,‖ Matthews said. ―I don’t like it when people just walk
through the Museum without wanting to learn anything. I like the idea that I’m contributing to the American public.‖ Whether
it was his contributions at Iwo Jima, the music classroom, or serving as a docent, Frank Matthews embodies the Semper Fi
spirit that is captured every day at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Meet a Docent..Frank Matthews Embodies Iwo Story
Docent Frank Matthews shares his Iwo Jima experiences
with visitors outside the Iwo Immersion exhibit.
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