As part of the Dawson City Museum Project, I am creating timelines of the Museum’s development in relation to government policy and community action (1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s).
Museum Operations
2010:
Collection
The Museum deaccessioned most of its paleontology collection, giving the artifacts to Yukon Government (DCM Report June 28, 2010).
Acquisitions were minimal because of an ongoing collections project. However, the Museum accessed a series of photographs, which were significant because they showed the interior of buildings (DCM Annual Report 2011).
Exhibitions
The Museum created French translations of exhibition content (Source).
The Museum held an exhibition titled “The Beauty that Surrounds us” featuring the work of Palma Berger as part of the Riverside Art Festival’s Gallery Hop (DCM Annual Report 2011).
Programming (other)
Canada Day continued to be a significant success for the Museum (DCM Report August 4, 2010).
Screenshot from the DCM 2011 annual report 2011:
Collections
After finishing the three year collections project in 2010, the Museum began a three year project to assess and address inefficiencies in the archival collection (DCM ED Report May 30, 2011).
The Museum acquired Yukon Order of Pioneer photographs.
Setting the Pylon for the Ice Pool, 2005 (Brian Close, 2011.13.19) Exhibitions
The Museum launched three new exhibits:
- “Discovered in the Collections”: A case on the landing featuring sports related material.
- “Children of the Klondike”
- an exhibition about Minto Park and its historic importance
The Museum held a retrospective of Jackie Olsen’s painting for the Arts Festival’s Artswalk (DCM Annual Report 2011-12).
Governance
The Museum passed a new Corporate Records Management Policy, a Facilities Use Policy, and a Gift Shop and Admissions Policy (DCM Annual Report 2011-12).
Partnerships
The Museum partnered with the Dawson City Music Festival and the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture to access support from the Cultural Investment fund for website upgrades (DCM Report Jan 24 2011).
Programming (Other)
Screenshot from DCM Annual Report 2011-12 With funding from Yukon Energy, the Museum began offering the education kit “Simple Machines” to the local school with plans for more boxes (DCM Report Jan 24, 2011). However, school programs were suspended due to the departure of the program manager (DCM Annual Report 2011-12). .
The Museum began to offer tours of the storage facilities (DCM Review of Dawson City Museum 2007-2012).
A summer student – future museum director – prepared a guide for the train shelter to be used by future interpreters (DCM End of Summer Report).
Staffing
The Museum eliminated a short lived programmer position due to financial challenges (DCM ED Report January 17, 2011; DCM Annual Report 2011-12). However, the Museum continued to have a seasonal gift show and admissions Manager, Archival Technician, Collections Technician, and summer student workforce of six (DCM Annual Report 2011-12).
2012:
Building
A sprinkler burst, causing damage to the collection.
Collections
The Museum received a donation of 446 editions of the Klondike Sun in physical and digital format (DCM Annual Report 2013).
Exhibitions
The Museum had a temporary exhibition titled – What to do on Tuesdays in Winter? – which featured quilts as part of the local Arts Festival (DCM Annual Report 2013).
Governing
The Museum transitioned from being an administrative governing board, which did hands-on work, to a policy governing board (DCM Annual Report 2013).
Library
Due to the donation of proceeds from the sale of In the Footsteps of my Father, the Museum began to professionalize the appearance of the Klondike History Library (DCM Annual Report 2011-2012).
Programming (Other)
Screenshot from the DCM Annual Report 2013 The Museum organized a comedy show with Ron James at the Palace Grand.
Screenshot from Davidson, Dan. 2012, May 30. “Ron James Packs the Palace Grand.” Klondike Sun. P22. Self generated / Earned revenue
Screenshot from DCM Notes for meeting with Minister 2013:
Collection
The Museum used donations to make more photographs available on their website (DCM Annual Report 2013). Check out their awesome photo collection here!
Significant donations accepted into the collection came from families of deceased Dawsonites, such as images from “Dinty” Dines:
![Colour view of gold being prepared for shipment. The location of the Mining Recorders Office at the time was located in the Old Post Office on Third Avenue and King Street.
The man is tentatively identified as John Dines [source: S. Burkhard].
Caption: Mining Recorder Shipping Gold 1957.](https://i0.wp.com/museoception.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2013.1.9.15_720x.jpg?resize=550%2C373&ssl=1)
Preparing Gold for Shipment, December 1957 (Harold Dines; 2013.1.9.15) The Museum hired a conservator to restore the piano damaged in the 2012 pipe burst.
Exhibition
The Museum hosted Riley Brenan for the Riverside Arts Festival (DCM Annual Report 2014).
Programming (other)
Screenshot from DCM Annual Report 2014 2014:
Staff
The Museum hired a full time curator and an archivist/librarian in addition to the executive director.
2015:
Building
There was a small flood in the Museum, but fortunately nothing was damaged (DCM ED Report June 16, 2015).
Governance
After a hiatus of almost two years, the collections committee began to meet and accept donations (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
Staff
The Museum began hiring fewer student summer staff (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
2016:
Building
The Museum continued to experience problems with its sprinkler system, resulting in damage to a Gwichin language bible and the board room (DCM ED Report February 16, 2016).
Collection
The Museum had a dermestid beetle infestation, but were able to clean the infested artifacts with help from the territorial conservator before their summer opening (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
The Museum continued to receive artifacts through donation, including Diamond Jubilee Dolls (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
Exhibitions
The Museum began working with Origin Studios on the Exhibit Renewal Project with support from the Community Development Fund (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
The Museum hosted three temporary exhibits during the summer. They were on (DCM 2017 Annual Report):
- Jewish history of the Klondike Gold Rush
- Yukon’s role in the First World War
- artwork by Priska Wettstein
Programming
The Museum held a St. Valentine’s Day dance fundraiser, which cost the institution money (DCM March 1 Minutes).
The Museum stopped its movie program due to low attendance (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
The Museum participated in Chris Clarke and Bo Yeung’s walk for Truth and Reconciliation, providing research resources (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
The Museum participated in the Jack London Festival with movie nights and as judges for the gala dinner’s costume contest (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
Staff
The Museum laid off the Archivist/ Librarian, leaving the museum with only two core staff members (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
2017:
Building
There were minor sprinkler renovations, but the system was not replaced (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
Collection
The Museum continued to receive donations, accepting ten acquisitions and receiving 15 new donation lots (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
The Museum loaned Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in artifacts for a display in the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in government building (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
Exhibitions
The Museum used a Special Projects and Capital Assistance grant to create a traveling exhibition on the sinking of the S. S. Princess Sophia (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
Governance
The Museum commissioned a feasibility study for their renewal project (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
Programming (Other)
The Museum participated in the Walk for Truth and Reconciliation with research and speaking at two spots (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
The Executive Director provided a talk on the Museum’s hot soda machine for the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in conference Myth and Medium (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
The Museum launched a social media initiative – the History of the Tr’ondëk-Klondike in 100 objects (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
Staff
The Museum experienced significant difficulties hiring summer staff due to fewer applicants and applicants turning down interviews (DCM ED Report May 16, 2017). However, they hired four 35 hour/week student positions at the museum using Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
2018:
Collections
The Curator conducted an inventory of the Museum’s artifacts (DCM 2019 Annual Report).
Staff
With recommendations from teachers, the Museum was able to fill summer positions primarily with local students (DCM 2019 Annual Report).
The Museum used funding from the Yukon Heritage Training Fund for both full time employees to attend courses outside of the territory (Source)
2019:
Building
Leaks continued to be a problem for the Museum (DCM 2020 Annual Report)
Collections
The Museum reconciled donor records with catalogued information (DCM 2020 Annual Report).
The Collections Committee reviewed 35 donation lots, including material from the Gold Rush Festival (DCM 2020 Annual Report).
Exhibitions
The Museum began working with Kubik-Maltbie on the new exhibitions.
Staff
The Museum hired two 35 hour / week student positions using the federal Youth Employment Strategy Programs (DCM 2020 Annual Report).
Government Policy
First Nation
2012:
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Heritage Department revived the Myth and Medium program (Source)
2017:
The director of the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre spoke at the Dawson City Museum Annual General Meeting to congratulate the Museum staff on their work on building a better partnership with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre (DCM Minutes ADM July 4, 2017).
Federal
2012:
Parks Canada
Cuts to Parks Canada resulted in the loss of six full time jobs at Klondike Historic Sites and reduced hours for an additional five positions (Davidson 2012).
2015:
Parks Canada
Parks Canada provided the Museum with space for staff housing (DCM ED report September 15, 2015).
2017:
Parks Canada
Parks Canada submitted the Tr’ondëk-Klondike World Heritage Site Advisory Committee’s nomination to the World Heritage Center (source).
2019:
Cultural Spaces Fund
The Government of Canada contributed $557,000 to the Dawson City Museum’s new exhibits.
Canada – Yukon
2012:
Parks Canada Cuts
Territorial Ministers were concerned about the effects cuts to Parks Canada would have on the territory. The Minister of Tourism and Culture stated:
The Yukon government is actively taking steps, as I mentioned, to identify potential solutions to address the impacts of these changes within Parks Canada and on Yukon. I’ve written to the Hon. Peter Kent about this issue and department officials have been meeting with local Parks Canada representatives to also identify possible mitigations to these cuts.
YLA 33.1.642013:
Canadian Conservation Institution (CCI) and Yukon Government
At Yukon Government’s request, a CCI representative visited the Dawson City Museum and conducted a site assessment (DCM ED Report October 15, 2013).
2017:
The Issue of a lease
In order to apply for federal funding for the Dawson City Museum’s renewal project, the Museum needed a 10 year lease from the territory for the Old Territorial Administration building. The lease was not provided (DCM 2018 Annual Report).
2019:
The Issue of a lease
The lack of a lease with Yukon government continued to delay the Museum’s application for funding. They finally received a lease in May 2019, allowing them to apply for federal funding (DCM 2019 Annual Report; DCM 2020 Annual Report).
Territorial
2011:
Explicit Museum Policy
The territorial Museums Unit held the first roundtable (Cambio 2013).
The Museums Advisory Committee (MAC) asked the territorial Museums Unit to review standards in other jurisdictions (Cambio 2013).
2013:
Explicit Museum Policy
The roundtable participants formed a working group on standards (Cambio 2013).
The Museums Unit met with clients to review special projects funding, clarifying the criteria and evaluation process (Cottongrass Consulting Group, Inc 2014).
2014:
Explicit Museum Policy
Funding Allocation for Yukon Museums and First Nation Cultural/Heritage Centres Options Paper
2015:
Explicit Museum Policy
Yukon government considered and implemented changes to the museum funding program. The government (Cambio 2015):
- considered a new hybrid funding model that would tie some funding to standards.
- committed to a two staged increase to operational funding of 10% a year for two years.
- proposed a 10% increase in the third year dependent on standards adherence and taken from the Special Projects Capital Assistance Program funding. .
Due to a lack of demand for special project money, the Museums Unit had a surplus and provided each of the 19 museums and cultural centers with over three thousand dollars to spend (DCM ED Report June 16, 2015).
Historically, the MacBride Museum and Dawson City Museum were in a highest tier for operational funding. In 2015, the Territory made a separate higher tier for the MacBride Museum (DCM 2016 Annual Report).
2016:
Explicit Museum Policy
Due to concerns from First Nations Cultural Centre, the hybrid model for funding was reassessed during the 2016 Roundtable. As a result, the third year funding increase was no longer tied to meeting standards (Cambio 2016).
The Museums Unit hired a contractor to review the collections management database in consultation with museums and cultural centers (Cambio 2016).
Operational funding increased.
The territorial conservator visited the Dawson City Museum to help manage a beetle infestation (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
2017:
Explicit Museum Policy
The territorial conservator visited to clean artifacts that had been moved for the Dawson City Museum’s sprinkler renovations (DCM 2017 Annual Report).
At the 2017 Roundtable, Museums were asked whether they supported the Museums Unit exploring the CollectiveAccess System for collections management. According to the roundtable report, clients were supportive (Glynn-Morris 2017).
Participants at the Roundtable also voted unanimously that they would like to develop a new museum strategy (Glynn-Morris 2017).
2019:
Explicit Museum Policy
The Yukon Government provided $500,000 to help the Dawson City Museum Pay for new exhibits. Describing the support, the Minister of Tourism and Culture stated:
On the Dawson City Museum exhibit renewal, we have $250,000 for each of the next two years — so a total of $500,000 has been allocated to this. This is multi-year — again, it will take some time, but it is about the exhibit redevelopment at the Dawson City Museum. They are going to be redoing all of their exhibits, and this will align with their anniversary. Highways and Public Works is doing extensive work as well with the Dawson City Museum to address some challenges. Again, they will be doing the permanent exhibits in the museum which require updating or replacing. Archival storage has exceeded its capacity and its offices are very inconveniently located on the second floor. To address the challenges, the museum is planning a renewal of the offices, archival storage, the exhibits, and the gallery spaces
YLA 34.2.142Within Yukon Government, the Museums and Heritage Unit merged, resulting in challenges as staff had limited time to do everything (Hemmera 2019).
Old Territorial Administration Building
Yukon Government conducted a building assessment, funding serious defects with the building (DCM 2020 Annual Report).
Local
2013:
During regional economic planning, the World Heritage Project (a proposal to designate the Klondike Region as a UNESCO world heritage site) was identified as a key priority (source).
Community Action
2013:
Local Community
The Tr’ondëk-Klondike World Heritage Site Advisory Committee formed with participation from the Dawson City Museum (DCM ED Report April 16, 2013).
2018:
Local Community
The Tr’ondëk-Klondike World Heritage Site Advisory Committee decided to withdraw and resubmit its nomination (source).
Questions
Is there anything missing? Let me know!
References
Cambio. 2013, October. Yukon Museums & Cultural Centers: Annual Roundtable Workshop.
Cambio. 2015, October. Yukon Museums & Cultural Centres Roundtable.
Cambio. 2016, November. Yukon Museums & Cultural Centres Roundtable.
Catherine C. Cole & Associates. 2014. Funding Allocation for Yukon Museums and First Nation Cultural/Heritage Centres Options Paper. Cultural Services, Department of Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government.
Davidson, Dan. 2012, May 30. “Council Reacts to the Cuts at Parks. The Klondike Sun. P3. http://klondikesun.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Sun12-5-30online.pdf
DCM – internal documents from the Dawson City Museum
Glynn-Morris, John. 2017, October. Museums and Cultural Centres: Dawson Roundtable.
Hemmera. 2019, November. Museums and Cultural Centres 2019 Roundtable Report.
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