A
Museum Serving to Preserve Our Heritage
July
24, 2004
By
Steve Frangos
Special to the National Herald
 Round
Lakes, Ill-.The 37th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress promises
to be a gathering of historic importance. The open and direct
conflict between Church hierarchs versus local parish administration
has never been so clear and open. In such a whirlwind of acrimonious
controversy, ecclesiastic power maneuvers, and high finance,
one of the most important exhibitions at the Congress may
be overlooked. The Greek Museum, The Center for the Greek
American Heritage, based in the New York area will be hosting
an exhibition.
From July
25-30, the Congress will have as its theme "Building
Communities of Faith and Love: Orthodox Parishes in Worship
and Ministry." But more is a t play than the administrative
direction of our Church.
The subtext
to this entire gathering of delegates and priests from across
the nation is nothing less than how do we best preserve our
heritage in North America: Since this is, after all, a gathering
of Greeks directly linked to this cluster of questions on
how we preserve Hellenism in Ameriki, it must be asked: who
will be in charge of such a long-term and complex program?
That decision
has already been made. Whatever the Congress delegates and
clergy propose, advise, offer or vote upon, the die has already
been cast. All across America individuals and small groups
have already taken it upon themselves to preserve Hellenism
in North America. Greek Museums, archival groups, genealogical
workshops, the establishment of Modern Greek chairs, cultural
societies, library collections and other similar efforts have
seized the initiative.
The Greek
museum, The Center for Greek American Heritage has acquired
a commercial display and had a professional designer arrange
a selection of photographs of their holdings with accompanying
labels in what they trust is the most appealing manner possible.
As all
the groups involved in this new preservation movement, The
Greek Museum exists because of the determination, drive and
insight of local Greeks.
"Our
People Our Story" is the Greek museum's professionally
designed photo-slide exhibition that will appear at the Clergy-Laity
Congress. Using some 200 images, each with a short accompanying
explanation drawn from its collection, the Greek Museum will
present the exhibit to inform visiting delegates from around
the nation of the Museum's existence as chartered organization,
whose mission is t "preserve and record the history of
the Greek immigrants in America."
In this
rented exhibition space there will be a table with a laptop
computer running the show of images and captions. On either
side of the central table will be side panels artfully covered
with the Greek Museum's mission as well as historic photographs
and explanatory text.
Available
at the exhibition table will be complimentary carrying bags
with that Museum's logo with an enclosed Brochure and a fact
sheet requesting artifacts, pictures, etc. For the delegate's
convenience there will also be a sigh up sheet for the Museum's
mailing list so that they can be kept informed of developments.
The national
delegates are sure to see many similarities to their own individual
community's history in this exhibition.
The Greek
Museum, The Center for Greek American Heritage was founded
in 1996. Their mission is clear: "...to raise public
awareness of the contributions of immigrant Greeks to American
culture ...to collect, preserve and interpret tangible objects
that represent the life of Greek Americans. It will house
an outstanding collection of memorabilia and a library. In
addition, it will also present a series of lectures, symposia,
musical programs, films, showings and art shows."
In order
to awaken public awareness to the contributions of Greek immigrants,
it will be necessary to create an educational center; to open
a facility in New York City close to other important museums;
and once at this location, to present rotating exhibits dealing
with the Greek American experience.
The museum
will showcase permanent and rotating exhibits pertaining to
the lives of Greek Americans; a library and research collection
containing documents, books, newspapers, magazines and manuscripts;
an oral history department with audio and video recordings
documenting the contributions of the early immigrants; hands-on
displays (mainly for children); a music library, with an emphasis
on the early music of the immigrants; a permanent exhibition
area of embroideries, costumes, jewelry, pottery, household
items, photographs and religious objects; and a space for
concerts, dance recitals, lectures, plays, and receptions.
There will also be a gift shop featuring unique items related
to the museum.
Honorary
board members include George Stephanopoulos, Maestro Dino
Anagnost, Angelica Douris, head of HANAC, Chris Gyftos, Art
Director at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, author Nicholas
Gage, actress Olympia Dukakis, Chris Pappas, who serves as
legal counsel, and other personalities form political, artistic
and scientific fields.
In defense
of the existence of a Greek museum, (as of one were really
needed) is the fact that some 26 other ethnic groups in the
greater New York area have already discovered the benefits
of such an institution. The Italians, Jews, and Poles (just
to name three groups) have learned how beneficial such a community-based
institution can be for retaining cultural traditions and identity.
Nearly two-dozen archival organizations exist all across the
country; Chicago Topeka and Salt Lake City have already opened
very successful museums dedicated to preserving the Greek
American experience, so too can the greater New York area.
The efforts
of the Greek Museum, thus far, have been mixed, Raising the
awareness of Greeks in the New York area as to the fundamental
need for a museum has not met expectations; Frankly, this
aspect of the Museum'smission has taken the most energy. In
like manner, funding has proved difficult.
On the
other hand, Greeks have been especially generous in terms
of depositing historic photographs, documents and objects
with the Museum, which has gathered an impressive collection
of historic photographs objects, documents oral histories,
and videotaped interviews.
The Greek
Museum volunteers have interviewed, in depth, over 30 individuals.
Videotaped interviews are always conducted in settings most
familiar to the interviewee, such as their office, studio,
or home. A short list of individuals interviewed includes:
Theo Hios the internationally recognized artist, Peter Peterson,
head of the Blackstone Group, former Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury for President Nixon; Judge Yorka Linakos, retired
Judge from the New York State Supreme Court; Dr. John Breams,
President Emeritus of New York University and former United
States Representative in Congress from Indian's Third District
for 22 years; Dr. P. Roy Ageless, former head of Merch Pharmaceuticals
Inc.; The National Herald publisher Antonis Diamataris;
Christie Brothers who are furriers still in business today);
Mrs. Anastasia Carr, whose extended family was prominent in
the baking business (Chimes Bakery) and who married into the
notable Vassilaros family; Church Archon, Nicholas Tsoucalas,
Federal Court Judge for International Board, active today
in law; Cleo Comnas, an eyewitness survivor from the Burning
of Smyrna; and James Poll, entrepreneur and successful restaurant
owner/developer for over 50 years.
The collection
spans the gamut form the family candy kitchens of upstate
New York and downtown Manhattan to individuals such as the
internationally recognized Tom Carvel.
The Museum
also has photos depicting the fur trade in the New York area;
a range of images from the interiors of shops to those related
to the Christie Brothers and even several annual kastorian
furrier organization picnics. In terms of Greek grocers, we
find the phonographs and papers of small family owned stores
to internationally recognized Lekas and Drivas, Inc. The collection
ranges from formal studio photographs to candid snapshots
and amateur shots of daily life. The Greek Museum holds historic
images related to some of the oldest Greek fraternal organizations
in the Greater New York area. An especially treasured image
is that of the 1928 annual picnic of the Scholar Barrister
Topeka Smote. This fraternal organization is well over 95
years old, still very much in existence, and a strong supporter
of the Greek museum. To quickly offer the scope of diversity
of historic images collected to date is another organization
of decidedly American origin: 1917 photograph of a New York
City Boy Scout troop and its leaders.
Specific
physical objects that report upon the Greek historical experience
in North America collected by the Greek museum include wine-making
equipment, inclusive of a wooden tub/crusher, circa 1920's;
shoe making tools first used around 1902; various musical
instruments such as violin from the 1930s and a mandolin from
the 1920s; a complete dowry of traditional needle art, including
sheets, garments, etc. (all handmade); traditional Kastorian
bride and groom clothing, circa 1900's and innumerable examples
of handmade traditional Greek linens, doilies, tablecloths,
bedspreads, wedding dresses, and embroideries.
Other
historic objects include a sterling silver wrestler's athletic
belt, which was an award for winning a title, circa 1930s;
movies of the 1952 and 1953 Greek Independence Day parade;
an old school desk from Greek school (circa 1920s from New
York City's Annunciation Church); assorted Greek pottery;
a marvelously diverse briki collection; as well as
a vast collection of Greek 78rpm commercial records.
Documents
held by the Greek Museum include early passports from the
1920s and 1930s, (inclusive of passport covers that show the
steamship lines); a host of naturalization papers; peddler's
papers; early Greek school graduation diplomas; organization
journals; advertisements for specific Greek musicians and
orchestras (such as Mike Daniels, George Kent and others)'
sheet music; and diverse and extensive collection of early
magazines and newspapers.
Despite
its vast collection, the Greek Museum is still deeply committed
to furthering its acquisitions programs.
After years
of searching for a suitable location is the metropolitan area,
the Greek Museum recently found an excellent location, but
an array of logistic, financial, and other problems must be
resolved before the Museum can move in.
One of
the purposes of presenting their exhibition at the Clergy-Laity
Congress is to issue a nationwide appeal to Greek Americans
to join those already committed to the creation of the Museum.
Expertise is needed in an array of areas: fundraising, public
relations, computer skills, advertising, grant writing and
in simple membership.
Hundreds
of private donors have responded to the Museum's fundraising
drive, which is ongoing. Several fraternal organizations have
given financial support, including the Skoura Varvitsa Brotherhood,
The Anabryton Society, various New York State Ahepa chapters,
and the North Shore Hellenic Women's Organization. In addition,
the Greek Museum has received a grant form the New York Community
Trust.
Despite
a general agreement that such a museum is necessary, there
are some Greeks who still do not see the reason for establishing
one. The clergy is always afraid of any organization or event
that may take donations away from the Church. But if there
are no individuals in the future who identify as Greeks then
who will come to their churches? A Hellenic Museum strengthens
our awareness of what Greeks have accomplished in North America.
The cofounders
of the Greek Museum, The Center for Greek Museum, The Center
for Greek American Heritage, are Katherine R. Boulukos and
Anastasia Nicholas. They can be contacted a t (516) 868-4092,
at TheGreekMuseum@aol.com, or at www.GreekMuseum.org
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