Hello Everyone,

Well, 2nd semester is well under way at Ryerson University. Sorry, or is it seurry, I haven't written in like forEVER, but last semester really, really kicked my butt! Some of you wrote back regarding my last update with words of encouragement, tales of how you got through it [a Masters Program] working full time and raising kids (I don't know how you did it, but kudos to you!), and asking 'do I really need a masters to do what I want to do?' Thanks for the encouragement, and for keeping in touch. To answer the last question, no I guess I don't really ne-e-e-ed a masters, but as most of your know, once I start something I usually have the perseverance, stamina and often times fool-hardiness to finish it. Seriously, only after one semester, as grueling as it was, I am even more convinced that my company is a viable prospect. There is such a need for it in society and given the opportunity, it could be huge! I am not sure to what level I will pursue it when I finish in 2006, whether it be on a few person manageable level or a take on the world Martha Stewart of photo archiving level (there I go again, one extreme or the other...), but I am excited about whatever road life takes me with it. Most of the students in the program will go on to work in libraries, archives, historical societies or museums, and who knows that may be where fate takes me too, but as of today, I am feeling quite confident that with this degree under me, and the expertise it allows me, I will be able to launch Preserving the Past with a more solid foundation and the education to back it up.

Actually, I was having a discussion with Bob Burley, my professor and internship advisor, and director of the program, and complaining a bit, who me? Complain... nooo! "I thought after two years of this study I would be an expert, I want to be an expert in something." I whined. He chuckled a bit and replied, "Oh, Taylor, you set your expectations too high, it will take you twenty years to become an expert." "I don't have twenty years." I retorted in exasperation. Nonetheless, I will know more than I know now, and will be more of an expert than I am now. I guess that's an acceptable compromise. Despite all the kicking and screaming I did last semester I actually did learn something. And despite my fear of not even passing the classes, I actually came out with one A and three B's. It's hard for me to admit they aren't all A's, I feel I did A work, but my profs had a different opinion I suppose. I worked my butt off and turned in what I think is A work, all I can do is know I did my best, even if my best isn't good enough... I'm trying to convince myself my best is good enough!

The courses we are taking this semester are Photographic Materials & Processes: the 19th Century; Photographic Materials & Processes: the 20th Century; Chemistry (yikes) of Photographic Deterioration; Digital Applications for Collections Management. While the academic aspects of this program are very challenging, I have to say the other two areas in which I struggle are: not being able to take classes I want to take (can you say whiner), and getting along with the fellow students. My motto this semester is to go with the flow. To some of you that may not seem so challenging, but to me, an idea person, a leader, an innovative spirit amongst the frustration of set policy, it's hard. I bite my tongue, which is about to spew an idea of how something could be done better, several times a day. I know my sister Jodie, and brother Craig can relate to this. (Maybe that's why we work for ourselves, ya think?)

One of the requisites for this program, which is two 12-month years, not 9 months and 9 months, come to find out, (God, I should learn to read the fine print!), is a summer internship. I am happy to say, I have mine pretty well sorted out. Contrary to what I thought, a summer in France, it's two months at a museum or archive. The summer in France is actually a 1 credit course which is for 3 weeks in France going underground, or backstage if you will, to all the prestigious museums you'd ever want to. As fascinating as that sounds, the extra $5,000. cost and given the fact that I am not loving the fellow students and don’t care to spend 13 hour days with them, I decided to forego the opportunity. I also figure, if I ever want to go to France and see what "the kids" are going to see, all I have to do is make a few calls...do you know who I am? (my sister and I used to say that when we'd get vip treatment at the concerts - and no it wasn't a groupie thing, we knew people who knew people, and what a concept we were/are interested in music and all that it entails including technical aspects, oh - don't get me started!). Anyway, my summer internship is going to be a springboard to my two year thesis project. It involves archiving, both digitally and traditionally, and making accessible a private collection belonging to James-Paul Brown, my former client. He and his wife Juliet, have offered to let me use the collection for this project. James-Paul's grandfather started the First National Bank in Crown Point, Indiana in the mid-to-late 1800's. The collection has banking photos and memorabilia, family photos and historical documents and civil war paraphernalia. Coincidentally, we used to live in Crown Point from 1963-65, isn't that weird!!? So I will be spending one month, July, at the Lake County Historical Society, which already has The Brown Family well represented in their archives and are excited to help me with this project. The month of August will be in Columbia, Pennsylvania where Michael and Nora Stark own The Bank Museum which is a First National Bank that her grandfather started. I figure both of these experiences will help me with cataloguing and identifying the artifacts in my collection.

The bonus project I will be doing is the month of June in LA! I will be staying in Glendale at the home of Beverley Rodgers a former client and friend from the Memoirs and More writing class. I am excited to be working with Jim Hoffman and his MGM Movie Star collection again, and doing some home movie transfers for another client, as well as our childhood movies from Grandpa Chuck! I will also be volunteering for a digital scanning project at Curatorial Assistance, Inc. in Pasadena. My advisor thinks this is "an ambitious plan, Taylor" - ummm, well yeah... that's what I do! So mark your calendars, hopefully we'll be able to meet for coffee, margaritas or sushi at some point while I'm there - oh, that's so L-A...

That seemed like a good point on which to sign off, but I realized I hadn't talked yet about the weather nor my social (or lack thereof) life. I've learned a few new words the past two months. Can you say: snow flurries, freezing rain, snow squalls, storm watch as opposed to storm warning, slush - which is getting my new white coat awfully dirty; I didn't realize snow got dirty, I thought it was just pretty and white and picturesque...not! Actually, the weather has not been too bad for me. It could be because we are having a "mild winter" so says the meteorologist. We even had a smog alert yesterday in downtown Toronto, which is unprecedented in the middle of winter. Granted it is still between -3 & -12 most days, but for some reason it doesn't feel cold. That's celsius by the way, which is about 32-27F I think. We did have a freezing day where my face fell off, it was -3F, I still haven't found my face... has anyone seen it??!

Socially, I am still struggling. I have been pal'ing around with a small group from the class, but haven't really met anyone my age to "hang" with. I started an exercise class on Jan. 20! Guess what it is? Sinatracize! Isn't that the cutest? It's aerobics to Sinatra and his contemporaries... even though it's for senior citizens they still let me participate. I went to Rochester at the end of January for an apt. research trip, since I'll be moving down there in May for the 2nd year of the program. I had a grrrrreat weekend. I just love that town. The people are friendly, what a concept! Even though it's a small town there is plenty to do. It is full of historical significance and culture, has the theatré, museums and historical societies. I stayed with a friend, Beth, who I had met in Los Angeles when we both worked for Kodak. And a new acquaintance Dick Beers, who is a real estate agent and has lived in Rochester since 1962, showed me around giving me a cornucopia of information about the town, the buildings and the architecture. I'm really looking forward to the move, I think I will like it better there, I hope so.

I spent a couple of days in New Jersey over Christmas with my cousins Bonnie and Nancy. It was a great time, we grew up around each other in California, they've been in New Jersey for about 10 years. It was nice to be around people with whom I could be myself, they got my sense of humor and they are funny too! One thing that runs in the family is a sense of wit most people don't get - it was refreshing to be appreciated for that!

I'll attach a few pictures to give you a visual glimpse of life as Taylor Whitney. I've also attached a story that I wrote last September for the Memoirs and More class I used to attend in Glendale. I hope you enjoy! Looking forward to hearing from you, cuz really, I do know it's not all about me!

Love, Taylor

— Past Updates — Update deux Update un

 

 

Taylor Whitney
President & Founder
Preserving the Past™

www.preservethepast.com
taylor@preservethepast.com
Preserving history... one photo at a time
(416) 461-4772 office
(Toronto, Canada)
(818) 317-7147 cell
(Los Angeles, California)

Member:
Association of Personal Historians
http://www.personalhistorians.org/
Alex Film Society
http://alexfilmsociety.org/
Master of Arts - Candidate
For more information see
http://www.imagearts.ryerson.ca/photopreservation/

-Achieving Inner Peace-

Dr. Phil proclaimed "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you've started.
" I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished,
so, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of
White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's, a bottle of Kahlua, a package of Oreos,
the remainder of both Prozac and Valium prescriptions, the rest of the cheesecake,
some saltines and a box of chocolates. You have no idea how freaking good I feel.
Please pass this on to those you feel are in want or need of inner peace.
--
Tim Allen had this to say about Martha Stewart:
Boy, I feel safer now that she's behind bars.
O.J. & Kobe are walking around free, Osama Bin
Laden too, But they take the one woman in America
willing to cook, clean & work in the yard & they haul her ass to jail."

(I know this isn't very professional, but it was just too funny / too true!)