Case study one - learning about significance and provenance
This case study introduces you to the concepts of significance and provenance. Before you read about John Bowman's half sovereign you should read the pages on significance and provenance below.
Learn more about significance
What is provenance?
John Bowman's half sovereign
The object below has been donated to The Man from Snowy River Museum. You are a new volunteer working in this museum. You have received the object and you need to decide its ‘significance’.
Read the transcript of the text taken from the back of the object:
'The half sovereign herein enclosed was presented by me John Bowman to my son Robert on his proceeding to France on active service where he was subsequently wounded. Out of gratitude for his return home again I herewith preserve it as a momento of the engagements which it came through and at my decease it is my wish that it be handed to my son Robert mentioned above. John Bowman Great War 1914 - 1918'
Listen to the donor explaining its provenance - (A printout is available. pdf, 26kb)
Before you decide the objects 'significance', you should:
- Check your museum's Collection Management policy.
- Discuss this with someone who works in the museum with you.
- Read and review the two statements of significance written by Museum Practice students. Their first attempt! You will notice that although they are similar they are not identical. Discuss with your colleagues which one you find most useful in terms of arrangement of information.
- Have a look at the form used (and therefore the decisions taken) by the Australian War Memorial when they receive an item.
Activity
Take a self evaluation quiz - How do you decide what is significant for your collection?
Take a self-evaluation quiz on acquisitions and significance.
Do you think your museum would rate this item (John Bowman's half sovereign) as one with high, limited or no significance? Discuss this with your colleagues. Write your response in no more than half an A4 page.
[Instructions on how to submit this will be provided by the training provider]