Massillon Museum Installs “The Greatest Generation” Exhibition

Massillon Museum Installs “The Greatest Generation” Exhibition

“The Greatest Generation” will be the focus of the Massillon Museum’s new second floor exhibition, which will open to the public on Sunday, December 21. With a tip of the hat to Tom Brokaw, who coined the expression, “The Greatest Generation,” the staff has assembled artifacts that represent Massillon during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

Visitors will see nurses’ uniforms, Tiger Swing Band memorabilia, clothing, local business artifacts, and military items. “While we reference what was going on around the world, the focus will be on Massillon,” says Massillon Museum Curator Alexandra Nicholis. The World War II era is at the core of the exhibit, but the pre-war Depression years and the post-war 1950s were also central to the lives of “The Greatest Generation,” so they are included.

The photography gallery on the second floor will feature “Faces and Places” of Massillon during the highlighted era.

The art and imagery of the exhibition are intended to spark nostalgia and recollection for those who lived through the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. The staff hopes to help younger generations relate to the overall feeling of the era and the area. The exhibition will reflect the political climate, industry, fashions, and lifestyle of Massillon area residents.

Local veterans have been recording their memories for preservation at the Museum in conjunction with the exhibition. Anyone who wishes to participate in the taping project should call Mandy Pond at the Museum: 330-833-4061.

Museum’s Educator Jill Malusky Bacon is developing online educational components to supplement and enhance “The Greatest Generation” exhibition. Visitors to the Museum’s website, www.massillonmuseum.org, will be able to see many additional images of Massillon’s “Greatest Generation.”

On Sunday, January 25, in conjunction with the exhibition, the Professor Leslie Heaphy of Kent State University and the Museum staff will present a free program, “Wartime Art and Propaganda,” which will include a tour of the exhibition, a lecture about the style and messages of wartime art, and an opportunity to create an image in the powerful and iconic style of the 1940s.

Massillon Museum members who attend the members’ holiday party on Saturday, December 20, will enjoy a sneak preview of the show, which opens to the public the following afternoon. The exhibition will continue through February 5, 2009.

Museum visitors can also see the annual Stark County Artists Exhibition solo exhibition through January 24 and the “Next” exhibition created by Michele Waalkes in Studio M through January 18. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. The building will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way, East (Ohio 172) in downtown Massillon. Call the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org for more information.

Media Contacts:
Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director - 330-833-4061
Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator - 330-833-4061
Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator - 330-832-8469 or 330-844-1525