by Dennis Buck

Children ring the armistice "Liberty Bell" during the Fourth of July celebration at the Aurora Historical Society

Historians do not usually note their own role in the shaping and guiding of events. Every student of history learns that the historical process is one of filtering evidence through the mind and experiences of the historian. Yet most historians are careful, if not actually content, to push themselves into the background when recording the lives and events of others. Museum professionals are even more reticent. Unless there is controversy, the public does not generally see the curator's hand at work, carefully compiling and interpreting evidence in preparation of an exhibit or program. Our work just seems to appear, magically and hopefully on schedule.

There is comfort in anonymity, but examining how the stories that guide understanding of the past and the present are created benefits both the public and the museum. It is important to see, as Dorothy did in The Wizard of Oz, that there is someone "behind the curtain." There is value in knowing that there are choices behind the decisions to save some objects and not others. There is value in recognizing that how exhibits are organized influences understanding and appreciation of the material culture being displayed. And everyone should understand that the picture of the past alters continuously, depending on the vantage point, like looking into a valley from a winding mountain path. And what better time than a centennial anniversary for a historical society to turn the analytical gaze on itself?

This was the idea behind Aurora Historical Society's recent exhibit AHS 100: Stewardship, Stories and Stuff. In planning AHS 100, the staff talked about wanting to do more than a celebration of our organization's longevity. We wanted to examine its purpose. Stewardship, Stories & Stuff addressed the nagging questions about the place of history and historical societies in public life through an exploration of memory. AHS is more than a community attic where we store old stuff that we don't use anymore. It is the city's memory. AHS enables the community to shape its identity by documenting the citizens' heritage, their work, their entertainment, and their beliefs. AHS honors the city's pride by enshrining local heroes and touting the achievements of previous generations. And it serves as the community's conscience; distinguishing between history and myth, and recording the stumbles as well as the triumphs. In short, we believe that our work is indispensable to a healthy community life.

Of course, we also took time to highlight some of the Society's corporate history. One of the big challenges of this exhibit was summarizing 100 years of collection, preservation, and education. AHS has mounted scores of exhibits, hosted hundreds of programs and events, and led thousands of tours. The collection has grown to about 60,000 three-dimensional objects. The archive now contains over 1,700 linear feet of photos, documents, and books. But raw numbers are confusing, and not very compelling. We found it simpler to focus on four watershed moments that shaped the Aurora Historical Society: 1906, the year the Aurora Historical Society was founded; 1936, when its first permanent home opened to the public, combining the functions of museum, research center and meeting space; 1984, which saw AHS hire its first trained, professional curator; and the start of our second century in 2006.

Nothing remains static for 100 years. Yet it was continuity that we found most striking in preparing this exhibit. The Aurora Historical Society has made great changes as methods, procedures, and facilities have grown increasingly sophisticated. Still, the Historical Society's guiding documents, though different in tone and emphasis, reflect

ILLINOIS HERITAGE 32

an organization committed to being Aurora's memory. The constitution adopted in 1906 emphasized collection and preservation, though the fledgling organization committed itself to publish historical information gleaned from its artifacts. In 1929, with planning underway to acquire its first building, AHS reorganized with a new constitution that placed more emphasis on public access to the collection. Today, AHS is guided by the words of our mission statement, written in 1991: "The Aurora Historical Society, a public steward and educational resource, serves its community by collecting and preserving documents and artifacts that reflect the richness and diversity of Aurora's history; by facilitating discovery and understanding of our shared history; and by taking a responsible role in the continued preservation and development of the community."

Thanks to a handful of citizens in 1906 and continuous support from donors and volunteers, the residents of Aurora have the ability to see continuity in their lives, as well. A century ago, veterans of the Civil War were reaching old age. Aurora, like American society, was rapidly becoming more urban, industrial, and ethnically diverse. Mills for processing wood, grain, and textiles had mostly been replaced by foundries, manufacturers, and merchants. Science and technology altered the way people lived and worked with a startling string of inventions that included the telephone (1876), the phonograph (1877), the automobile (1886), the radio (1895), and the airplane (1903). Across the United States there was a sense that an era was fading. By comparison, today veterans of World War II are anxious to preserve their legacy. Aurora's population continues to boom as immigrants arrive in search of jobs in the city's fluid and expanding economy. The Industrial Revolution of 1906 is supplanted by the Digital Revolution, but the dramatic changes to society are similar, as is the uncertainty about what the future holds.

At the start of a second century, the Aurora Historical Society continues to work cooperatively with other museums, schools, businesses, associations, and the city of Aurora to bring fresh perspective to local history through interpretive exhibits, innovative programs, and publications. AHS holds in trust one of the finest local history collections in the state, and continues to seek out evocative artifacts for preservation. As the public interacts with AHS by donating artifacts, attending events, or volunteering time, they provide new stories that get woven into the larger history of the city. It is a crucial, ongoing conversation that helps us to define our community identity. While much has changed in the last 100 years, the Aurora Historical Society has remained constant, helping the people of Aurora make sense of that change and understand their place in local and national history.

Dennis Buck is the Senior Curator at the Aurora Historical Society, which is celebrating its centennial year in 2006. He may he reached at ahs@aurorahistoricalsociety.org.

ILLINOIS HERITAGE 33