Summer week 11

Hello Readers! This week at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center (BVMC) has been a busy one, even beyond our usual 3D digitization work. While we continued our efforts to scan more fascinating artifacts, a significant part of my time was dedicated to creating descriptive write-ups for some of the museum's unique pieces.

I had the opportunity to research and write about two particularly interesting items. One was the Dr. Lyon's Tooth Powder, which represents an important stage in the evolution of oral hygiene products, predating the widespread use of the softer, paste-like formulations we recognize today. This product was manufactured by the R.L. Watkins Company, a firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1866 by Dr. J.W. Lyon. While modern consumers are accustomed to toothpaste dispensed from tubes, Dr. Lyon's product was a powder. The shift from powder to paste began to gain traction around 1892, when a dentist in Connecticut adopted the painter's collapsible tube for dental use. This innovation paved the way for products like Colgate's Ribbon Dental Cream, which was introduced just four years later, further solidifying the move towards toothpaste.

The second write-up I completed was for a brick from the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." The bricks recovered from the Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton," hold significant historical value. In 1993, an American Vietnam War veteran observed the prison's demolition and was permitted to take bricks, which were otherwise considered construction rubble. These common red construction bricks are marked "Hanoi". The spelling of "Hanoi" on the bricks is in French, lacking Vietnamese tone marks. The bricks have been given to notable figures such as Ambassador "Pete" Petersen, Commander Everett Alvarez, and Senator John McCain, as well as many other former American POWs and veterans. They symbolize the courage, service, and sacrifice of POWs, the over fifty-eight thousand Americans who died, and the millions of American veterans of the Vietnam War.

Crafting these descriptions allows me to delve deeper into the stories behind the artifacts, providing valuable context for their eventual 3D models. It's rewarding to contribute to the museum's mission by not only digitizing these objects but also by enriching their historical narratives.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our work at the BVMC!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2

Image
               Hello readers! The second week of my internship saw me continuing my work on the exhibit showcasing the military career of Lieutenant Commander Salvatore Vacanti. A veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Vacanti's legacy is preserved in a collection of memorabilia generously donated by his daughter. My task is to transform these items into an engaging and informative exhibit. I began by carefully examining the collection, hoping to uncover compelling artifacts that would capture visitors' attention. One of the earliest items I encountered was a World War II ration card. Issued to Salvatore when he was only eleven years old, the card still retains four stamps. Holding this tangible piece of history sparked a personal connection, as I am currently enrolled in a World War II history class where we recently discussed the global impact of the Great Depression. My research also led me to explore the Navy's use of blimps during ...
Read more

Week 1

       Greetings, readers. I'm Trent Chamberlain, and this is my blog chronicling my Spring 2025 internship experience.  I'm thrilled to be working at the Military History Museum in Kissimmee. This week provided an initial immersion into the museum's operations and the scope of my internship project.   I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Harrison Smith, the museum's Collections Manager. Mr. Smith generously took time off from his other job to provide me with a comprehensive orientation.  I was grateful that he took the time to make sure I was properly informed at the museum. We began with a tour of the museum, where Mr. Smith highlighted recent improvements he has spearheaded. Witnessing the transformation of the museum's public spaces firsthand was impressive.   The museum's collection is extensive, spanning various eras of military history. I was particularly intrigued by the exhibit dedicated to the Civil War, showcasing an array o...
Read more

Summer Week 4

  Hello readers!This fourth week of my internship took a slightly different path. Instead of my usual schedule with Eric at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, I had the opportunity to attend a special training session at the University of Central Florida's Center for Humanities and Digital Research (CHDR). The training was led by UCF graduate student Sarah Boye, who guided us through some of the incredible digital tools available at the center. We received hands-on training with their large-scale Titan scanner, a powerful scanner capable of creating incredibly detailed digital reproductions of paper documents. The scanner was detailed enough that we could see the exact penstrokes on the postcards we scanned. We also learned how to operate smaller, more portable scanners, which are essential for a community focused initiative called a  History Harvest. I learned that a History Harvest is an event where community members can bring in their personal artifacts to be professiona...
Read more