What is the smallest object in the House Collection? The answer might surprise you.
#AskACurator Smallest object is Rep. Jake Pickle’s pickle pin! Just a little over 1 inch long. pic.twitter.com/KttcHg2KOZ
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
Large and small, the questions came, and @USHouseHistory answered them during #AskACurator day on September 17. In what has now become an annual Twitter event, 47,546 tweets used the hashtag #AskACurator to pose questions to and elicit answers from curators at 721 museums in 43 countries. They weren’t all directed to or coming from the House, but many were, and the House Curator Farar Elliott spent an hour answering them. Here are some of the most intriguing responses.
Try matching the question to the response(s). Answers are at the bottom of the post:
1. Do you have any images of astronauts visiting the Capitol?
2. How many objects are in your collection?
3. What’s the newest thing in your collection? The oldest? The hardest to move?
A:
@SBagarreur#AskACurator We moved a huge painting for 1st time in 100yrs. It took 11 people! http://t.co/2ywTHHfTYNpic.twitter.com/RLgdaYoPfd
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
B:
@NASAGoddard#AskACurator Congress invited astronauts to address it 6x. Here’s the1st one, John Glenn in 1962. pic.twitter.com/cXLHzCYKTP
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
C:
#AskACurator Our oldest object is George Washington’s bling, marking the 1793 Capitol cornerstone laying. pic.twitter.com/oiAe5WfK85
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
D:
How many objects you #AskACurator ? 6250 catalogued, but we probably have 3X that number not yet catalogued. pic.twitter.com/EpoZqg5XVJ
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
E:
#AskACurator Newest object: 2014 @USPSstamps of Rep. Shirley Chisholm. Her slogan: “Unbought and Unbossed!” pic.twitter.com/0uagVlhlDc
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014
Answers:
1. Do you have any images of astronauts visiting the Capitol? (B: John Glenn addresses Congress)
2. How many objects are in your collection? (D: Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers rides a tank)
3. What’s the newest thing in your collection? (E: Rep. Shirley Chisholm stamps) The oldest? (C: George Washington's bling) The hardest to move? (A: Peace portrait)
It was a fast-paced hour, and of course the sign-off was Representative Adam Clayton Powell's signature phrase.
House Curator Farar Elliott signing off #AskACurator "Keep the Faith Baby!" pic.twitter.com/XmElpq41rZ
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 17, 2014