About the Exhibit

Gathered throughout the PoCo Muse are pairs of objects that speak to each other in surprising ways. The objects may appear different at first glance, but after closer consideration, they may reveal an important relationship. The exchanges cover a wide range of subjects, from industry to sports to space travel, and reflect similarities of form, function, and context. As you join their conversations, we hope you consider ways these objects connect with those you encounter in your own daily life.

Connections Exhibition Catalog

Featured Artifacts

Look for the following artifacts in Connections:

WWI-era German canteen, circa 1917 — 2017.29.55

Albert A’Neals, a Valparaiso resident, brought this German-made canteen home with him as a souvenir from his service in Europe during World War I. A’Neal’s writing on the canvas cover reveals a number of things: his name and rank (Sergeant A’Neals), his company (110 Ammunition Train, 1st Army, Company F), and mentions of two major battles (“Verdun” and “Argonne”). The latter refers to the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which A’Neals witnessed during the final months of the war.

Packaged crackers from NASA training, circa 1991 — 2017.57.2

Mark N. Brown of Valparaiso acquired these crackers while preparing for his second space flight as a NASA astronaut, a five-day mission with crew STS-48 aboard the orbiter Discovery in 1991. Ready-to-eat foods such as this have many advantages for space travel in zero gravity. They required no rehydrating or heating preparation. The clear, rigid packaging prevented breakage and crumbs, a considerable challenge in space. Its printed label, sticker, and stamped information allowed for quick identification and easy storage. The resulting trash can be readily compacted.

Taxidermy-preserved dog, circa early 1930s — 1901.15.1

Daisy was the beloved pet dog of Helen Slanger of Portage Township. After Daisy was hit by a car and killed in the early 1930s, she was preserved by a local taxidermist using a plaster form, an advanced technique for the time. Daisy remained with the Slanger family until she was donated to the PoCo Muse in 1974.

In 2017, taxidermist Jim Phares of nearby Westville restored Daisy. Phares remembered seeing her in the museum as a child. Originally named “Chism,” the moniker Daisy was applied later as she occupied an iconic place in the PoCo Muse Collection.

Autographed embroidery quilt (detail), circa 1911-1915 — 1901.14.1

While disorganized and unfinished in appearance, this embroidery is wellpreserved. The thirty-nine signatures radiating from the heart-encircled motto “Lest Old Friends Are Forgotten” belong to women of the Morrison Community Club in Kouts. The members of this club raised funds and volunteered for community organizations. They came together around social activities like creating autographed friendship quilts. Visible traces of pencil lead indicate unique signatures that provided guidelines for the needlework that followed.

Why do museums collect objects?

It’s an interesting question, especially in an age when information is instantly available. The PoCo Muse believes objects tell important stories, and engaging with them can lead to surprising discoveries. A museum’s job is to help make these connections.

The PoCo Muse Collection boasts an eclectic assortment of artwork and artifacts gathered over our 106 years of preserving Porter County history and culture. Like all museum collections, it is actively growing and changing. With every new object added, the collection continues to evolve. We sometimes have to step back and consider the entirety as if from 10,000 feet above; only then can we see how it all fits together.

Over the past year, as the PoCo Muse made preparations to create a suitable, climate-controlled environment for our growing collection, we had to work intimately with the thousands of objects entrusted to our care. Our perspective changed. Rather than stepping back, we took a closer look. We started to find that objects shared rather unexpected similarities with each other. In short: we started making connections.

About the Eunice Slagle Gallery

Connections is currently on display in the Eunice Slagle Gallery of the PoCo Muse.

Eunice Slagle (1928-2019), namesake of the permanent exhibit gallery, was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the museum and its staff. Eunice made a gift through her estate for the naming rights to this special gallery.