You've Got Mail! Using Authors' Personal Correspondence in Literary Museums for Education
You've Got Mail! Using Authors' Personal Correspondence in Literary Museums for Education
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Issue Date
2002
Authors
Kirchhoff, Trish
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Abstract
The purpose of my master's topic was to discover if and how educators in literary museums utilize personal correspondence in educational programs and what could be learned about authors by incorporating personal correspondence into programming. By using the National Steinbeck Center, a literary museum in Steinbeck's hometown of Salinas, California, as a point of focus, a further goal was to create an educational program featuring Steinbeck's personal correspondence from the Center's archives. Also, I desired to learn more about the history of why personal correspondence is collected and valued as a historical object, and to promote and foster the art of personal correspondence.
Another motivation compelling this project lies in the profound shift occurring in modern societies from handwritten personal correspondence sent through the postal system to correspondence send by email. This may be viewed as a sign of progress--as commerce reveres speed, and this speed, enhanced with technological advances, allows information to be transmitted quickly and precisely. In this respect, modern tools of communication, pagers, cell phones and email have usurped traditional modes of composing and conveying personal correspondence. However, as a means of personal connection, the time, reflection and emotional value invested in traditional personal correspondence is irreplaceable.