We surround ourselves with objects—some practical, some sentimental, others purely aesthetical. What do these objects mean to us? What do they say about who we are and the lives we live?

I teach a University class that trains students to lead the field trip programs in the Paths of Life exhibit. The guides are called “Museum Interpreters” because they make connections between the objects on display, the ideas and histories they represent, and the visitors’ own personal experiences and understanding of the world. One exercise we do as part of the training concerns the meaning of objects. I’ve found that the best way to teach respect of others’ material culture is to look at and share our own. I ask my students to bring in a “Cultural Marker,” an object that in some way represents a culture group they belong to—their family, religion, community, or a club or group in which they are members.

One of my favorite examples is a copper bracelet that Kieran shared with us. Her father made it for her when she was a young girl, as his father made one for him when he was young. The copper comes from Arizona mines where the family has worked. Before mining in the Globe area, they mined in the Old Country, in Cornwall. Kieran was the first to choose college over the mines and this assignment provided a bridge between her two worlds.

Many of the students’ objects brought up stories of family meals and food, which prompted a class dinner. Each student brought a dish representative of his or her culture or a favorite family food. Kieran called her mother to get a recipe for Cornish pasties, a typical miner’s lunch. Her mother listed the ingredients, measurements and how to make the pasties and then told her a story about them. Pasties consist of a very thick piecrust that encases ground beef and potatoes. The men would use the crust as a type of handle while eating and then toss the dirty smudged ends off to the sides into the mine crevices, as an offering for the mine fairies. These creatures, they said, would warn them by making a noise just before a collapse of walls.

Kieran was proud of her cooking achievement, but more delighted by what she’d learned about her family’s traditions. An object’s stories opened this door for her. What stories do objects in your house tell?

Some future blog entries will look at stories related to objects in ASM’s collections. I’ll be talking to staff about which objects are their favorites, the coolest things, the weirdest things, and the ones with good stories.

Oh, and to learn a bit more about the role of mining and its connection to ASM’s Native American jewelry collection, come visit our exhibit Set In Stone: 2,000 Years of Gem and Mineral Trade in the Southwest (through February 2010). Also, teachers, later this summer, please check our Education website pages for a self-guided tour to the exhibition.