chronicle

YCBA chronicles British history

In keeping with a tradition of chronicling Britain’s material past, the Yale Center for British Art opened a new exhibit called “Making History: Antiquaries in Britain” on Thursday.

The exhibit features 100 works borrowed from the archives of the Society of Antiquaries of London, an academic institution founded in 1707 dedicated to the preservation of artifacts from Britain’s past, along with 50 selections owned by Yale organizations. the exhibit was based off a show put on by the Society of Antiquaries in 2007 at the Royal Academy of Arts in celebration of the organization’s 300th anniversary. Because Yale’s British Art Center is the largest study center and museum devoted to British art outside of the United Kingdom, it was a “natural partner” to host the society’s treasures stateside, said Maurice Howard, president of the Society of Antiquaries and a professor of art history at the University of Sussex.

“[The show] forces you to look at the role of chronicle carefully,” said Elizabeth Fairman, the British Art Center’s senior curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts. “It’s not just [about] country, it’s all mankind.”

Fairman worked with Nancy Netzer, the director of the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College, to curate the show in collaboration with the Society of Antiquaries, of which Fairman and Netzer are fellows. Three years ago, Netzer approached the society about a possible U.S. exhibit, having seen the show at the Royal Academy, which Netzer said was meant to be the final stop on a three-year tour in Britain. before coming to Yale, where it will remain on view through late May, the exhibit was displayed at the museum at Boston College.

Fairman said “Making History” is the British Art Center’s most complicated show to date, given the number of objects in the exhibit and a challenging two-week installation process. For instance, the mid-15th century “Roll Chronicle,” an illuminated ink-on-parchment work recording Henry II’s descent from Adam and Eve, required a case specially manufactured to accommodate its 40-foot length. Due to its age and size, Fairman said the “Roll Chronicle” has never been displayed before and will likely never go on display again.

The exhibit is divided into eight thematic sections, showcasing works such as a manuscript copy of the Magna Carta, a Late Bronze Age shield, William Morris woodblocks, the first aerial photograph taken of Stonehenge and Turner watercolors. Fairman said she wanted to prevent viewers from becoming preoccupied with viewing the artifacts in any particular order, eschewing a setup that would organize the rooms in a linear fashion.

Howard said his his greatest hope for the show is for American students and scholars to begin asking about the role of antiquaries in their home country.

In addition to works lent by the Society of Antiquaries of London, the British Art Center drew on its own collection, as well as from those of the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the Elizabethan Club of Yale University, Yale’s Lewis Walpole Library and the Yale University Art Gallery.

The exhibit runs through May 27.

Baltimore Orioles History: A Chronicle of Excellence and Collapse

The Baltimore Orioles started their tenure in Baltimore in 1954. Before this, they were the St. Louis Browns (and briefly before that they were the original Milwaukee Brewers).

Although the team lost a hundred games that year, they made a move that would eventually help them to become one of the best teams in the sport — they hired Paul Richards as manager/general manager. Richards helped to instill sound baseball fundamentals in the organization from top to bottom. these fundamentals would soon take root and produce championship caliber teams for decades into the future.

But these championships would not come right away. it took another three years for the team to reach the.500 mark. Soon, however, the team was filled with high-caliber young players. it would only take a little experience for the team to come together.

A key component in the team coming together was the hiring of Lee MacPhail. MacPhail helped to shore up the organization’s scouting staff — another move that would serve the Orioles well in decades to come.

Although Richards was a key element in getting the team off the ground, he left the Orioles in 1961 before they saw major success. he took a job as general manager for the Colt 45s in Houston.

In 1964, future Orioles great, third baseman Brooks Robinson, had a stellar season. Always a defensive master, Robinson showed up strong on the offensive side and won the MVP, and the Orioles competed for the coveted American League pennant in a three-way race with the White Sox and the Yankees. Although they didn’t win the pennant that year, the team could be said to have finally arrived. They were serious contenders and a force to be reckoned with.

In the winter of 1965 the Orioles traded for superstar Frank Robinson. that move was the final piece of the puzzle for the Orioles. Robinson won the MVP award in 1966, and the Orioles took the World Series — sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in four straight games.

Three years later, in 1969, the Orioles would be back in the World Series (this time against the New York Mets). Although they lost this series, it would make the beginning of the three straight years that the team went to the World Series. They would win the series again in 1970, but then fall victim to the Oakland A’s in 1971.

In the ’71 year, four Orioles pitchers managed to win twenty game each (Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally, and Pat Dobson). this feat had never been done before and has never been repeated since.

Although the Orioles would miss the playoffs the following year, they would be back in postseason the next two years (’73 & ’74).

Although the team would be filled with familiar names to baseball fans, the O’s didn’t manage to return to the playoffs again until 1979, a year that garnered the Cy Young Award for pitcher Mike Flanagan. the team also returned to the World Series that year; however, they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Throughout the most glorious years up this point, the Orioles skipper was the famed Earl Weaver. Weaver, known for his color ways and devotion to statistics, was an innovator. After the 1982 season, however, Weaver stepped down and was replaced by Joe Altobelli. Altobelli and a young kid named Cal Ripken, Jr. helped lead the Orioles to another World Series championship the following year. Ripken also won the MVP in that year.

The next five years or so would be tough ones for the Orioles. They would see losing records and record-setting losing streaks (0-21 to start the 1988 season).

In 1992, there was an atmosphere of renewal as the team moved from its old home in Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street to the brand new Oriole’s Park at Camden Yards. however it would take another few years before the Orioles would see the playoffs again in 1996 and 1997.

In 1998, the team’s misfortune returned, and they went from a playoff club to a losing season. Although filled with hope at various times since, the Orioles have not seen a winning record since the 1997 season.

Today, the Orioles have a renewed sense of optimism and a young club of promising players. as they struggle to get back .500 baseball, and eventually another World Series, Orioles fans everywhere hope the future will be as bright as the past.

Eagle Nest museum looks for help with exhibit

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SUMMARY CARE: YOU LET US KNOW YOUR VIEWS

Stuart Elles, 64, retired, of Woodhall estate, Chelmsford:

“If there’s no hope for a patient they should be able to choose. if it was me, I wouldn’t want to hang on – you might as well go.”

Evelyn Gethin, 62, retired, from Thorpe Bay:

“As long as that’s what the patient wants. I’ve discussed things like this with my partner: I wouldn’t want to go on if I was terminally ill.”

David Howard, 65, retired, of Leigh-on-Sea:

“Initially it sounds like a good idea but it comes down to the doctor’s professional ability. It would be a brave decision for a doctor to act on what he saw on the record.”

Ian Studd, 18, an ambulance first responder, of Great Dunmow:

“I think it’s a brilliant idea. When we find out straight away if there’s anything we can do to the wishes of the patient, it will save time, money and resources.”

Patricia O’Shaughnssy, 77, retired of Chalkwell:

“I agree with it. I think the patient should have a choice – if it was me I’d like the choice.”

Hannah Robertson, 21, a student, of Maldon: “It is a good thing to go on the wishes of the patient rather than someone else deciding their fate. I suppose the system could be used against someone if it got into the wrong hands.”