History isn't just about age

Opening the pages of a diary written in 1898 sheds light not only on life in Lake County at the turn of the century, but also on much bigger issues brewing elsewhere.

The words of Irene Rockenbach, a member of one of the early nonnative families to settle here, are interesting and considered valuable as a snapshot of local history.

"She talks like any young girl would talk. About what she's wearing, what party she's going to ... there's also a fair amount of information about the Spanish-American War," explained Katherine Hamilton-Smith, director of cultural resources for the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

The district operates the Lake County Discovery Museum in the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda. Like other museums, space is extremely limited and only a sliver of the tens of thousands of items in its collection are on public display.

What makes the cut? The short answer is, just because something is old doesn't mean it is meant for the museum.

Consider a scrapbook, also assembled in 1898, that was left at the museum's front desk in a bag. It is filled with so-called Victorian scrap, much of it images that essentially were advertisements for products of the day.

"The bottom line is it doesn't tell a story," according to Hamilton-Smith, who recently briefed the district's educations, cultural resources and public affairs committee on the museum's collections and objectives.

She said the museum has many items in its collection that fall into this category - antiques without a local connection.

"It's not that the scrapbook isn't interesting or doesn't have history, but it doesn't have a strong story to tell about Lake County," she said.

Collections Coordinator Diana Dretske says the museum used to get its fair share of mysterious packages left on the front stairs, but that is not the preferred method for acquiring new pieces.

"It is really helpful if people can call us first so we can make a determination," she said. "It's not in our nature to throw anything away."

Priority is given to items with a distinct relationship to Lake County; artifacts related to the Curt Teich Co. or other postcard companies and producers; items that strengthen established collections; and, those that can be used for education or exhibits.

There is a lengthy list of criteria and conditions before an item is accepted, including the condition of the item and the museum's ability to protect it from damage.

The museum has grown its collection related to significant family histories, including the Rockenbachs, Ryersons, Otts and Rays, and related items are considered to fulfill a purpose. For example, last year, two more Irene Rockenbach diaries were donated.

Generally, though, the message is the museum is not a collection point for a rummage sale.

"We like to hear from people. Don't be afraid to call," Dretske said. "In the same breath, people can be very disappointed when we say, 'No.'"

Items need to be useful for research or exhibition purposes, Dretske said, but that doesn't mean they are chucked if they don't fit the bill.

"We don't dispose of things like people might think. Nothing goes in the Dumpster, believe me. What we try to do is find another home for it."

That could be with another museum or organization that is a better fit for the history or significance of a given item.

And what types of things is the museum looking for? World War II correspondence is particularly prized as are scene-setting photographs, such as from a family picnic years ago.

"Photographs and letters really can shed a lot of light," on Lake County history, Dretske said. "There's just so much depth to them."