Exhibiting History
It’s More Than a Display Board!
British Columbia Heritage Fairs Society adapted with
permission from a presentation of Chicago Metro
History Education Center
2013
Think of the
Heritage Fair exhibit
as a mini-museum.
In a museum visitors
are greeted with a
panel that
announces the main
idea of the exhibit
and sets the stage
for what will follow.
The exhibit designer
creates a space that uses
eye-catching graphics that
reflect the theme, time
period and topic. Colours,
shapes and other visual
cues organize different
sections of the exhibit.
Subtitles and different shapes and sizes of
labels also act as visual cues. The labels tell
the story.
Each segment (or
section) of the exhibit
tells a different part of
the story.
A variety of
visually
engaging and
relevant
primary sources
show what the
text tells.
Heritage Fair exhibits function
the same way.
When you do
a Heritage
Fair exhibit,
you are
museum
curators and
designers.
What do curators do?
• conduct historical
research to answer a
question
• form an interpretation or
thesis
• develop a story
• write the label text
• select primary sources
and artefacts to support
the interpretation or
story
What do designers do?
The designers show
the story the curators
want to tell by
creating a wellorganized and
imaginative exhibit
design that
reflects and reinforces
the curators’
interpretation.
Before Design Begins
• Make an outline, write
text, and do a layout
before one finger
touches an exhibit
board!
• Show your draft to
others to make sure it
is logical to them.
PARTS OF AN
EXHIBIT:
An introduction
and a
conclusion
Primary Sources
as
Evidence
A Title
Subtitles
Labels: The
Students’
Interpretation
Secondary Sources as Evidence
The first elements the visitor
sees are:
1. Overall design
2. Title
3. Introduction
Exhibit Design
• The maximum
dimensions for an
exhibit are 72”
tall by 40” wide
by 30” deep.
• The three-panel
exhibit is the
most common
form but it is not
required.
Like a museum, the
goal of a Heritage Fair
exhibit is to effectively
communicate the
curator’s interpretation.
That takes organization
and imagination.
The “head” of this
immigrant to Canada
holds his memories of
his native country.
The design
reflects the topic
of the project.
The form and
colour of this
display on Emily
Carr reflects her
paintings.
…and is visually interesting.
Design delivers the message
Choose colours that
reflect the topic of the
exhibit. This exhibit is
about Japantown. Why
did the students select
these colours? Review
the earlier exhibits
presented here. Do the
colours fit the topic?
Notice different colour
mats for different parts of
the exhibit.
What topics could these colours
symbolize?
Fonts
Always use
readable styles
and black type
for labels: 1624 font size
Look at the
actual sizes in
different styles.
Which is more
readable?
• Always use readable styles and
black type for labels: 16-24 font
size
• Always use readable
styles and black type for
labels: 16-24 font size
Avoid too few or too
many words--neither
communicates
effectively
Remember:
the products of research,
analysis, and writing are what
count the most in your exhibit.
The title sends your message
Make the title
snappy and
informative, and
hint at the
argument viewers
will find in the
exhibit.
Why do some titles communicate
more effectively than others?
• Iranian Immigrants
• How a Revolution
Changed My Life and
Yours
• Michael Schratter’s
Bicycle Journey
• Michael Schratter:
One Pedal at a Time
The introduction
is the road map
to the exhibit.
The introduction establishes:
• context
• change
• significance or impact
and contains one sentence that gives
the big idea of your exhibit (thesis
statement).
The largest label on the exhibit, the
introduction will consist of
approximately 100 words.
There is no need to
write “Thesis” or
“Introduction” if the
design makes it
apparent. Consider
using a different
color matting, font
size, or shape.
A strong thesis statement:
• Makes a specific argument or
interpretation
• Has a narrow focus
• Supported by the sources that are part of
your display
• Can be communicated in one or two
sentences
The exhibit layout
is organized by sections, or
segments, which present the
interpretation.
Most segments contain:
Subtitle
Label(s)
Primary
Secondary
Sources
Sources
Segments are like sections in a museum or
paragraphs of a paper
The subtitle,
interpretive label(s)
and a variety of
sources all connect to
tell the story.
Subtitles are Guideposts
Subtitles guide the
viewer through the
exhibit and
establish the main
points of the
argument.
Labels tell the story
The Skytte Bowl shown
in this photograph is a
stone statue named
after my Great Great
Uncle Arvo Skytte. Arvo
found the statue in the
early 1920s while
clearing trees from
property on Skytte
Road in an area of
Maple Ridge known as
Webster's Corner.
Labels consist of 50-75
words that develop the
interpretation in organized
clusters of claims and
evidence. Each label
communicates one main
idea.
Strong labels:
• Focus on one idea
• Use active verbs
• Provide explanation and
analysis of the primary sources
• Move the story forward
In each
segment
of the
exhibit,
the
sources
directly
relate to
the label
text.
How do the following sources relate
to this label?
As industrialization began to sweep across
Canada, the new factories began to hire
children since they could be paid less. Why
did parents agree to deprive their children of
their childhood? To help support the family.
Photographs
Photographs are more than pictures--they
are evidence for the interpretation.
What can be found in these photos?
… Editorial Cartoons
Quotations
“Many women
keep their children
from school to run
the factory and to
help with the
homework. In
order to earn
anything and
provide food for
themselves….”
Reverend Dunne, 1897
• Quotes from primary
sources bring the actual
“voices” from the past
and can be powerful
sources of evidence.
• From secondary
sources they reinforce
or add to your
argument.
Posters and
Flyers….
Historic sources can
reveal much about the
past: the people who
were trying to
communicate, their
audience, and the
message. A contrast with
modern sources can
show what has changed
and what has stayed the
same.
A successful exhibit
is the product of:
•
•
•
•
•
in-depth research,
a clear interpretation,
interesting and relevant sources,
a compelling story,
and a visual design and layout
that reinforces the message.
Writing
Analysis
Research
Sources
Labels Subtitles
Design
Put them all together…
…and you have a mini-museum!
Visit our website
www.bcheritagefairs.ca
To see more
examples of
powerful
displays.
Thanks to all the students whose work made
this presentation possible!
Thanks to the Chicago Historical Society for permitting us to adapt their
PowerPoint