What item in the House Collection looks like it came straight out of a horror film? Inquiring minds wanted to know—and they got their answer on September 16, Twitter’s #AskACurator Day. House Curator Farar Elliott answered dozens of queries on @USHouseHistory, along with 1,000 curators from 51 countries.
Here is a selection of what the Twitterverse had to ask. Try matching the question to the response. Answers are at the bottom of the post.
1. Do you have any objects related to John Quincy Adams?
2. What is the strangest object in the collection?
3. Do you have any artifacts related to NASA history?
4. What is the most unusual campaign item in the collection?
5. Is that the USS Georgia in the background of the House's portrait of Carl Vinson?
A:
.@kalimartins@visitpama A possum! (Not anymore, but we have a photo of the renegade marsupial in 1946.) #AskACuratorpic.twitter.com/eCBRgqvWWg
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015B:
.@georgiadog@NavyHistoryNews Yes, that is the USS Georgia from WWI. #AskACuratorpic.twitter.com/eqtGWmMbX9
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015C:
.@Mommyosaur@JQAdams_MHS The couch upon which he expired. #AskACuratorhttp://t.co/V1EDUGjVLPpic.twitter.com/YdzcR9uE26
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015D:
.@hasinct We have a 1950s potholder from a Jerry Ford campaign #AskACuratorpic.twitter.com/dDmMFVZq5s
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015E:
.@NASASunEarth@NASAGoddard@NASAhistory we have Rep Gus Hawkins showing off a spacesuit. #AskACuratorpic.twitter.com/nG6hfd48L7
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015Answers:
1. Do you have any objects related to John Quincy Adams? (C: the Adams sofa)
2. What is the strangest object in the collection? (A: Possum captured in the House Office Building)
3. Have any artifacts related to NASA history? (E: Rep. Gus Hawkins shows off a spacesuit)
4. What is the most unusual campaign item in the collection? (D: Jerry Ford’s potholder)
5. Is that the USS Georgia in the background of the House's portrait of Carl Vinson? (B: Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Vinson)
So, to answer one of the more interesting questions we received, what item has that creepy horror film quality? For our money, it comes down to this portrait of Speaker John Bell, perfect for a haunted house.
.@A_Kabaker@amhistorymuseum A horror film suggestion, Speaker John Bell! Eek! #AskACuratorhttp://t.co/dIlcsyQph9pic.twitter.com/e7ABjm2DxG
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015For all the questions and answers, check out @USHouseHistory. And until next year’s #AskACurator Day:
.@USHouseHistory Curator Farar Elliott signing off! Thanks for all the questions! #AskACuratorpic.twitter.com/KuqHEfVMwJ
— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) September 16, 2015And check out last year's #AskACurator for more showcases of the House Collection!
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