Two newly acquired artifacts that bridge the gap from the most mundane to the almost divine show how virtually any item can spark the imaginationi of an enthusiastic museum-goer.
First is a section of ancient Torah that comes to us on a generous, extended loan from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Handwritten on sheepskin, the Hebrew lettering is immaculate; the large panel has one visible, and very old, section of stitching to repair a small tear. Destined for the SEBTS exhibit in the museum’s main gallery, this artifact also has relevance as an example of the difficult academic challenges that faced early Wake Forest College students studying to enter the ministry; all were required to learn not only Hebrew, but also Latin and Greek.
The second artifact is relatively modern and comes from the old Dickson Brothers’ Department Store. Dickson Brothers’ operated from the early 1900s through the mid-twentieth century, catering to college students and faculty, town residents, and visitors from the surrounding rural communities. Clerks ran monthly tabs for customers and allowed ladies to buy dresses “on approval”… taking several home at a time and sending back the rejects. This shoehorm is stamped with the name of the store and will be a nice addition to our exhibit on local businesses.