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The Story of the Stuff: Issues in Temporary Memorial Preservation Main MenuWhat Are Temporary Memorials?A DefinitionThe Problem of Temporary MemorialsEssential Questions to BeginCase StudiesCase Studies IntroductionTexas A&M & the Bonfire Memorabilia CollectionCase StudyVirginia Tech & the April 16th Condolence ArchiveCase StudySandy Hook Elementary & the Story of the StuffCase StudyFurther StudyQuestions & Recommended ReadingsAshley Maynor5adce0171052a8cc24f02b7c0a0c96951154dfb5Self-Reliant Film
No, such collections do not need to be public.
12015-09-16T17:17:22-07:00Charlene Kirkpatrickaaff0b465fe57dd3461d61c03aca4d2b6297884460701Making Hard Decisionsplain2015-09-16T17:17:22-07:00Ashley Maynor5adce0171052a8cc24f02b7c0a0c96951154dfb5How do we go about determining what is too sensitive to make available or what will stir up unwanted emotions in the community? Cultural sensitivity has long been an important consideration of the selection process, but it is possible to take it too far by restricting access to materials that could aid our understanding of the tragedy.
The feelings of the affected community must be weighed against the potential benefits of making the collection available to the world. Since no two tragedies are the same, context is important. As the two case studies to follow will illustrate, there is no one way to answer this question.