Hi Noel, At the National Portrait Gallery, we have legacy data in the Events Module that is related to historical events (Civil War, Scopes Trial, Kennedy Assassination, etc.) These "events" are linked to both objects and constituents (portraits and, even more often, sitters within the portraits.) We entered this information only sporadically on our legacy database and have not touched the Events Module in our ten years on TMS. Part of the reason is that we wonder if the module might be better used in the future to document events at the gallery, like openings or performances. But an even bigger reason is that we don't have the manpower to enter this kind of data. On our old database, you could link to the event from within the object you were entering, which is really the only reason we DID enter it then-it was so easy. Now we would need to treat the entry of events as a project in itself, for which we don't have the time or staff right now. But it sounds like this is a priority for you, and I do think the Events Module would work great for the purpose you are talking about. It would be very useful if really fleshed out-helpful to curators planning shows or, of course, researchers. If we end up fleshing out our historical events some day (I was actually discussing this with a TMS coworker recently,) I'll be sure to come to you for advice! Best, Sue ________________________________ From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Noel Valentin Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 4:18 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Events module Dear TMS Users, I currently use TMS 9.20. I searched the TMS List-serv archive today because we need to resolve an issue here at El Museo regarding data we want to enter and store somewhere, preferably in TMS. The data we want to store, for instance, would provide descriptions or definitions on a folk art tradition, Performance art in Colombia, "Nuyorican" artists of the 1970s, etc. Each of these Subjects could have a Related link to one or more objects. Where can such data reside in TMS? In the Events module? Allison Smith at The Warhol posted this same question (in much better detail than I) a few years ago. Her query is copied below. At the time Allison posted her query there were a couple of responses to her sub-query regarding languages but none on how other TMSers are using the Events module. As an educational resource which can be posted on-line it would be great if TMS/E-Museum had the capability to store/display information other than basic object and artist information - but to also store data related to "Concepts, Themes, Techniques, Processes, Styles, Periods, Movements" (quoting from Allison's query). It seems as if the Events module is currently designed to enter data related to a historical event (e.g. the dates and description of the demolition of the Berlin Wall is entered in the Events module; an Object record related to this historical Event is linked to this Event record). Your feedback is greatly appreciated, Noel Valentin Registrar EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO 1230 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029 Tel: (212) 660 - 7120 Fax: (212) 831 7927 Email: [log in to unmask] Dear TMS Users - Our Education Department has shown interest in using TMS as a archival repository for their educational materials, which help teach the story of Andy Warhol, as well as the related people, concepts, techniques, events, places, and issues related to his life and/or body of work. Their ultimate goal is to build a website for teachers, where educators can use the materials (mainly downloadable PDF "activity" files) found at the site, for classroom purposes. They are also interested in creating an Andy Warhol Timeline, in which people can look at specific dates in Warhol's history, read about Andy, and then get related records to other events or trends occurring in history at that time (not only in the United States, but in other countries). The second ultimate goal, is to have this site be in other languages, beginning with Russian, and possibly Chinese, and probably including many of the European languages representative of the countries to which our collection regularly travels. This second goal, we realize, will be extremely tricky, and may not include using TMS as a repository for the foreign language translations at all. We're still trying to figure this out. Anyone out there dealt with this issue? I do think it's possible that TMS can be used to accommodate the educational information and exercises created by our Ed. Dept. I also think their information has the potential to make our entire database much richer. From my initial playing around with their data, it seems like Constituents, Events, and Sites are going to be very important modules for them to use. In regards to Events, we are expanding our definition of what "Events" actually means, to be able to accommodate the following subjects: Historical Events, Natural Events, Political Events, Activities, Concepts, Themes, Techniques, Processes, Styles, Periods, Movements, and the Warhol Timeline (so far). We will be using the Attributes section of the Events module, to help facilitate searching across these subjects. My question to the list serve is - has anyone out there really developed TMS for use in this way? Is anyone out there regularly using Sites and Events for holding data about places, and/or for non-object/constituent specific subject matter related to their collection? If so, have you found it problematic that in TMS, Sites can't be related (through the Display Mode - Hierarchy) to Events? Here is a listing of other modules that don't link. Question - has it been problematic for anyone out there, that these modules don't link? Sites doesn't link to: Events Exhibitions Events doesn't link to: Sites Exhibitions Bibliography Exhibitions doesn't link to: Sites Events Bibliography Bibliography doesn't link to: Events Exhibitions Finally, we're looking into purchasing eMuseum, as a building block for our website. What has been your general experience with this product? For those of you that have purchased eMuseum, how accommodating has GS been with requests for functionality that eMuseum may not currently have? (or TMS for that matter). Sorry this has been so long. I always find it necessary to give a lot of context. It would be really great to hear from anyone out there, who may be dealing with these issues. We'd like to know if others are developing (or thought about developing) TMS in this way, and what successes (or pitfalls), they've encountered with their projects, and/or eMuseum. Thanks so much! Allison .................................................................. .................................................................. the warhol: Allison A. Smith Collection Manager / Database Administrator 117 Sandusky Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 T 412.237.8345 F 412.237.8340