2011-12-07_RE_Russian_Bell_at_Rancho_Camulos

From: Namee, Matthew F. [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 9:48 PM To: Rancho Camulos Museum Cc: [email protected]; Karen Roswell; Maria and Dave Christopher; Judith Triem Subject: RE: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Jim, I agree -- ultimately the bell is a Native Alaskan object of significant cultural patrimony. Given its importance, at this point, it is best to get in touch with the appropriate Orthodox, Catholic, and Native leaders to apprise them of these developments and see what they think. After that, I'd like to discuss what I learn with the entire Rancho Camulos board. Thanks for all your help with our research. I'll be in touch about the bell as soon as I hear back from the people I mentioned. All the best, Matthew ________________________________ From: Rancho Camulos Museum [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 3:38 PM To: Namee, Matthew F. Subject: Re: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Hi Matthew. I met with Justin Harrison over the weekend and we took a look at the bell. Absolutely incredible. I must confess that prior to your inquiry I did not know we had an item of such historical significance so easily accessible. I would like to bring the bell out of storage and display it at Rancho Camulos with all appropriate information. I would also like to invite the participation of the local Orthodox community in celebrating the bell and its "rediscovery." Maria has suggested putting together an exhibit that features the bell and its attendant history, and inviting interested parties to a "debut" reception, perhaps coinciding with the Orthodox New Year. I think it's an interesting idea, but I'm open to any suggestions. I look forward to your continued correspondence. Sincerely, Jim McGowan, Ph.D. Director ________________________________ From: "Namee, Matthew F." <[email protected]> To: Rancho Camulos Museum <[email protected]> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 2, 2011 9:33 AM Subject: RE: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Jim, A fellow researcher, Fr. Andrew Harrison, has a son who lives not far from Rancho Camulos. He would like to visit the museum and photograph and measure the bell. Will you (or one of the docents) be at the museum this weekend to show him around? I've CC'd Fr. Harrison on this email, so you can coordinate. Thanks so much, Matthew ________________________________ From: Rancho Camulos Museum [[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 10:37 PM To: Namee, Matthew F. Subject: Re: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Found it. It was in storage. Picture attached. Jim ________________________________ From: "Namee, Matthew F." <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: Rancho Camulos Museum <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 2:21 PM Subject: RE: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Jim, I'm trying to narrow the dates. Can you tell me when you first became associated with the museum? If the bell was still present at the time of the 1996 application, it must have disappeared sometime between then and your arrival at the museum. Thanks, Matthew ________________________________ From: Rancho Camulos Museum [[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:info@ranchocamul os.org<mailto:[email protected]>>] Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 4:18 PM To: Namee, Matthew F. Subject: Re: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Matthew, Thanks for sending the photos. I'll forward them along. I definitely have not seen the largest "Kodiak" bell on the site, but from the 1887 photo I know we have the mid-size bell (the uppermost in the structure) and I have a few candidates for the smallest. Will get back to you if I uncover anything. Jim ________________________________ From: "Namee, Matthew F." <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailt o:[email protected]>>> To: Rancho Camulos Museum <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:info@ranchocamul os.org<mailto:[email protected]>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 1:42 PM Subject: RE: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Dr. McGowan, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm disappointed to hear that the museum no longer has the Kodiak bell. I've attached several files which may be helpful: 1. An 1887 photo of the Rancho Camulos bell structure. This is the earliest known photograph of the bells. The Kodiak bell is the largest of the three. 2. An undated photo (taken sometime after 1910) of the bell structure in its later form, with the bells rearranged. The Kodiak bell is on the bottom. 3. A 1940 article on the bell, which includes a good close-up photo of the Kodiak bell. 4. The Rancho Camulos Museum's application for designation as a National Historic Landmark. The application was initially written in 1996 and revised in 1999. Page 5 includes a description of the Bell Structure, and page 10 lists the bells among the "contributing properties" for the landmark designation. This suggests to me that the Kodiak bell was present at least as late as 1996, and probably as late as the 1999 revision of the application. I'd be very interested in whatever information you can provide about the whereabouts of the bell. Thanks, Matthew ________________________________ From: Rancho Camulos Museum [[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:info@ranchocamul os.org<mailto:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:in [email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:info@ranchocamulos. org>>>] Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 2:10 PM To: Namee, Matthew F. Subject: Re: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Hi Matthew. Maria has passed along the information to a couple of people affiliated with the museum. In my time at Rancho Camulos I haven't seen any bells that match that description. Although we have 7 or 8 bells on the property, a cracked 150 pounder would be hard to miss. However, the story of Russian bells at Camulos is still floating around and being told. It is possible that it is squirreled away somewhere. However, over the years many things have been removed from the Rancho to private homes or collections with other museums. Will keep ears and eyes open. It would probably be most helpful if you could furnish a photo of the bell. Sincerely, Jim McGowan, Ph.D. Manager ________________________________ From: "Namee, Matthew F." <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailt o:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><ma ilto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>> To: "[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:info@ranchocamul os.org<mailto:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:in [email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:info@ranchocamulos. org>>>" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:info@ranchocamul os.org<mailto:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:in [email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:info@ranchocamulos. org>>>> Cc: "[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<ma ilto:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected] du><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<ma ilto:[email protected]>><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected] du><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 9:41 AM Subject: Russian bell at Rancho Camulos Hello, My name is Matthew Namee. I received your email address from Maria, a docent at your museum. I am a historian researching the history of Russian bells in California. According to my research, Rancho Camulos possesses one of these bells, which reportedly came from Kodiak, Alaska. Can you confirm that the museum still has this bell? It would be about 100-150 pounds and has a noticeable crack. Older photos and descriptions indicate that there is an inscription in Old Church Slavonic, as well as a scratched-on cross and the words "Sn De Ferno." Thanks very much for your assistance. If you'd like to discuss the bell by phone, my number is 785-393-2207. Also, I have included Ray Bucko, S.J., on this email. Fr. Bucko is conducting this research with me. Sincerely, Matthew Namee Associate Director The Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas