I’m pretty sure all you collectors know Wes Cowan from 13 years appraising on Antiques Roadshow and six years as a History Detective. Many of you might also know that he was raised in a household filled with Victorian antiques by a mother who liked all things “old” and that he turned his love of “old” into degrees in anthropology and archaeology; eventually teaching and then becoming Curator of Archaeology at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. But what you might not know is that Cowan has always been a collector.

As a child Cowan collected fossils, arrowheads, and china plates; as a young man in college, he collected antique photographs. In fact, if it weren’t for a passion for collecting he might never have become “Wes Cowan, Auctioneer,” let alone a regular on those TV shows. After 15 years of collecting photographs, Cowan had amassed what was, at the time, the best collection of Frank J. Haynes photographs & stereoviews — which he (somewhat painfully) sold to start his business.

When we met Cowan briefly before his Thursday night lecture, part of the Plains Art Museum’s Trash or Treasure event, it was really clear that his passion for collecting isn’t just some front to appease collectors or fans of the shows. Within the first few minutes the talk turned quickly to collecting. Not just asking us what we collect, but making an off-hand comment that he’s been kicking himself for not starting a collection of hotel door key cards earlier. It’s just the sort of comment you’d expect a traveling collector to make.

Once he began his talk, Cowan focused on the appeal of History Detectives. He said that the show “taps into our inherent interests in the history of our country and the history of our families.” His enthusiasm for collecting and understanding of collectors was clear as he talked about how objects hold stories and how collectors should think of themselves as curators. (In my notes I wrote, “It’s like Wes reads my columns!”)

When discussing History Detectives, Cowan winced and ducked from imaginary tossed tomatoes as he told us that none of the stars of the show do the research. He explained that they may suggest objects and stories they run across but it’s the producers who select the objects & then assign them to the show’s researchers. Working in pairs, researchers have six weeks to do the research. From this research, a loose script or story lay-out is created, allowing the History Detective to provide off-the-cuff narration — including the inclusion of new or changing information as it comes in. Each History Detective then has three days to be filmed telling the story, with two days of travel. (With so much travel, it’s no wonder Cowan laments not starting that hotel door key collection earlier.)

Cowan feels honored to be a part of the show, saying, “It’s a privilege to be invited into homes & stories and to go & do what others can’t.” Watching him say it, there’s no doubt of the sincerity of his words.

Antiques Roadshow production has far more of a family atmosphere among the appraisers; not just because he’s been a part of the show for twice as long but because he and the other 75 appraisers work together at each show. And boy do the appraisers work at each show. Even if each city Roadshow visits airs as multiple episodes, it all was taped in one day. That means 75 appraisers work with 7,500 people — each one bringing multiple items — all in one day. None of the appraisers are compensated in any way for participating in Roadshow — flights, food, hotel etc. is all paid for out of each appraiser’s pocket. Each appraiser does it for the fun and exposure. Or I should say for the potential exposure. For while there are 12 million viewers, there is no guarantee that any appraiser will have a taped segment. As appraisers run into great stories, they have to make a pitch about being filmed to producers. If they make a strong enough case, they may get air time; if not, they’ve paid for the trip, done an exhausting day’s work, all for naught.

Well, almost naught…

Appraisers are allowed to set their cards and literature on tables. However, they are absolutely forbidden to solicit business. This includes verbally giving out their contact information. Cowan tells the story of a lady who asked how to contact him. He replied that he couldn’t say, but mentioned where his card could be found. When she stated she was unable to read the print on his card, Cowan told the woman she would need to get her granddaughter to read the card because he was forbidden to read it to her. That’s pretty strict; but just goes to show you how ethical Roadshow is.

As for his “day job” as auctioneer, Cowan says the business has changed a lot. “Farm auctions are no longer lucrative,” he said, and, “Sotheby’s & Christie’s have proven that auctioneering is all about marketing.” And he addressed the impact of the Internet too.

Within 5-7 years, eBay and the like have quickly shown that “rare” is indeed a relative term based on dealer opinion &/or experience. Once “rarely seen” things were shown for the readily available stuff they were, and the prices for low-to-middle end antiques & collectibles dropped drastically. However, the accessibility of the Internet has assisted those searching for scarce items, likely bringing stronger auction sales for high end antiques and art. He also said the accessibility was a good thing, allowing people to find objects, connect with other collectors & collecting groups, as well as research more easily.

On Friday, before the VIP Trash or Treasure dinner, we had yet another opportunity to talk privately with both Wes Cowan and his colleague, Danica M. Farnand, a specialist in American Indian Art. We have lots more to share from those conversations, but for now we’ll leave you with the one question that every collector & watcher of History Detectives wants to know: What are their favorite resources for research?

Farnand first mentioned Google, then added that she most often uses the Burke Museum database, as well as the Smithsonian database, AskArt.com, and Peabody’s database (but added that it was a bit difficult to use). Cowan added ArtFact.com, Prices4Antiques, Ancestry.com, ABE.com, CivilWarData.com, and The Library of Congress’ American Memory Historical Collection to the list. He also said that more and more universities and museums are adding their archives online, so the resources would only be growing.

Skeptical that they were hiding something, like secret databases and clandestine meetings in private libraries off limits to the average collector, we pressed a bit. “On History Detectives you have a lot of access to archives and libraries of organizations… Do average collectors have such access?”

“In my experiences, as a collector, researcher and auctioneer, I’ve found archivists & librarians are always anxious to help,” he said.

“Even if you’re not a History Detective?” we asked.

“It’s not like a librarian’s ever going to tell a researcher to go away,” he added, laughing. Then he leaned in, grinned and conspiratorily added, “But being a History Detective doesn’t hurt!”

Most collectors will admit they can’t wait to watch an episode of Antiques Roadshow. At our house, it’s a regular. But by far my favorite television show on collectibles is History Detectives. It’s a great show for the whole family.

It’s not that I dislike Antiques Roadshow — we do watch and enjoy it. However, it is my opinion that History Detectives is the better show — and not just because I can (and do) groove to the show’s theme song, Elvis Costello’s “Watching the Detectives” either. I have other reasons.

While Antiques Roadshow focuses on price & condition of antiques and collectibles, it also somewhat misrepresents the other fundamentals of collecting.

In one episode, many items are paraded in front of you; most with very high prices. The kids eyes bulge when they hear that some guy dumpster dove and retrieved a painting (by no artist we’ve ever heard of) which is worth more than half of our neighbor’s house, or when a Navajo blanket fetches three times what our home would. Their jaws drop when they hear that the 50 cent score at a flea market is worth more than our van. Our eyes bulge, our jaws drop too. But as adults, we know that these are the rare finds, the less than typical situations. (Otherwise, we’d drive a better vehicle and live in a better neighborhood!)

In one hour of Antiques Roadshow, approximately 50 items flash before you, each with a satisfactory ending. It may not all be rags-to-riches, but rarely is an item a complete ‘unknown’ with no information or appraisal given. The kids not only think that we’re sitting on a pile of earthly treasures, but that finding out an items worth is just a matter of walking up to some guy who is sitting there waiting to tell you that you’ve struck oil. They also think finding a seller will be that easy. They have no idea the amount of research that goes into discovering just what you have, and how important knowing what you have is to finding the right buyer.

History Detectives, on the other hand, shows the process of research. These folks are searching databases; visiting libraries, museums, and galleries; interviewing historians and specialists (including getting on planes to do so); and using technology as well as expert opinion to authenticate items.

In fact, it’s rather like CSI, but without the crime. Who knew you could do the things they did when they investigated to see if this house was owned by accused witch, Martha Carrier?!

But ultimately the real reason I adore History Detectives is because it focuses on the real value of items: the stories, the histories. Items are not reduced to a price tag, with or without the “of course, it’s priceless to you,” tagged at the end. (Even when Roadshow appraisers tell people that the item should be in a museum, they still give a dollar value.)

In one hour of History Detectives, you may ‘only’ get three objects — but along with them you get three fascinating stories. Even if the family stories and legends don’t pan out, the stories are fascinating. Fascinating enough to get a seven year old boy interested and engaged in the program.

Recently I watched an episode of History Detectives with the kids (admittedly right after Roadshow). One of the items investigated was a Liberty Bell pin. During the show, they mentioned the Civil War. Hunter, who has just finished the first grade, asked what the Civil War was. When I explained, his face brightened and he said, “Oh, President Lincoln!” He was so proud to be able to bring something to the conversation — and I was proud to know he really does pay attention in school!

But the story doesn’t end there.

That episode aired here on Monday, July 2, and when we went to the local Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, Hunter ran with glee to a display of a replica of the Liberty Bell, made of oak by Ordean Swenson.

“Oh! The Liberty Bell!” he said with excitement. He even wanted his photo taken with it.

Then we discussed a few things from the show, such as how the crack was actually made larger as a “repair” so they could ring the bell in honor of George Washington in 1846. (This method of repair, called stop drilling, increased the size of the crack so that the sides of the fracture would not rub against each other, allowing the bell to ring.)

Through the investigation and story narration on History Detectives, we learn something. We make connections. We build on what we already know and share with the rest of the family watching. This way we’re more likely to remember what we’ve learned. The prices on Roadshow are jaw-dropping, but do I retain any of them? Nope. But I do remember the stories on History Detectives. So do the kids.

Now that’s TV programming I, as a parent, can really get behind!

No wonder PBS executives say that History Detectives is one of their most popular programs, “capturing an audience that ranges from elementary school children to truckers.”

Note: PBS also has a History Detectives site just for kids.