Open Forum

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

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John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
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Dear John  I recommend Gail Anderson's Reinventing the Museum.  she has edited this and has included a number of articles touching on your questions.  I can't remember all the articles, so I would you do a search of Museum Anthropology for additional material.  
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Richard Zimmer
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2014 11:10 AM
From: John Zehren
Subject: The History of Museums

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
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Marjorie Schwarzer's excellent Riches, Rivals & Radicals-- 100 Years of Museums in America.


Original Message------

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

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John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
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Hi John - Steven Conn's book Museums and American Intellectual Life is also a good place to start. 

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Joe Cialdella
Program Officer
Michigan Humanities Council
Lansing MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2014 11:10 AM
From: John Zehren
Subject: The History of Museums

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
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Some sources I use:
Starn, Randolph. "A Historian's Brief Guide to New Museum Studies." The American Historical Review 110, no. 1 (02/01 2005): 68-98.

Carbonell, Bettina Messias, ed. Museum Studies: An Anthology of Contexts. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2004. (especially the first few chapters - From The Museum Age: 18; 2 The Museum: Its Classical Etymology and Renaissance Genealogy 23; 3 The Universal Survey Museum 51; 4 Brain of the Earth's Body: Museums and the Framing of Modernity 71)

Alexander, Edward P., and Mary Alexander. Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums. American Association for State and Local History Book Series. 2nd ed.  Lanham: AltaMira Press, 2008.

Macdonald, Sharon, ed. A Companion to Museum Studies, Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub, 2006. (especially Part II. Histories, Heritage, Identities, which includes The Origins of the Public Museum (Jeffrey Abt); World's Fairs and Museums (Robert W. Rydell); Making and Remaking National Identities (Flora Edouwaye S. Kaplan); Museums and Community (Elizabeth Crooke); Re-staging Histories and Identities (Rosmarie Beier-de Haan); Heritage (Steven Hoelscher).



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Peter Welsh
Professor & Director of Museum Studies
University of Kansas, Museum Studies Program
Lawrence KS
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2014 11:10 AM
From: John Zehren
Subject: The History of Museums

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
-------------------------------------------

Hi John,

I like The Birth of the Museum: History, Theory, Politics by Tony Bennett. Good luck!

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Kristin Good
Assistant Registrar
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Saint Louis MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2014 11:10 AM
From: John Zehren
Subject: The History of Museums

I'm giving a talk next year, and looking for a definitive source for the evolution of the Museum in society. In particular, I am interested in paradigm shifts between visitor and institution over the last century, as I believe we are in one now, and how and when the science of conservation began. Any discussion or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
John Zehren
Senior Shop Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
-------------------------------------------