Museum Origins: Readings in Early Museum History and Philosophy

by Hugh H. Genoways (Editor)

With the development of institutions displaying natural science, history, and art in the late 19th century came the debates over the role of these museum in society. This anthology collects 50 of the most important writings on museum philosophy dating from this formative period, written by the many of the American and European founders of the field. Genoways and Andrei contextualize these pieces with a series of introductions showing how the museum field developed within the social environment of the era. For those interested in museum history and philosophy or cultural history, this is an essential resource.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Museums, Museology, Textbooks

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kristi]

The primary source essays collected into this book relate the development of professional museology in “the long nineteenth century” (late eighteenth through early twentieth century), while also tracing museums back to their roots in ancient times. The authors of the documents strive to define a museum as distinct from other exhibitory institutions, and to explicate the purpose of museums. They debate the composition, methods, and function of “the new museum” or the “modern” museum, which was predominately the public museum, though university and privately funded museums are also a part of the new museology. Most of the authors maintained that education was the primary purpose of museums, with a strong focus on science and the scientific nature of museology as a profession. Many of the authors focused on natural history collections. In the case of art museums, the topics of aesthetics and proper citizenship were introduced as alternative models for the museum’s purpose. Still, education in aesthetics and taste was emphasized. Since the museum was to possess and impart a special type of “object learning,” the professionalization of curators became important to museums. Curators evolved from collectors to trained professionals skilled in preservation, to professional and learned collection interpreters and educators. Finally, there was the emergence of the museum director, who responsible for ethically financing the museum in the early twentieth century.

[Erica]

Useful, perhaps especially in a graduate readings setting, and esp. where students are focused on the development of American museums, gardens, and zoos of the 19th century. Several great primary documents compiled here: especially useful is CW Peale, Scadding, Britton, Trelease, and Sargeant.

[Mariam]

Didn't find it that useful