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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 200 Level Courses > HISP 200-01 The History Museum

 

University of Mary Washington
Department of Historic Preservation

HISP 200:  The History Museum
Section 01 * Writing Intensive
Spring 2008
TR 6:00 - 7:15PM
Combs 112

Gretchen M. Goodell
Office Hours:
804-493-8038 x 8910 (Stratford Hall)

R 4:45PM - 5:45PM (or by appointment)
Combs 121
ggoodell@umw.edu                                                                                                         

Course Goals & Objectives:
Students will study the history of the museum in the United States and the development of the museum profession.  The class will examine a variety of museum types, including history museums, art museums, historic house museums, battlefields, children's museums, and natural history museums.  Class lectures and discussions will also address the modern use of online museums, blogs, and podcasts, as well as current events related to museum exhibitions and administration.  Upon completion of the course, students will have a fundamental knowledge of the function of museums, staff structures and roles, architecture and accessibility, collections care and management, interpretation, administration and governance, development and marketing, exhibitions, educational programming, and museum ethics and best practices.

Honor System:
The Honor System will be applied to all work completed in this course.  Specifically, students are expected to use original thought and not use others' ideas in any manner unless full credit is given - this applies not only to information found in books and articles, but also websites, podcasts, interviews, or statements made by fellow classmates.  When relying on the research of others, you will be expected to provide detailed footnotes in your written work and to provide oral credit in any class presentations.

Access:
The Office of Disability Services is designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services through that Office and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you need accommodations (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), I would be happy to refer you to the Office of Disability Services. They will require appropriate documentation of a disability. Their phone number is: 540-654-1266.

Required Materials:
Alexander, Edward P. and Mary.  Museums in Motion:  An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums, Second Edition.  Plymouth, UK:  AltaMira Press, 2008.

Code of Ethics for Museums.  Washington, DC:  American Association of Museums, 2000.

Readings as assigned (available via Blackboard – I will try to notify you when new articles are added, but just in case, check it often for updates!)

Grading Rationale:
Students will be graded on a 10-point scale (100-94=A; 93-90=A-; 89-87=B+; 86-83=B; 82-80=B-; 79-77=C+; 76-73=C; 72-70=C-; 69-67=D+; 66-60=D; below 60=F).  Computation of your final grade will be based on the following:
Class Participation - 5%
Project 1:  Museum Review - 20%
Project 2:  Mid-Term Take-Home Exam - 15%
Project 3:  Research Project - Total of 40%

            Proposal - 5%
            Cataloging Worksheet – 5%
            Condition/Conservation Report – 5%
            Curatorial Analysis & Exhibit Plan – 15%
            Presentation - 10%

Final Exam - 20%
As this course is designated Writing Intensive, particular attention will be paid to writing quality, style, spelling, and grammar.  Grading will reflect attention to these details and papers will be returned with written comments.  If requested, I will be happy to provide corrections and feedback on drafts.

Project 1:  Museum Review.  During the week of February 4 there will be no official classes, but you will be required to visit one museum of your choosing.  You should spend at least one hour exploring the museum and an additional hour exploring their website.  Develop a written exhibit review comparing and contrasting visitor experiences at each site.  Please take into account the type of collection, mission of the institution, orientation tools, interpretation, and presentation (lighting, graphics, interactives).  You should be prepared to speak to the class for approximately 5 minutes on the two museum experiences, using PowerPoint and/or the Internet to demonstrate your thoughts on the organization, content, and appeal of each experience.  The paper should be at least five pages in length with standard 1-inch margins and double-spaced standard font.  (20% total - 10% each for paper and presentation)

Project 2:  Take-home Exam.  You will be asked to write a five-page essay on a specific topic.  Topics will be handed out at the end of class on Thursday February 21 and are due by the end of our scheduled class time on Tuesday February 26.  Details will be discussed in class prior to the exam time.  (15%)

Project 3:  Research Project.  Over the course of the semester you should be working on this large research project that will culminate with oral presentations in the last weeks of class.  This project asks you to pick an object from your personal collection and take it from start to finish through the museum structure.  (Total= 40%)

            Proposal – Due Thursday January 31:  A one-page abstract of your project is due in the first weeks of class to help guide your research.  To be included in this proposal:  a brief description of your object (you must pick an object that you can safely bring with you to class on two days for the cataloging/collections management exercises); why you chose your object; what you want to find out or teach about your object; and how you plan to accomplish your research.  Please identify at least five preliminary sources you will use in your analysis and exhibit, with no more than two being Internet-based.  (5%)

            Cataloging Worksheet and Condition/Conservation Report:  Class time will be used to start the catalog and condition report/conservation worksheets, but they will not be due until the final notebook is turned in for review.  (5% each)

            Curatorial Analysis & Exhibit Plan:  The information you gather from your object, as well as research done outside of class, will culminate in a ten-page report where you act as the curator:  analyze the object as a historic marker and interpretive tool and plan an exhibition that includes your choice object.  Further details will be provided.  (15%)

            Presentation:  The last four classes will be devoted to oral presentations on your research project.  Please prepare a ten-minute PowerPoint presentation summarizing your findings.  Further details will be provided.  (10%)

Calendar:

Tuesday, January 15: Class Overview

The Museum in America

Thursday, January 17:  What is a Museum?
Alexander, Chapter 1

Tuesday, January 22:  The History and Development of the Museum in the United States
Gary Kulik, Designing the Past:  History-Museum Exhibitions from Peale to the Present

Thursday, January 24:  Video - Riches, Rivals and Radicals:  100 Years of Museums in America
Readings as assigned
Discuss requirements for Project 3 Proposal

Tuesday, January 29:  Discussion - Museum Audiences and New Technologies
Everyone:  Alexander, Chapter 12, plus…

Group 1:  Art Museum – Alexander, Chapter 2
Group 2:  Natural History Museum – Alexander, Chapter 3
Group 3:  History Museum – Alexander, Chapter 5
Group 4:  Children’s Museum – Alexander, Chapter 7

Thursday, January 31:  Inclusions & Exclusions
Readings as assigned
Proposal for Project 3 due at beginning of class
Discuss requirements for Project 1

Tuesday, February 5:  No Class

Thursday, February 7:  No Class

Tuesday, February 12:  Presentations on Project 1
Project 1 due at beginning of class

Thursday, February 14:  Presentations on Project 1

Administration, Governance, and other Concerns

Tuesday, February 19:  Museum Structures and Oversight
Alexander, Chapter 13
Code of Ethics for Museums

Thursday, February 21:  Legal & Ethical Issues Facing Museums
Readings as assigned
Mid-Term Take-Home Exam discussed and topic handed out

Tuesday, February 26:  No Class – Complete Take-Home Exam
Mid-Term Take-Home Exam due by 7:15PM

Collections

Thursday, February 28:  Collecting Plans and Collections Management Policies
Alexander, Chapter 8

Tuesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 6:  Spring Break!

Tuesday, March 11:  Collections Management 101 – Forms, Forms, Forms
Readings as assigned
Discuss requirements for Project 3

Thursday, March 13:  Activity – Cataloging Worksheet
Bring your selected object to class

Conservation and the Museum Environment

Tuesday, March 18:  Collections Care and Preventative Conservation
Alexander, Chapter 9

Thursday, March 20:  Activity – Condition Report & Conservation Analysis
Bring your selected object to class

Interpretation & Education

Tuesday, March 25:  Museum Exhibits
Alexander, Chapter 10

Thursday, March 27:  Programming – Not Just Another Boring Lecture
Alexander, Chapter 11

Tuesday, April 1:  Marketing the Museum
Readings as assigned

Thursday, April 3:  From the Ground Up – Building a New Museum
Readings as assigned

Bringing It All Together

Saturday, April 5:  Field Trip to Stratford Hall
We will break into groups related to different aspects of museum work and will spend time exploring the site with our area of interest in mind.  Groups will be expected to report on their thoughts and findings during the following class session.  Please wear comfortable shoes - this is a large historic site and we will be exploring various locations during our visit.  Further details will be provided closer to the date.  Please contact me if you have any conflicts that may prevent your attendance.

Tuesday, April 8:  Class discussion of Stratford Hall fieldtrip
Final discussion of Project 3 requirements

Thursday, April 10:  No Class - Field Trip on Saturday April 5 to Stratford Hall

Tuesday, April 15:  Presentations
Project 3 due at the beginning of class

Thursday, April 17:  Presentations

Tuesday, April 22:  Presentations

Thursday, April 24:  Presentations (if needed) and Review

Thursday, May 1, 7:00 - 9:30PM:  Final Exam

Please Note:

Mid-term deficiencies are due February 28.  You will receive a grade of "U" (unsatisfactory) if you have a D+ or below at that point. 

Papers or projects submitted later than the end of class on the day they are due will be marked down one letter grade (10 points).

As a courtesy to me and your fellow classmates, please turn off all cell phones or other devices that may disturb class.

You will be expected to listen to and respect your fellow classmates during discussions and group activities.  This should be an open forum for airing opinions and thoughts – I want to hear what you think and feel about topics as we discuss them.  Museums can be very personal places and can elicit very strong reactions.  I look forward to a semester of good debate and thoughtful analysis.

Because I travel 45 miles from Stratford Hall before class, I may at times experience unexpected delays or will need to cancel class.  I will make every effort to e-mail the group if delays or cancelations are expected.  If I am ever more than 20 minutes late and have not notified the class or a department representative, consider the class cancelled.