Public History Commons^™

“A New And Seductive Temptation”: The Introduction Of Museum Catalogue Stalls And The Emerging Focus On Public Education, Jamie Larkin

CCI Articles and Research

This paper examines the introduction of catalogue stalls among London-based national museums and galleries in the 1910s, using the British Museum as an extended case study. It seeks to frame this initiative as an important moment in the history of museums as they shifted from predominately scholastic institutions, largely unresponsive to the needs of their visitors, to ones with a growing awareness of their role in public education. By being prominently positioned in museum lobbies, the catalogue stall provided a focal point for visitors to extend their cultural experience through educational or souvenir materials, and can be seen as part …