Museum Studies Commons^™

Engaging Visitors With Conservation: The Key To Museum Sustainability, Megan Crutcher

Graduate Student Research Symposium

What is museum conservation and why does it matter? Increasingly, museum professionals are having to answer this question not only for themselves, but for the public as well. I argue that conservation’s definition is twofold, encompassing the actual work, as well as public engagement and presentation. First, conservation is the act of preserving and protecting cultural heritage to improve its structural integrity and historical significance. Second, conservation’s ultimate effectiveness lies in its ability to leave the public informed and passionate. Two of the best examples of these programs are the conservation of the Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian in …

February 2019; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

January 2019; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Museum Websites And Restitution: Rediscovering Holocaust-Era Objects In The Digital Age, Gabriella Bloom

MA Theses

Under the Third Reich, Europe experienced one of the most far-reaching examples of plunder of cultural property in modern history. While the Allies succeeded in returning many objects and artworks towards the end of the war and initially following it, many objects remained missing and hidden. The late 1990s led to a resurgence of interest in Holocaust-Era looting, resulting in a rise of cases and litigation over previously plundered objects. As many looted artworks materialized in United States museums, museums began further researching their collections’ provenance and inputting this information online. Today, most major museums have a section of their …

The Bioarchaeology Of The Tugalo Site (9st1): Diet, Disease, And Health Of The Past, Nompumelelo Beryl Hlophe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Tugalo site is a prehistoric and early historic Native American site located in northeast Georgia along the upper Savannah River basin, near the junction of Toccoa Creek and the Tugalo River. According to archaeological materials analyzed from the site it was occupied from ca. A.D. 1100 to 1600 (Anderson et al. 1995). Although archaeological investigations of the site revealed basic characteristics of its chronology and architecture, very little analysis and reporting of the skeletal remains from Tugalo has been completed. By analyzing data collected by Williamson (1998) concerning the age and sex of the burials, the presence or absence …

The Bullet In The Brick: The Materiality Of Conflict In Museum Objects, Siobhan Doyle

Articles

Tangible traces of conflict in visual artefacts can take viewers uncomfortably close to the realities of war—violence, destruction and fatalities. This article questions the evidential force of objects associated with conflict and their eventual display in exhibitions. Through a study of the display of a brick in which is embedded a bullet that is said to have passed through the body of Francis Sheehy Skeffington when he was executed by firing squad during the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, this article explores the historical configuration of the brick and analyses its public display in the National Museum of Ireland …

December 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

A Larger Table: Fostering Inclusion In Museums Through Hiring Directors Of Community Engagement, Hannah M. Page

Museum Studies Theses

Museums have undergone a transformation over the course of their existence, shifting from inwardly-focused private collections to organizations working to represent and advocate for the diversity of human existence. While professionals in the field have become increasingly aware of the importance of expanding beyond traditional audiences, there is little consensus about the best methods of achieving this goal. This thesis proposes one potential solution, the creation of a staff position dedicated to engaging members of the museum’s surrounding community through relationship-building. After a brief exploration of the history of the museum field, this paper delves into the benefits of developing …

Portraits With A Posthumous Voice: Reinforcing And Contesting Social Norms In The Heterotopic Museum And Cemetery, Matthew J. Crissey

Museum Studies Theses

Abstract

The following paper qualitatively analyzes and documents over 500 memorial-photographs/etched portraits on tombstones in ten Western New York cemeteries. This paper covers fourteen topics, ranging from religion to gang-violence. A juxtaposition of portraits exhibited within the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery with memorial-portraits on tombstones revealed heterotopic environments creating a public forum enabling the reinforcing or contestation of social ideologies. In other words, the author observed the similarities of identities and social norms publicly expressed on tombstones and gallery portraits.

A Social Constructionist approach enabled the study to examine how one social phenomenon contributes to the shaping of a culture. …

August 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Public Art And Patronage: A Collective Study Of Four Of Buffalo, New York's Early Monuments, 1882-1907, Drew C. Boyle

Museum Studies Theses

The goal of this paper is to investigate the motivations of the patrons behind four of Buffalo, New York’s early monuments. These are the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (1882), the Lincoln, The Emancipator Monument (1902), the Red Jacket Monument (1890), and the McKinley Monument (1907). Each section contains historical context regarding the time period, critical events that influenced the monument, comparisons to similar monuments in the United States, and the narratives of the monument’s dedication and ceremonies. When grouped together, the historical context provided for each monument essentially plays into the motivations behind why each monument was erected. Lastly, the …

July 2018 (3); Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

July 2018 (2); Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

July 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Tolerance As A Way To Remember, Natalie Figueroa

Voces Novae

This project examines the topic of Holocaust memorialization with a specific focus on the Simon Wiesenthal Center and their Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance. It posits that the mission and design of the museum were shaped by two major factors, first, the values of Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal for whom the Center was named, and second, racial and ethnic tensions within the City of Los Angeles during the late 1980s and early 1990s, which culminated in the Los Angeles riots in 1992 following the acquittal of four white police officers in the 1991 beating of Rodney King. The museum opened …

June 2018 (2); Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

June 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Enhancing Your Intelligence Agency Information Resource Iq: Pt. 2: The Central Intelligence Agency, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Provides an overview of information resources produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) including popular reference works like World Factbook and Chiefs of State and Cabinet Leaders of Foreign Governments. Additional content describes the CIA's origins and development, descriptions of current organizational components, information about it's directors, and the text of historical National Intelligence Estimates (NIE) and the President's Daily Brief covering topics as varied as North Korea, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and NIE's on Soviet ballistic missile forces and numerous other topics. Features artifacts from the CIA Museum.

May 2018 (2); Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

“After-Ozymandias”: The Colonization Of Symbols And The American Monument, H. R. Membreno-Canales

Theses and Dissertations

After-Ozymandias examines the visual rhetoric of American patriotism through its many symbols, including flags and monuments. My thesis project consists of photographs of empty plinths, objects, products and archival materials. Countless relics remain today memorializing leaders and empires that inevitably declined, from antiquity to modern times. Looking back at distant history feels like a luxury, though: the question for our time in America is whether we have the strength of mind as a society to scrutinize our history, warts and all.

Using Digital Mapping Techniques To Rapidly Document Vulnerable Historical Landscapes In Coastal Louisiana: Holt Cemetery Case Study, Alahna Moore

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis outlines a technique for rapid documentation of historic sites in volatile cultural landscapes. Using Holt Cemetery as an exemplary case study, a workflow was developed incorporating RTK terrain survey, UAS aerial imagery, photogrammetry, GIS, and smartphone data collection in order to create a multifaceted database of the material and spatial conditions, as well as the patterns of use, that exist at the cemetery.

The purpose of this research is to create a framework for improving the speed of data creation and increasing the accessibility of information regarding threatened cultural resources. It is intended that these processes can be …

Complexities Of Chinese Contemporary Art, Hongjia Chen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Throughout the history of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), art has always been state-dominated and driven by governmental and political agendas. In comparison to fellow artists in the Western world, historically, Chinese artists have lacked the freedom to express their passion and creativity through artistic forms. The contemporary art movement in China, however, maneuvers around this challenge and provides a more positive direction—one in which artists have a stronger voice and economic benefits are combined with governmental support and encouragement of art activities that enhance social capital and one’s habitus. To some extent, this is changing, with the first …

May 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Edith M. Richardson: Woman Of Mystery And Her Subjects, Adam J. Barnes

Museum Studies Projects

This paper and corresponding exhibit fulfill the final requirement for a M.A. in Museum Studies. They are both titled Edith M. Richardson: Woman of Mystery and Her Subjects because the people involved, including the donors of the collection, did not know or could not find anything about Richardson. In this paper I will write about my search for Richardson and her subjects as well as implementing the exhibit.

James Connolly's Bloodstained Vest: Mediating Death And Violence In Commemorative Exhibitions, Siobhan Doyle

Articles

The actions surrounding the display of images and artefacts in museums – collection, conservation, research and exhibition – are bound up with how the past is presented and remembered. These conditions and decisions relating to exhibitions are largely invisible to viewers who are confronted with the apparent completeness of an exhibition display. By conducting a historical and visual analysis of the bloodstained vest of political leader James Connolly, this article uncovers how this artefact has become a relic of historical violence due to the way in which particular aspects of its configuration, form and trajectory have been manipulated in order …

Buying Time: Consuming Urban Pasts In Nineteenth-Century Britain, Dory Agazarian

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is about how historical narratives developed in the context of a modern marketplace in nineteenth-century Britain. In particular, it explores British historicism through urban space with a focus on Rome and London. Both cities were invested with complex political, religious and cultural meanings central to the British imagination. These were favorite tourist destinations and the subjects of popular and professional history writing. Both cities operated as palimpsests, offering a variety of histories to be “tried on” across the span of time. In Rome, British consumers struggled when traditional histories were problematized by emerging scholarship and archaeology. In London, …

Lumumba’S Iconography As Interstice Between Art And History, Matthias De Groof

Artl@s Bulletin

How does Congolese art and artistic representations of Lumumba “mediate past, present and future”? How do they relate to historical narratives and to the dialogues within the Global South? This contribution proposes Lumumba’s iconography as a case in point of the interstice between art and history. It positions the image of Lumumba as mediating between past, present and future for both the Congo and the Global South more broadly.

Revelation Of Obscurity In An Empire: Reinterpreting “Outsider Art” As A Preservation Tool In A Rural Alabama Cultural Heritage Site, Museum Of Wonder, Bryan James Pierce

Student Theses and Dissertations

While urban centers may have more conveniences and resources to sustain a decorative vernacular art environment of rural origin, much is to be gained from keeping such sites in their places of origin. The Museum of Wonder in Seale, Alabama is a case in point. It should be recognized as a legitimate heritage site and primary source for understanding the heritage of Russell County, Alabama. The Museum of Wonder and the regional artists affiliated with the museum are intentionally preserving their heritage in rural Russell County through the performance and presentation of abstract vernacular art. A close and multifaceted examination …

April 2018; Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project Minutes, Buffalo-Niagara Lgbtq History Project

Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project Minutes

The Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project is a collective network of peers documenting LGBTQ history in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. This page maintains archival copies of all meeting minutes and is a part of the Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archives of WNY, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State.

Not All Art Belongs In The Living Room: The Tale Of Robert Mapplethorpe, Shelby K. Miller

Student Scholar Showcase

Following the death of Robert Mapplethorpe in 1989, a group of scholars put together a retrospective exhibition of his life’s work with the help of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The subject matter, namely those in Mapplethorpe’s X and Z portfolios that included male nudes and depictions of sadomasochism, caused major controversy across the country. The presentation will cover Helms Amendment of 1990 and the obscenity trial that took place in Cincinnati in 1990 with a specific focus on the lasting impacts that these events have had on the NEA and the art world.