Theses/Dissertations - Museum Studies
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Item A case study of the Colonial Revival, collecting, and museum making in Texas.(2005-05) Clark, Eleanor K.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Miss Ima Hogg dedicated her life to creating a cultural and historical legacy in the state of Texas. An avid collector and patroness of the arts, she was responsible for the creation of three museums, each unique in purpose. This master's thesis discusses the life of Miss Hogg as the daughter of a legendary governor and as a philanthropist, but most particularly as the founder of three important museums. Hogg's interest in collecting art and antiques began in her youth and continued until her death at age ninety-three. The intent of this thesis is to demonstrate how her collecting progressed over several decades and to compare and contrast the Vamer-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, Bayou Bend, and the Winedale Historical Center. Further, this thesis will analyze the evolution of her thinking about museums and evaluate the degree to which she reflected the expectation of her social class and the age in which she lived.Item Irrational exuberance: calculating the total number of museums in the United States.(2006-07-30T19:14:42Z) Ettle, Joseph Lewis.; Williams, Stephen L., 1948-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Museums have been present in the United States since the late 1700's. Now that the twenty-first century has started, a definite total for the number of museums in the United States needs to be determined. Without this total the museum community will not be able to realize its full potential and importance. By determining the total, the museum community can work together to strengthen the identity and focus of the museum field in the United States. This study examines museums in 100 cities. Socioeconomic factors of the cities also are examined to assist in calculating a total number of museums in the United States. Based on these data, the total number of museums in the United States is between 16,000 and 20,000. The results are examined and recommendations for the field are made.Item Personality traits in the museum community.(2006-07-31T01:26:07Z) Elliott, Leslee A.; Williams, Stephen L., 1948-; Rowatt, Wade Clinton, 1969-; Charlton, Thomas L. (Thomas Lee); Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The museum community relies on the cohesion of several different functional groups to successfully run an institution. This study investigates the personality traits among employees in medium sized history museums across the country. Subjects were given a personality profile assessing the traits of the Five Factor Model of personality, and asked to indicate their affiliation with one of four museum functional categories, director/administrative, collections, education, or other. An analysis of the results indicates education staff reported significantly higher extraversion than collections staff. Results also revealed that people in the director/administrative group reported higher emotional stability than both collection and education groups. The findings in this study can impact job placement and hiring for positions in museums. Also, a knowledge of how different groups communicate can help strengthen teamwork and understanding between members of the museum community.Item Comparison of comprehension of historical information in first- and third-person museum interpretation.(2006-10-26T19:06:11Z) Kendig, Julie E.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Living history museums are realistic representations of the past where visitors encounter interpreters using artifacts and create a meaningful context for understanding history. However, little research has been done to determine how successful these museums are as a pedagogy for learning. This thesis compares comprehension at living history interpretive programs using first-person and third-person methods, evaluating the relative merits of the two approaches. A survey was administered to adult and school-aged visitors to two history museums, Old City Park in Dallas, which uses first-person interpretation and Log Cabin Village in Ft. Worth, which uses third-person interpretation. While the results of the survey show that both approaches have merits, and challenges, this thesis serves as a pilot study.Item Museum leadership: a possible shift in gender representation.(2007-12-04T20:01:08Z) Wieners, Carrie J.; Williams, Stephen L., 1948-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Gender bias is a broad social issue, combining historical and current stereotypes that affect both the for-profit and non-profit workforce. Furthermore, phenomena such as the glass ceiling, the wage gap, and feminization develop the perception of gender bias in society, including that part involving the museum community. To determine the extent that gender bias exists in museum leadership positions, data of current museum leaders were obtained from 9,475 museums by using the directory of the American Association of Museums. Data were statistically analyzed according to geographical region, museum size and museum type. From this research it is determined that there are a small number of cases of gender bias for both men and women in museum leadership. Trends from the data, correlated with a historical context, indicate the possibility of an increasing feminization of the profession. Recommendations are given to address these issues.Item "The ace of clubs" : a social and architectural history of the Draughon-Moore House, Texarkana, Texas, 1885-1985.(2008-10-15T16:30:00Z) Henderson, Ashley S.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The Draughon-Moore house in Texarkana, Texas is a nationally significant example of Victorian architecture. Built in 1885, the unusual design is an adaptation of the little-known octagonal style of architecture. It also incorporates the widely popular Italianate style, serving as an example of this style's diffusion to Texas in the late nineteenth century. Today, the house is preserved as a museum. Despite its significance, the history of the house has never been fully documented and it has rarely been included in scholarly studies of Victorian architecture. This thesis explores the structure's architectural history and analyzes the trends in nineteenth-century architecture that influenced the distinctive design. It also compiles a comprehensive history of the three families who lived in the home to create a better understanding of their life within the unusual structure. Finally, the work discusses various ways the architectural and social history of the house can be presented to museum visitors through interpretative themes. This thesis serves as the most complete record to date of the history of the Draughon-Moore house and lays the foundation for future research and interpretation.Item Collecting Greek and Roman antiquities : remarkable individuals and acquisitions in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.(2008-12-15T17:58:19Z) Plagens, Emily S.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The United States of America is distant both geographically and chronologically from the classical culture of the Greek and Roman civilizations. For these reasons, classical antiquities were not widely available to the American public. In the era after the Civil War and in the early years of the twentieth century, however, American museums made huge strides toward acquiring classical collections of great significance. This thesis will recount the development of the classical collections of three major American museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. I will examine the major board members, directors, curators, and donors who led these museums to prominence, and identify key acquisitions that have been, and often still are, among the finest available. In particular I will show that the development of a major classical collection requires both wealthy, discerning donors and an educated, professional staff.Item Institutional critique : artists focus on museological issues.(2009-04-01T16:19:48Z) Mutch, Hollis.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This thesis looks at important issues facing American museums through a form art called "institutional critique." Institutional critique artwork can be defined broadly as artwork of varying mediums that offer criticism of museums or galleries, referring sometimes to an institution as a whole and at others to specific practices. This thesis makes the case that institutional critique artwork is one tool that can help us to understand the problems facing museums today. In particular, institutional critique artwork can highlight problems museums have with collections, boards of trustees, corporate sponsorship, museum architecture, and education/ visitor experiences. Recent literature on the subject has contextualized institutional critique artwork in regards to art history, but so far has failed to utilize it as a museum studies tool. The museum community has – and continues to – address these problems, but these artists can express in often vivid form what are sometimes seemingly dry museological issues.Item Recovering provenance : historic preservation in Waco, 1953-1980.(2010-06-23T12:18:12Z) Browning, Mark Robert.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The means and methods of preservation and restoration are a part of a historic house’s history, and thus becomes an important part of its provenance. This thesis examines the background stories of the Historic Waco Foundation houses and the Earle-Harrison House in one essay. It considers the influence of historic precedents on a state and local level. It brings to the forefront major benefactors to preservation in Waco, some of whom were either absent or casually mentioned in earlier articles. It demonstrates how both the pilgrimage traditions and the governing structures that were established affect the operation of the houses today. Finally it documents how some of the organizations combined together to benefit from a new source of funding, and the results of that merger. Recommendations for future studies are made in the conclusion.Item Increasing the use and value of collections : finding DNA.(2010-06-23T12:22:37Z) Malone, Margaret E.; Williams, Stephen L., 1948-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The specimens maintained in natural history collections worldwide represent a resource that must be protected. However, as traditional collections age and historical research methods are replaced with new research applications, the future use of traditional collections has been challenged. While DNA studies have used traditional collections, successful retrieval is not always guaranteed. As a result, specimens may be damaged through sampling, while research resources are misdirected. Clearly, both collections and researchers would benefit if research results could be guaranteed. By comparing actual specimens with actual DNA results, studies were conducted to determine possible conditions leading to the successful or unsuccessful acquisition of DNA. Of particular interest were conditions surrounding DNA procedures, specimen parts sampled, age of specimens, systematics, and history of preservation treatments. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations for further study are presented for the benefit of specimen collections and the researchers that use them.Item Documenting and interpreting the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment's 2007-09 deployment to Iraq for the Third Cavalry Regiment Museum.(2010-06-23T12:22:59Z) Oliver, Louise M.; Holcomb, Julie L., 1963-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The Third Armored Cavalry Regiment (3d ACR) has a history spanning more than 150 years and is the last heavy cavalry regiment in the United States Army. In February 2009, the 3d ACR returned from its third deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09. This time is recorded in thousands of documents including after action reviews, journal articles, news reports, and award submissions. The objective of this thesis is to explore ways in which that deployment could best be interpreted for museum visitors in a meaningful, unique, and educational way. This thesis will both document much of the history of the deployment, and develop a way to summarize the deployment so that audiences learn about the significance of the unit in Iraq to the soldiers, their families and the people of Ninewa Province.Item "A nation can stay alive when it's culture and history stay alive" : Afghanistan's ongoing battle to protect its cultural heritage from looting, war, and terrorism.(2011-05-12T15:24:52Z) Dougherty, Ashli.; Holcomb, Julie L., 1963-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, many have heard the story and seen the images of the looting in Iraq, especially at the Baghdad Museum. While the world was quick to react to the events in Iraq, similar events occurring for the past thirty years in Afghanistan have largely been ignored. The archaeological record in Afghanistan stretches back thousands of years making it a key part in understanding Central Asian history, but the country's once rich supply of cultural artifacts and archaeological sites is being destroyed by looting, war, and deliberate acts of destruction. This thesis examines the past and current circumstances surrounding the loss of Afghan cultural property and institutions such as the National Museum in Kabul. It further demonstrates how the protection of sites and utilization of cultural heritage can play a role in the rebuilding of a nation after three decades of war.Item Pat Neff and the Pat Neff Collection : biography, history, and interpretation.(2011-09-14) Graves, Nicholas, 1987-; Holcomb, Julie L., 1963-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The Pat Neff Collection is housed in the Texas Collection at Baylor University. Pat Neff was Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925 and President of Baylor University from 1932 to 1947. As Neff is an important figure in Texas politics in the 1920s and 1930s and in education in the 1930s and 1940s, his collection is among the most popular for research at the Texas Collection. This thesis includes a brief biography of Pat Neff, which will form the basis for the biographical note of the Neff Collection finding aid. This will be followed by a history of the collection, with emphasis on the recent processing project. Additionally, the thesis will include a proposal for digitization of portions of the collection.Item Living collections in museums.(2011-12-19) Roop, Bradley C.; Holcomb, Julie L., 1963-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This thesis focuses on the uniquely dynamic nature of living collections in museums. Emphasis will be placed on the interaction between the living collection and the staff members directly responsible for their care. An historical account of living collections in museums will be given as well as an introduction to this research. Research included surveys designed to gain general knowledge about the living collection at three museums or zoos followed by interviews designed to get more knowledge. After the interviews were complete the data collected from the interviews was organized into three separate case studies. The three case studies examined were a zoo, natural history museum, and a hybrid of a natural history museum and a children’s museum.Item Multiculturalism and the museum : three case studies.(2012-08-08) Fiegel, Natalie.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.With the rise of social history over the past several decades, educational institutions have increasingly been called upon to represent and showcase different cultural and minority groups within their walls. This has forced museums to reevaluate their exhibit spaces in order to create more inclusive, diverse interpretations. Basic museum practices have been challenged and the role of the museum has been called into question. Case studies of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Oklahoma History Center, and the New Mexico History Museum showcase the different approaches museums today are taking within their exhibits to create as authentic and unbiased portrayals of different cultures past and present as possible.Item "Palaces of art :" Victorian studio-houses in the museum context.(2012-08-08) Garner, Lara A.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The Aesthetic Period of the late Victorian era produced a profusion of unique architectural forms known as “purpose-built studio-houses.” These combination domestic and work spaces were intentionally built and designed by the most famous artists of the day in the United States and the United Kingdom. Each home was an intimate expression of the artist’s philosophies and tastes. These artists represented the pinnacle of popular culture for their time, and the abundance of periodical and literary material related to these artists, their works of art, and most importantly, their studio-houses, reflects the significant role these artists played in the late Victorian era. After these artists died, many of their homes were destroyed, completely remodeled, or turned into museums. This thesis explores the journeys of the properties that became museums while also investigating how these studio-house museums are being conserved and interpreted for the public today.Item For the old, rich, and cultured? Historic house museums and their relationship with young adults.(2012-08-08) Carrington, Emily Lynn.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.It has been traditionally understood that young adults are not active participants in historic house museums. This is a concern because if it is true, it means that historic house museums are not fulfilling their responsibility to educate the public as they are not reaching a particular demographic. Also, by failing to attract young adults, historic house museums are not ensuring that future generations will fulfill the roles of board members volunteers and financial support. This study investigated this claim through surveys distributed to likely historic house museum visitors between the ages of 18 and 35. Through this research, this thesis examines the current relationship young adults have with historic house museums, possible causes of this current situation, and potential actions historic house museums can take in the future to strengthen this relationship.Item "Not only creators, but also interpreters" : artist/curators in contemporary practice.(2012-08-08) Restauri, Jennifer L.; Edwards, Katie Robinson, 1964-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The role of artists in contemporary museums and university galleries has been shifting over the past fifty plus years as art has become a formally recognized discipline in the university setting and as museums have sought to diversify their staffs and provide a greater variety of educational programming. This thesis will look at the evolving duality of artist/curator in order to better define the role these professionals are fulfilling in the contemporary art museum and university gallery. Through the examination of case-studies as well as through primary research with contemporary museums and university galleries, this thesis will present current data defending the evolution and necessity of this dual-role to the post-modernization and survival of these institutions. Through this exploration, this thesis also aims to address the greater question of whether curatorial work can be considered an art form.Item "Creating new archives and reinventing the old" : the development of authority and professionalization in archives and the challenges to them.(2012-08-08) Harbeson, Stephanie M.; Holcomb, Julie L., 1963-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Archives management has developed from a subcategory of history to its own profession through measures such as guidelines for archival practices and access, as well as standards in education and certification, all of which established professionalization and authority. With the establishment of professionalization and authority there have been challenges to both the physical and intellectual contents of archives such as the questioning of the use of science to authentic documents, the alteration of the archival record through addition, theft, and alteration of documents, and the advocating of archives to expand their collections to include underrepresented groups. These challenges have caused archivists to reevaluate and alter their policies in order to better serve the community and preserve their collections.Item Peach Point Plantation, Jones Creek, Texas : documenting the material culture of the Austin, Perry and Bryan families.(2012-11-29) Farone, Rebecca Ann.; Hafertepe, Kenneth, 1955-; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This thesis examines the remains of Peach Point Plantation main house in Jones Creek, Brazoria County, Texas to interpret the Austin, Bryan, and Perry families through their remaining material culture. The Austins, Bryans, and Perrys comprised a unique family with a keen interest in the progress of mankind. Their sacrifices and loyalty deserve extra attention and can be seen in their material culture. The work to date on Peach Point has been useful in documenting the facts, but bringing its material culture to light will help this period be understood. The fact that this house is not available to the public and is not in good shape brought about the idea of recording the house and its history before it is gone, this being the next best thing to being able to visit it.