Living collections in museums.

Abstract

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.