Introduction

With the development of institutions displaying natural science, history, and art in the late 19th century came the debates over the role of these museums in society.

Content

This anthology collects 50 of the most important writings on museum philosophy dating from this formative period, written by many of the American and European founders of the field.

Contextualization

Genoways and Andrei contextualize these pieces with a series of introductions showing how the museum field developed within the social environment of the era.

Audience

For those interested in museum history and philosophy or cultural history, this is an essential resource.