> > All of David's comments seem to apply primarily to history museums.
>
> I'm having a hard time understanding the above point. As far as I can
> tell the other David H. is contending that the aspect of an institution
> that defines it as a museum is the fact that it has and cares for a
> collection of real objects.

His definition is not so general as real objects. Read his remarks of 12/10,
he clearly states that he believes that a true museum's essential role is to
preserve historical artifacts for study, and nothing else.

> Seems to me that this definition applies
> across the board to institutions interested in all types of disciplines.
> Thus, all other things being equal, an institution that has real historic
> artifacts, natural history specimens, work of art, or scientific
> instruments would be a museum and an institution that does not would be
> something else.

Scientific instruments? As in any laboratory? Certainly not. A science
museum then must be one that collects scientific instruments of historic
interest? Hardly.

As I read his remarks, there is no such thing as a science museum except in
the above sense. I understand that the bias being stated in these arguments
is exactly why most science museums are being called science centers, and I
am arguing that this is unnecessary. That the essence of a museum can be
defined vis a vis the use of real objects for the purpose of education,
whether or not they are preserved artifacts. Clearly with regard to art and
history, the collection and preservation of objects with specific provenance
would be fundamental to such a mission.

I think the trend for natural history museums to broaden their focus away
from reliance on collections and toward a larger mission of presenting
natural science to the public is a good one. I think the inclusion of
exhibits such as Mathematica in museum settings and institutions is
positive. I do not believe such actions or the broader inclusive definition
that such phenomena impose on the "true" and "traditional" essence of
museums as defined by David, does the sort of intellectual harm that is
being suggested.

Clearly we have a difference of opinion.  It is probably also clear that I
am not a museologist, but an artist and a scientist, and so may merely be
displaying a bias from my own perspective. I am certiasnly not the best
person to argue the position I have taken, and perhaps the argument has been
largely resolved in most institutions by advocates more knowledgable than
myself. I have met my muses more often in museums than in junkyards, schools
or libraries, and I only hope that everyone's muses will be given maximun
hospitality.

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