This query was cross-posted on H-Local.  With the author's permission, I am
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Robert Tabak, PhD
Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies
Philadelphia


Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 1:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: H-Ed: Query: Museum-going as educational?

[x-post from Victoria, original poster Dirk Vom Lehn,
[log in to unmask]]

Currently, I am working on a paper on behaviour of visitors to museums,
galleries and similar kinds of exhibition.  While there is plenty of
literature on visitor behaviour to contemporary exhibitions I was
wondering whether some of you might know of any references both academic
(e.g. Tony Bennett's account of how social reformers wished museums to
shape behaviour in his book on the 'Birth of the Museums') as well as
literature (e.g. there is Dickens mentioning of Pip visiting a Cabinet
of Curiosities in 'Great Expectations').  Apart from behavioural
accounts (what did the public do in exhibition space and what did they
talk about) I am also interested in the public's perception of museums
and galleries in the (18th &) 19th century and whether museums were
really considered as educational institutions by the public (not the
social reformers (e.g. Henry Cole).

I would be grateful for any information and, of cause, will post a
collection of the references I receive to the list in due course.

Many thanks!

Dirk

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