>I have been asked to give a workshop/talk on interpretive
>theory and practice in historic houses and am a bit rusty on
>the current literature in this area. Any suggestions on books
>or articles on this topic would be appreciated (they are needed
>for a bibliography). Thanks in advance.
>
>--
>Robin Gabriel
>Director of Education
>Monticello, The Home of Thomas Jefferson
>Charlottesville, VA 22902
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Robin,
Start with Alderson and Low _Interpretation of Historic Sites_ (AASLH,
1985) and Butcher and Younghans _Historic House Museums_ (Oxford, 1993)
These will give you the basics, and both have excellent bibs.  Consult the
ALHFAM (Association for Living Historical Farm and Agricultural Museums)
annual meeting proceedings for additional tips and tricks.  The 1996 ALHFAM
proceedings volume contains two papers on furnishing plans, including mine,
(pp. 174-184) a case study which deals with furnishings as an integral part
of the overall interpretation scheme of a house.  I can send you a
photocopy if you like.  In the same issue you will find "The Historic House
Furnishing Plan:  Process and Product" by Bradley Brooks.  Bradley and I
shared a session at the 1996 ALHFAM conference.

There have been a number of museum conference sessions on historic house
interpretation in recent years.  One superb session, which might be still
available on audio is "Rethinking the Historic House Museum" given by Gary
Smith, Patrick Butler, and Ron Tyler at the 1993 AAM meeting in Fort Worth.
Creative interpretatation approaches and docent tour techniques are
discussed.  The tape was made by Chesapeake Audio, Elkridge, MD
(410/796-0040)  Another excellent session was given at the Texas
Association of Museums annual meeting in Midland, 1997, called "Historic
House Interiors: Issues in Research and Interpretation."  The session was
given by Cynthia Brandimarte, Hal Simon, and Martha Withers.  The tape was
made by Reliable Communications, Austin, TX  512/834-9492.  At the AAM
meeting in Atlanta, 1997, another session which addressed historic house
interpretation called "Changing Exhibits in Historic Home Museums.  The
session was given by Susan Olsen, Frank Aucella, Michael Gore, and Melissa
Heaver.  The tape was recorded by Chesapeake.

Good luck with your workshop.

HBC

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Henry B. Crawford        Curator of History
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