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by Eugene Dillenburg
B
Eugene Dillenburg is Assistant ack in the 1950s a debate raged formalist approach and seek the unique,
Professor of Museum Studies through the taxonomic world: were the diagnostic features which distinguish museums
and Scholar at Michigan State
lagomorphs—rabbits, hares, assorted from all other institutions. Of course, we are
University. He may be contacted
at dillenbu@msu.edu.
fuzzy bunnies—a homogenous phylogenetic not the first people to attempt this exercise. The
group with unique defining features? Or were American Association of Museums’ website
they just a rag-tag collection of random rodents (2011) contains a page entitled “What is a
If you would like to comment with some superficial similarity, but which Museum?” where we find:
on this article or others in this really had nothing special in common? In 1957,
issue, please log on to the NAME paleontologist Albert Woods marshaled the • The AAM assertion that “the common
listserv at http://groups.yahoo. physical evidence and concluded that Flopsy, denominator is making a 'unique
com/group/NAME-AAM/ Mopsy, and Peter did indeed constitute a contribution to the public by collecting,
coherent taxon. He published his findings in preserving, and interpreting the things of
the delightfully titled paper, What, if Anything, this world.’"
Is a Rabbit?
• The International Council on Museums
Today, we apply this same question to museums. declaring a museum is “a non-profit-
The term adheres to institutions representing making, permanent institution in the service
a broad range of sizes and disciplines. Most of society and of its development, and open
have collections, but many do not. Some hire to the public, which acquires, conserves,
trained professional staff, while others are run researches, communicates and exhibits, for
by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. purposes of study, education and
Historic houses, interpretive centers, zoos, and enjoyment, material evidence of people and
aquariums are part of the family, while libraries, their environment.”
commercial art galleries and private collections
generally are excluded. • The Museum and Library Services Act
describing a museum as “a public or private
Thanks to our expansive First Amendment nonprofit agency or institution organized
and (thus far) blessed lack of licensing on a permanent basis for essentially
restrictions, anybody who wants to call educational or aesthetic purposes, which,
themselves a museum can do so. I have seen utilizing a professional staff, owns or
the word attached to rock shops, roadside utilizes tangible objects, cares for them,
attractions and, in at least one instance, and exhibits them to the public on a
a restaurant. In fact, the word “museum” regular basis.”
covers such a bewildering variety of sins that
it's difficult to suss out exactly what all these • And back in the non-virtual world, the
diverse organizations have in common. What is American Heritage Dictionary defines the
it that makes us who we are? What, if anything, term as “an institution for the acquisition,
is a museum? preservation, study and exhibition of works
of artistic, historical or scientific value.”
Surveying the Literature
In my museum studies courses, we take a These diverse definitions can be boiled down to
• Non-profit
• Open to the public such as the City Museum, the Spy Museum, or
the magnificent SPAM Museum is simply not
• Public service (including aesthetics, to be taken seriously. He who pays the piper
enjoyment, and most especially education) calls the tune, and whether the museum dances
for the public market or private donors, for
• Collections (covering acquisition, corporate masters or government largess, makes
preservation and research) no difference that I can see.
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