National Council on Public History

Brian Whetstone, Student, Hastings College

Proposal Type

Panel

Seeking

• Seeking Additional Presenters
• General Feedback and Interest

Related Topics

• Museums/Exhibits
• Material Culture
• Place
• Memory

Abstract

At historic house museums across the United States, the lives of women remain covered in traditional interpretive narratives. Nowhere is this truer than at the Frank House, a historic house museum located in Kearney, Nebraska originally built in the 1880s. Utilizing the F rank House and the lives of three women who lived or worked at the house as a case study, this presentation seeks to understand the origins of modern- day problems plaguing these institutions. Ultimately, the answer lies in the epistemological nature of museums until the latter half of the 20th century and the interpretive model created by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association when they created America’s first house museum, Mount Vernon, in 1860.

Seeking

Utilizing the aforementioned Frank House as a case study, this proposal seeks to understand the origins of the institutional and foundational problems facing house museums in the 21st century. Many scholars have devoted attention to the effects of these problems, but not their origins. Understanding the origins of these problems will in turn provide a platform to seeking solutions. Thus, this presentation will contribute to the already ongoing search for solutions in which many house museum professionals have been engaged. Finally, this panel’s search for solutions will increase the ways in which meaningful interpretation of women’s lives contributes to both women’s and public history. In order to search for these answers, this proposal requires two more panelists presenting on a similar topic or theme. Likewise, any ideas put forth by experts in the field to focus or refine my proposal and topic are welcome.

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Brian Whetstone

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.

All feedback, and offers of assistance, should be submitted by July 3, 2016.

COMMENTS HAVE CLOSED. PLEASE EMAIL THE PROPOSER DIRECTLY WITH ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR OFFERS TO COLLABORATE.

Discussion