Perspectives on Historical ExhibitsPerspectives on Historical Exhibits
History museums are a popular choice for people of all ages to visit and learn about the past. Each year, these institutions entertain, inspire, and inform millions of visitors. They do not merely present the same stories as found in history books and textbooks; they strive to serve their communities, and demonstrate that they are deserving of their tax exempt status. To do so, they must reach out and tell the histories of those who have not always been heard, to explore new sources, and to create a broader understanding of the historical concepts that they are interpreting.
Museum exhibitions have unique characteristics and challenges that distinguish them from other forms of historical discourse. They are three-dimensional, physical, and visual; they combine research evidence with interpretation; they present complex arguments, yet are accessible to a broad audience. They require a range of managerial and interpersonal skills, knowledge of material culture, and a sense of visual literacy. They are also a collaborative effort. While a curator’s scholarship and passion may drive a show, it is often influenced, and at times altered, by the contributions of other staff members, including museum educators, designers, and production personnel.
A well-conceived and executed museum exhibit can serve as a window into the dense research required when composing a history; it can both contextualize that research for visitors and complicate it in ways that make it authentic. It can provide an opportunity to tell the story of an era, a community, or a particular person. Most importantly, it can help the public to understand that history is a dynamic process of interpretation and reinterpretation, not a static collection of facts.
This column in Perspectives will examine exhibitions that are both scholarly and exemplary, in which the research underpinnings, scholarly currents, or critical assessments of the subject matter are evident, but that also incorporate a visual element to enhance the impact on visitors. Although it will occasionally focus on other ancillary products, such as catalogs, videotapes, and public programs, this series will be primarily about historical exhibitions. It will highlight innovative work that stretches the established parameters of exhibition interpretation, presentation, and collecting. It will celebrate a successful collaboration between the academy and museums; it will explore a community driven collecting initiative that redefines a small museum’s relationship with its local residents; and it will review exhibitions that have a broad impact on their intended audiences.