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A history of children's museums in the United States, 1899-1997: implications for art education and museum education in art museums

Din, Herminia Weihsin

Abstract Details

1998, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Art Education.

The purpose of this study is to identify how changes in educational theories, social, and cultural issues have affected the movement of children's museums in the United States during its almost one hundred years of evolution. This study also addresses the potential and importance of children's museums and their connection to the principles and delivery of art education and museum education in art museums.

Four major research questions were derived for this study: (1) What were the motivations and initiatives for developing children's museums? (2) What were the reasons for the rapid growth in children's museums after the 1960s? (3) How have been the philosophies of exhibition design changed through the historical development of children's museums? (4) What are the congruencies among the discipline of art education, museum education in art museums, and children's museum practices?

This study was conducted as historical research in the period between 1899 and 1997 to draw a picture of how children's museums evolved. Data were gathered mainly from primary resources provided directly by the children's museums and related archival documents. All the data have been organized into two computer databases. The Children's Museum Database contains close to 200 museums with demographic information, history, mission statements, and descriptions of exhibitions and programs. The Reference Database includes more than 250 records of bibliographical references to the children's museums.

With focus on the motivations for children's museums establishment, mission statement, impacts from various educational theories and practices and the changing of social and cultural environments, this study examined four periods of children's museums' development. They were (1) Derivation and Innovation (1899-1928); (2) The Importance of Children's Leisure, Institutional Sponsorship, and Community Joint Endeavors on the Development of Children's Museums (1929-1957); (3) Redefining the Philosophy of Children's Museums (1958-1980); and (4) Blossoming Development Nationwide (1981-1997).

The conclusion of this study elaborates some of the role transitions that the children's museums have undergone, especially that their philosophies, principles, and practices have shifted the perspectives of current education on children's understanding through interactive and participatory learning. In particular, it provides a strong historical foundation to children's museum practitioners for better understanding their past and present, and demonstrates the dynamic rationales for practices in today's art education and museum education in art museums as well.

Vesta A. H. Daniel (Advisor)
Jacqueline Chanda (Committee Member)
Arthur Efland (Committee Member)
226 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Din, H. W. (1998). A history of children's museums in the United States, 1899-1997: implications for art education and museum education in art museums [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1247850292

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Din, Herminia. A history of children's museums in the United States, 1899-1997: implications for art education and museum education in art museums. 1998. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1247850292.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Din, Herminia. "A history of children's museums in the United States, 1899-1997: implications for art education and museum education in art museums." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 1998. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1247850292

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)