Museum Studies Department records
Collection Scope and Content
Materials in this collection include departmental history, sample exams, reports, course proposals, conferences, meeting minutes, syllabi, National Park Service Workshops, and Taiwan Project. They range in dates from 1976 to 2002, and were transferred to the University Archives by the Department of Museum Studies. Note: Not all series are processed. Ask staff for assistance.
Dates
- 1976-2002
Restrictions on Access
Series 1 is closed to research for 25 years from date of record creation.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
The Museum Studies department of The George Washington University, was founded in 1976 by a committee of University professors consisting of Dr. Humphery from Anthropology, Dr. MacDonald from Art History, and Dr. Mergen from American Studies. The University was one of the first graduate schools to establish a museum studies based program.
In the early 1980s Marie Malaro, a legal advisor to the Smithsonian Institution, took over as director of the program. Under her direction, the course selection increased as did the number of students enrolled in the program. Malaro retired in 1997 and was succeeded by Ildiko DeAngelis, who also previously served as a legal advisor to the Smithsonian Institution for over 10 years.
The department was created to provide students with a broad background in museum studies knowledge, including a variety of specialized approaches to a museum careers, with concentrations in such areas as conservation, collections management, and exhibiting techniques. Due to the large variety of museums in the District of Columbia, the University offers a unique resource for interested students. Not only are classes taught by professionals who work in local museums, including the Smithsonian, many of these classes are taught within the museums themselves.
The Museum Studies department offers a 2 year Master's program or a one year certificate program. The department offers three concentrations within the museum field: collections management, exhibit design, and administration. Furthermore, the program requires an academic core in a specialized field which includes, but is not limited to art, anthropology, history, or American studies.
N.B. This history note was written in 2005
Extent
2.75 Linear Feet (2 record center boxes 1 document box 1 slim document box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection includes departmental history, sample exams, reports, course proposals, meeting minutes, syllabi.
Collection Organization
Organized in three series of departmental records.
Acquisition Information
Materials acquired through transfers from Museum Studies Department.
- Exhibit design Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Foggy Bottom (Washington, D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George Washington University
- George Washington University. Museum Studies Department
- Museum administration Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Museums Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Museums -- Collection management Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Museum Studies Department records, 1976-2002
- Author
- University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2007
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
