Preserving reflections of ourselves: the past, present, and future of Alaska's museums

Linn, Angela J.

Name:

Linn_A_2023.pdf

Size:

23.45Mb

Format:

PDF

Download

Author

Linn, Angela J.

Chair

Ehrlander, Mary
Koskey, Michael

Committee

Jonaitis, Aldona

Abstract

While museums are very good at collecting, preserving, documenting, and interpreting the histories of our communities, we have not done a very good job with our own histories. No comprehensive publication holistically examines the development of museums in Alaska, let alone looks critically at the "big three" (Alaska State Museums, University of Alaska Museum of the North, and the Anchorage Museum) with a goal of establishing a connection between the historical context, the individuals who shaped those museums, and the institutions' current states of being. This dissertation uses the academic fields of history, museology, and ethnography to discover and analyze how we find ourselves in the current state, while offering suggestions for moving ahead in a positive way. In this dissertation I examine the past, present, and future of Alaska's museums. I do this by first assembling a more complete history of the "big three" using archival primary sources, published literature, and interviews. Second, I examine the current state of museums with their strengths and challenges through a combination of literature review, interviews, surveys, and participant observation. Finally, I consider the way Alaska's museums might respond to the changes facing museums around the world by reflecting on current museological literature, current events, and examining two case studies based on my work at the University of Alaska Museum of the North located on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Description

Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2023

Chapter 1: Introduction -- Historical and ethnological literature -- Museological literature -- Rationale & research problem -- Knowledge gap -- Research questions. Chapter 2: Method and theory -- Theoretical framework -- Methodology -- Historical research -- Mixed methodology -- Participant observation -- Case studies -- Methodological rationale. Chapter 3: Setting the stage: museums emerge -- Early history of museums -- Proving ourselves: American museums' unique beginnings -- Looking inward: the professionalization of American museums -- Telling our own stories: the development of culturally specific museums -- Colonization in Alaska through museum collecting and ethnographic writing -- Indigenous Alaska -- Western histories -- Early American period -- Conclusions. Part two: Alaska's museums: are they really so different? Chapter 4: Development of Alaska's museums and the role of history in their creation -- Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka (1887) -- Growing interest -- Alaska State Museum, Juneau (1900) -- University of Alaska Museum of the North (1926) -- The War Years and the road to statehood -- Post-statehood and the Alaska museum boom -- Anchorage Museum (1968) -- Alaska State Museum centennial improvements -- Centennial changes at the University of Alaska Museum -- Conclusions. Chapter 5: Post-centennial celebration to the modern era -- The Alaska State Museum and the "Kennedy Affair" -- The Anchorage Museum: the power of a family -- The university builds a real museum -- Professionalizing and strategizing for museums -- Summary. Part three: contemporary museums and issues. Chapter 6: Modern era of Alaska museums -- Alaska's museums: a study in contrasts -- Tribal museums and cultural centers in Alaska -- Learning from each other -- Museum expansions and approaches to growth -- University of Alaska Museum of the North -- Anchorage Museum -- Alaska State Museum -- First Alaskans Institute and museums Alaska cohort project -- Summary and conclusions. Chapter 7: Case studies in inclusive and critical museology approaches: applying the ideals -- The UA Museum of the North ethnology & history department -- Case study #1: indigenous watercraft workshop project (2018-present) -- Analysis of project -- Case study #2: bus 142 (2020-present) -- Analysis of project -- Comparison of case studies -- Inclusive museology as community outreach, or how to be a good neighbor -- Conclusions. Part four: discussion and the future. Chapter 8: Discussion -- Reflection and analysis of current global trends in museology -- The foundations of museum decolonization in North America -- The enduring efforts of decolonization -- Democratization of museums -- Conclusions -- Historical context -- Legal and ethical influences -- Responding to the needs of modern Alaskans -- Limitations of the current study -- Thoughts for the future of museums in Alaska -- References -- Appendices.