Variations in natural history museums in the central United States /
This study documents and explores variation in a sample of natural history-oriented institutions. A population of 192 natural history-oriented institutions in the Central United States was sampled and stratified according to governance structure (university, private, public, federal). Eight-five per...
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1990.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Summary: | This study documents and explores variation in a sample of natural history-oriented institutions. A population of 192 natural history-oriented institutions in the Central United States was sampled and stratified according to governance structure (university, private, public, federal). Eight-five percent (93) responded to a questionnaire designed to document institutional characteristics relative to the purpose, disciplinary focus, collections, size, and audience. The data suggest that the way an organization perceives itself affects its institutional characteristics. Approximately two-thirds of the institutions described their organizations as museums; the other one-third preferred alternative designations. None of the federally-governed institutions selected museum as a descriptor. The museums were distinguished from non-museums in the sample by a difference in purpose and focus, the number of kinds of collections, the frequency with which the collections were useful for research and the size of the institution. Responses from the fifty-eight museums were analyzed to determine the affect of governance structure on the institutional characteristics. Not only was variation documented among governance structures but within each governance type as well. Descriptions of the university, public and private museums were developed. Among the factors suggested that might explain the intrastratum variation was the disciplinary focus of the institution. Data indicate that there is not a single operational definition of natural history among the museums in the sample. This was evident by the variation in disciplinary foci reported by the institutions, the variation in types of collections maintained, and a comparison between the terms natural history and natural science. The variation in operational definitions was described and discussed relative to how the definition of natural history has evolved. The findings are discussed relative to the development of standardized categories and a taxonomy of museums. Future directions for research are proposed. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Wildlife & fisheries sciences." |
| Physical Description: | viii, 210 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |