Science Museums in Transition: Cultures of Display in Nineteenth-Century Britain and America (Sci & Culture in the Nineteenth Century)

**Winner, Outstanding Academic Title 2017**, __Choice Magazine__ The nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic shift in the display and dissemination of natural knowledge across Britain and America, from private collections of miscellaneous artifacts and objects to public exhibitions and state-sponsored museums. The science museum as we know it—an institution of expert knowledge built to inform a lay public—was still very much in formation during this dynamic period. __Science Museums in Transition__ provides a nuanced, comparative study of the diverse places and spaces in which science was displayed at a time when science and spectacle were still deeply intertwined; when leading naturalists, curators, and popular showmen were debating both how to display their knowledge and how and whether they should profit from scientific work; and when ideals of nationalism, class politics, and democracy were permeating the museum’s walls. Contributors examine a constellation of people, spaces, display practices, experiences, and politics that worked not only to define the museum, but to shape public science and scientific knowledge. Taken together, the chapters in this volume span the Atlantic, exploring private and public museums, short and long-term exhibitions, and museums built for entertainment, education, and research, and in turn raise a host of important questions, about expertise, and about who speaks for nature and for history. The Nineteenth Century Witnessed A Dramatic Shift In The Display And Dissemination Of Natural Knowledge Across Britain And America, From Private Collections Of Miscellaneous Artifacts And Objects To Public Exhibitions And State-sponsored Museums. The Science Museum As We Know It--an Institution Of Expert Knowledge Built To Inform A Lay Public--was Still Very Much In Formation During This Dynamic Period. Science Museums In Transition Provides A Nuanced, Comparative Study Of The Diverse Places And Spaces In Which Science Was Displayed At A Time When Science And Spectacle Were Still Deeply Intertwined; When Leading Naturalists, Curators, And Popular Showmen Were Debating Both How To Display Their Knowledge And How And Whether They Should Profit From Scientific Work; And When Ideals Of Nationalism, Class Politics, And Democracy Were Permeating The Museum's Walls. Contributors Examine A Constellation Of People, Spaces, Display Practices, Experiences, And Politics That Worked Not Only To Define The Museum, But To Shape Public Science And Scientific Knowledge. Taken Together, The Chapters In This Volume Span The Atlantic, Exploring Private And Public Museums, Short And Long-term Exhibitions, And Museums Built For Entertainment, Education, And Research, And In Turn Raise A Host Of Important Questions, About Expertise, And About Who Speaks For Nature And For History. Preface -- Introduction / Carin Berkowitz And Bernard Lightman -- Part I. Sites Of Miscellaneity -- 1. Science In Regent's Park : The Colosseum / Bernard Lightman -- 2. The Permissive Precincts Of Barnum's And Goodrich's Museums Of Miscellaneity : Lessons In Knowing Nature For New Learners / Katherine Pandora -- Part Ii. Display And Expertise -- 3. This Post Mortem Palace : Accommodating The Hunterian Museum / Samuel J.m.m. Alberti -- 4. Sight And Sites : The National Repository And The Politics Of Seeing In Early Nineteenth-century England / Iwan Rhys Morus -- Part Iii. The Scientist-showman -- 5. A Lecture On Locust Street : Morton, Tyndall, Pepper, And The Construction Of Scientific Reputation / Jeremy Brooker -- 6. Albert Koch's Hydrarchos Craze : Credibility, Identity, And Authenticity In Nineteenth-century Natural History / Lukas Rieppel -- Part Iv. The National Museum -- 7. A Nursery Of Living Thoughts : G. Brown Goode's Vision For A National Museum In The Late Nineteenth-century United States / Pamela M. Henson -- 8. Botany Behind Glass : The Vegetable Kingdom On Display At Kew's Museum Of Economic Botany / Caroline Cornish -- Part V. The Research Museum -- 9. The Endless Frontier : Joseph Leidy And The Collaborative Work Of Natural History In Mid-nineteenth-century America / Carin Berkowitz -- 10. Academic Collections : Teaching And Exhibition On Nineteenth-century American Campuses / Sally Gregory Kohlstedt -- Afterword : Steps To The Encyclopedic Museum / John Tresch. Edited By Carin Berkowitz And Bernard Lightman. Issued As Part Of Book Collections On Project Muse. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web. Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction - Carin Berkowitz and Bernard Lightman 18 Part I. Sites of Miscellaneity 28 1. Science in Regent’s Park: The Colosseum - Bernard Lightman 30 2. The Permissive Precincts of Barnum’s and Goodrich’s Museums of Miscellaneity: Lessons in Knowing Nature for New Learners - Katherine Pandora 53 Part II. Display and Expertise 82 3. This Post Mortem Palace: Accommodating the Hunterian Museum - Samuel J. M. M. Alberti 84 4. Sight and Sites: The National Repository and the Politics of Seeing in Early Nineteenth-Century England - Iwan Rhys Morus 104 Part III. The Scientist-Showman 126 5. A Lecture on Locust Street: Morton, Tyndall, Pepper, and the Construction of Scientific Reputation - Jeremy Brooker 128 6. Albert Koch’s Hydrarchos Craze: Credibility, Identity, and Authenticity in Nineteenth-Century Natural History - Lukas Rieppel 156 Part IV. The National Museum 180 7. “A Nursery of Living Thoughts”: G. Brown Goode’s Vision for a National Museum in the Late Nineteenth-Century United States - Pamela M. Henson 182 8. Botany Behind Glass: The Vegetable Kingdom on Display at Kew’s Museum of Economic Botany - Caroline Cornish 205 Part V. The Research Museum 232 9. The Endless Frontier: Joseph Leidy and the Collaborative Work of Natural History in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America - Carin Berkowitz 234 10. Academic Collections: Teaching and Exhibition on Nineteenth-Century American Campuses - Sally Gregory Kohlstedt 255 Afterword: Steps to the Encyclopedic Museum - John Tresch 278 Notes 296 Selected Bibliography 364 Contributors 370 Index 374

Winner, Outstanding Academic Title 2017, Choice Magazine The nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic shift in the display and dissemination of natural knowledge across Britain and America, from private collections of miscellaneous artifacts and objects to public exhibitions and state-sponsored museums. The science museum as we know it—an institution of expert knowledge built to inform a lay public—was still very much in formation during this dynamic period. Science Museums in Transition provides a nuanced, comparative study of the diverse places and spaces in which science was displayed at a time when science and spectacle were still deeply intertwined; when leading naturalists, curators, and popular showmen were debating both how to display their knowledge and how and whether they should profit from scientific work; and when ideals of nationalism, class politics, and democracy were permeating the museum's walls.
Contributors examine a constellation of people, spaces, display practices, experiences, and politics that worked not only to define the museum, but to shape public science and scientific knowledge. Taken together, the chapters in this volume span the Atlantic, exploring private and public museums, short and long-term exhibitions, and museums built for entertainment, education, and research, and in turn raise a host of important questions, about expertise, and about who speaks for nature and for history.

Winner, 2018 CHOICE Awards Outstanding Academic Title The nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic shift in the display and dissemination of natural knowledge across Britain and America, from private collections of miscellaneous artifacts and objects to public exhibitions and state-sponsored museums. The science museum as we know it—an institution of expert knowledge built to inform a lay public—was still very much in formation during this dynamic period. Science Museums in Transition provides a nuanced, comparative study of the diverse places and spaces in which science was displayed at a time when science and spectacle were still deeply intertwined; when leading naturalists, curators, and popular showmen were debating both how to display their knowledge and how and whether they should profit from scientific work; and when ideals of nationalism, class politics, and democracy were permeating the museum's walls. Contributors examine a constellation of people, spaces, display practices, experiences, and politics that worked not only to define the museum, but to shape public science and scientific knowledge. Taken together, the chapters in this volume span the Atlantic, exploring private and public museums, short and long-term exhibitions, and museums built for entertainment, education, and research, and in turn raise a host of important questions, about expertise, and about who speaks for nature and for history.