The Anatomy of a Museum: An Insiders Text

The Anatomy of a Museum provides an insightful and candid look at what museums are and how they operate, from the perspective of a professional who has been a leader in the industry for more than forty years, and who has extensive experience in all the core elements of the field. Written in a style that is engaging, humorous and honest, it is the first single–volume, substantive text to reveal the collective and collaborative inner–workings of museums from a real–world perspective, as well as offering the occasional exposé of museum life.

The book explains the component parts and disciplines found within these unique institutions. Amongst other topics, this broad ranging text reviews the fundamentals of governance, directing, curating, fundraising, conservation, education, management, maintenance and security. The narrative presents philosophical ideals but the text is reality–based, and all perspectives, annecdotes and opinions are drawn from experience.

This is the ideal text for students of Museum Studies, having been based on a course that author has taught for 14 years; however, it is also invaluable for anyone working within the Museum industry, from entry level professionals to museum directors; in addition, it provides an engrossing read to the general reader who wants to discover the insider workings of a museum.

Foreword vii

Introduction 1

1 What is a Museum? 5

2 Museum Governance 15

3 Museum Directing 29

4 Curating=Connoisseurship=Collecting 45

5 Managing in Museums 65

6 Audience: A Matter of Definition 109

7 Fundraising 117

8 Collection Management 131

9 Museum Education 139

10 Numbers 145

11 Conservation: The Preservation Imperative 155

12 Exhibitions: Show and Tell 167

13 Maintenance and Security 183

14 Museums and the Media 201

15 Architecture 207

16 Volunteers 221

17 Behavior 227

18 Museum Ethics 241

19 What s Next for Museums? 255

Appendix I: A Course Final 263

Index 267

STEVEN MILLER is the Executive Director of Boscobel Restoration, Inc., Garrison NY and Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall University MA Program in Museum Professions. He has been in the museum field for over four decades as a curator, director, educator, consultant and writer, and has held leadership positions with six major American history museums. He has written extensively on museum topics.