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| Spices, tea and coffee, Wheelwright House, c.1785, Strawbery Banke Museum |
HIST 780/HIST880 Dr. Kimberly Alexander
Spring 2011 Department of History
T 4:00–6:00 University of New Hampshire
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSEUM STUDIES
MATERIAL CULTURE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course features intensive examination of specialized topics in American History and introduces the theory and methodology of material culture: the study of history through the analysis of buildings, human-created landscapes and artifacts made and used in the United States. Emphasis will be on readings that reflect fresh trends in research strategies or interpretive directions. In addition to methodology, practical experience will be explored. Three lecture hours per week. This course may be repeated for additional credits. Prerequisites: A minimum of nine hours of previous course work in History and permission of the Department Chairperson.
REQUIRED TEXTS (Available in the college bookstore and online)
Brown, Jerald E. The Years of the Life of Samuel Lane, 1718-1806: A New Hampshire Man and His World.
Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 2000.
Jaffee, David. Material Culture of Early America. Bethlehem, PA: Elibron Classics, 2005.
BLACKBOARD
Additional materials will be posted on Blackboard
COURSE POLICIES
Office Hours:
Before class and by appointment
Attendance and Assignments
• Students are expected to attend all classes and to take extensive notes on all lectures, videos, discussions, etc.
• To get the maximum benefit out of lectures and class discussions, complete readings before a new topic.
• Grades will be based on your demonstration of what you have learned in the course. You will want to be sure to incorporate into your assignments and examinations the knowledge and skills you have learned in readings, lectures, and discussions.
• An excessive number of absences will reduce your grade.
• Grades will be reduced for late assignments.
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSEUM STUDIES/MATERIAL CULTURE
Week of:
1. Jan 25 Introduction
Discussion Overview of readings and assignments
In Class Exercise: application of various methodologies to the study of material culture
Readings: Jaffee, Introduction, Ch. 1
Recommended: Additional readings will be provided as handouts or downloaded to blackboard
2. Feb 1 Writing Material Culture
Discussion How do we write about material culture and why?
Current trends and applications
Readings: Jaffee, Ch. 2
Brown, all front matter and introduction
Site visit: UNH Art Gallery
Les LaFountain, Director
3. Feb 8 Maritime Material Culture
Discussion In class exercise: Captain’s logs and Seaman’s Contracts- what they reveal
Readings: Jaffee, Ch. 3
Brown, 1-2
4. Feb 15 The Ground Speaks: Archaeology and Artifacts
Readings: Jaffee, Ch. 4
Brown, 3
Lecture: Sheila Charles, Staff Archaeologist, Strawbery Banke Museum
“Recent Finds at Strawbery Banke Museum, The Chase House Site”
5. Feb 22 Using Objects in a Museum Setting
Readings: Jaffe, Ch. 5
Brown, 4
Lecture: Marla Taylor, Assistant Collections Manager, Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Andover Academy, 2008 UNH Graduate, MA History/Museum Studies
6. Mar 1 Textiles and Their Production
Readings: Jaffee, Ch. 6
Brown, Afterworld
Lecture: Sandra Rux, Curator, John Paul Jones House, Portsmouth, NH
“Paisleys in Portsmouth”
7. Mar 8 What Buildings Tell Us
Readings: Jaffee,7
Lecture: Alexander, “Architecture and Preservation 101”
Due: Book Critique: 3-5 pages on Samuel Lane
8. Mar 15 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
9. Mar 22 CLASS CANCELED FOR STRAWBERY BANKE VISIT
10. Mar 29 The Canvas Speaks
Readings: Jaffee, reread 6
Lecture: Alexander, “Painting Portsmouth”
11. Apr 5 Print Culture
Readings: Jaffee, Epilogue and back matter
Lecture: Professor Dane Morrison, Salem State University, Department of History
“Press and Print Culture of the China Trade”
Due: Object Analysis: 2-3 pages
12. Apr 12 CLASS CANCELED FOR STRAWBERY BANKE VISIT
13. Apr 19 Beyond the Gallery: Using Public and Local History in Exhibits and Education
Lecture Alexander “Fitz John Porter: Hero or Coward”
In class exercise Writing for all audiences: the label
14. Apr .23 SATURDAY VISIT TO STRAWBERY BANKE, 10:00-3:00
Material Culture at Strawbery Banke
Readings: Conclude Jaffee,
Due: Exhibit Object Label
15.Apr.26 Required: Full class discussion of Jaffe
16. May 3 Student Presentations
17.May 10
Due: Presentations
Final Paper/Project
