Sunday, January 30, 2011

Syllabus and Course Schedule

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
603.422.5526                                                                                                          kalexander@strawberybanke.org

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
COURSE SCHEDULE

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





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