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Macculloch Hall Historical Museum: a case study on decolonizing a historic house museum
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Perez, Adiana Lecelle. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum: a case study on decolonizing a historic house museum. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-68bx-sx92

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TitleMacculloch Hall Historical Museum: a case study on decolonizing a historic house museum
NamePerez, Adiana Lecelle (author); Farney, Gary (chair); Rutgers University; Graduate School - Newark
Date Created2020
Other Date2020-05 (degree)
SubjectHistory
Extent1 online resource (v, 44 pages)
DescriptionMacculloch Hall Historical Museum, a historic house museum located in Morristown, New Jersey is a case study in applying decolonizing practices in an educational institution without indigenous or minority collections. Using MHHM fills a gap in Museum Studies literature and addresses the issue of transparency for historic sites that reside on lands expropriated from native peoples, or on lands that housed a large number of enslaved people (like southern plantations). Currently, the existing literature provides a strong framework for large museums and historic sites looking to decolonize their practices and programming. Little has been done, thus far, to provide models for museums that do not fall within this classification but still seek to become more transparent about the history of their sites or collections.

This thesis will first explore the concept of decolonization and what it means to decolonize. Next, this thesis evaluates the impact of the United States’ colonial history and the Eurocentric practices that have been enforced in historic sites and museums. Specifically, MHHM’s own colonial past and the challenges that exist in this institution's efforts to decolonize is addressed. Lastly, I will look at additions that can be implemented in MHHM’s historic garden, educational curriculum that can be added, historical material that can be included in interpretive tours and exhibits, and avenues for collaboration that can be explored with minority and Lenape groups. By evaluating historic challenges to museum decolonization, and failures in previous attempts by other institutions to decolonize, this thesis will identify steps museums and historic sites without indigenous and minority collections can take to successfully implement positive decolonization practices.
NoteM.A.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-68bx-sx92
LanguageEnglish
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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