Product Description

Historic house museums can be found in nearly every city in the United States and Canada. These are the homes of the earliest settlers, statesmen, frontiersmen, great writers, artists, architects, and industrial magnates. These are the places, carefully saved and preserved, that represent a cultural heritage. Despite their popularity, it is not uncommon to find museums that are in poor repair, their collections neglected and their staffs grossly overworked. Many are run by well-meaning and hard-working volunteers who have little or no professional training. Often they survive on shoestring budgets and are able to present only limited programs. Serving both as a hands-on guide and reference, this book examines these problems, offering practical advice and solutions which can be easily implemented. Its useful "lessons" include governance, where to find help, care of collections, conservation, security, and interpretation--all designed to increase the professionalism of the historic house museum.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #901755 in Books
• Published on: 1996-06-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

Review
"Pulls together a range of information in a handy reference written specially for the nonprofessional house museum staff....Its candid language, extensive subject-specific bibliographies, and lists of additional resources provide a strong foundation on which staff can build a commitment to professional standards for the care and interpretation of historical resources."--Winterthur Portfolio
"This book is invaluable not only to curators of house museums but also for all owners of old houses."--Preservation Notes Newsletter