In Museum Anthropology, we explore the complex and often contested role that anthropologists working in museums play in representing, researching, and collecting material culture from Indigenous communities. We trace the history of anthropology museums from colonial collecting institutions to active collaborators with communities from which museum collections originated. Students learn about contemporary issues of representation, repatriation, information sharing, and collaboration through case studies, museum visits, contributing to an online catalog of objects from the Museum of Anthropological Archaeology ethnographic collections, and conversations with members of the “source community.” During the Winter 2020 semester, students will work with ethnographic and ethnobotanical objects from Anishinaabe communities in the Great Lakes.

Course Requirements:

Students are evaluated on participation, a course project, and short writing assignments designed to help students integrate information from readings and class discussions to their own experiences in museums.

Intended Audience:

No background in anthropology or archaeology is needed. This course is intended for students who are interested in thinking critically about the role and history of museums. The course is designed for both undergraduates and graduate students. Graduate students will conduct an independent research project that complements the undergraduate course project.

Class Format:

This course is a seminar involving discussion of readings, field trips, and time to work on a team project. One Saturday field trip to a tribal museum is required (the schedule of this field trip will be announced at the beginning of the semester).