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 Though
house museums dominate the stock of heritage resources throughout the
western world, they have received little museological analysis. The first
comprehensive study of house museums was written in 1933; six decades
would pass before the genre once again received critical attention.
Patricia West's book, Domesticating History: the Political Origins
of America's House Museums, provides a comprehensive museological
analysis of the genre and its publication marks a renewed interest in
house museums. In 1999, the same year Domesticating History was
published, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) constituted Demeures
Historiques (DemHist), an international committee devoted to the study
of house museums. DemHist organize annual conferences with themes that
address museological and museographical issues specifically relevant to
house museums. This year's conference, to be held in Amsterdam in October
1, will address the role of house museums as important witnesses
of national and local identities. DemHist publishes its conference proceedings
providing an important addition to house museum literature.
Rosanna Pavoni, DemHist's President pro tempore has contributed
a short show-and-tell article to this issue. Pavoni's piece introduces
DemHist's primary occupation: a methodological study of house museum classification.
Illustrating some of the complexities involved when translating material
and immaterial patrimony into a museum, Pavoni asks house museum professionals
to consider the museological and museographical issues surrounding a house's
conversion to museum status.
The two other show-and-tell contributions nicely illustrate Pavoni's
argument. David Dolan's account of the discussions concerning the future
of John Curtin's House in Perth highlights the variety and scope of issues
considered when a house is proposed for museum status. Mary Lou Gardam's
and Martha Sear's picture book history of Bishop's Lodge in Hay illustrates
that the issues of interpretation, presentation, conservation, etcetera
do not cease once a house has become a museum. Both pieces provide an
account of the cultural references that framed the museographical and
management decisions for their museums. The issues expressed in the show-and-tell
articles are further expanded in the refereed papers.
Linda Young's contribution "A woman's place is in the house …museum:
interpreting women's history in house museums" is an incredibly thought
provoking contribution. Young asks why house museums by-and-large fail
to interpret women's history themes, despite the obvious potential of
such sites to explore women's history. Young's incredible familiarity
with house museums throughout Australia and abroad allows her to paint
a vivid picture of current house museum interpretation. Her topical, thorough
and insightful article makes clear and constructive suggestions about
ways to bring women's history into house museums.
Charlotte Smith's article 2 "Susannah
Place Museum: the translation of a working-class terrace into a house
museum" provides a case study of the tensions between an objects
based approach to interpretation and one based on ideas. Addressing Susannah
Place's rescue and translation to museum status by the Historic Houses
Trust, Smith argues that house museums are more than material artefacts;
they are repositories of memories and associations.
Conny Bogaard's historical account of Sypesteyn Castle, a Collector's
House museum in The Netherlands, is a valuable contribution to this issue.
Bogaard places the creation of Sypesteyn Castle within broader national
and international museological trends. She also argues that Sypesteyn
Castle, and many of its Dutch contemporaries, form a sub-category of Collector's
House museum: the Collector's Museum.
As all the contributions to this issue show, interpreting a house museum
requires consideration of both tangible and intangible factors. If interpreted
and conserved sensitively, house museums can challenge common misrepresentations.
But as Young's and Smith's articles show the adoption of best heritage
practice and current historical thought does not always ensure accurate
interpretation.
The articles in this issue make a small but significant contribution
to house museum literature. It is hoped that the issues raised in them
will encourage museum professionals to consider the specific museographical
implications of house museums thereby ensuring that house museums continue
to provide a valuable historical resource.
Charlotte H.F. Smith
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