Copyright by Lisa Rochelle Murray 2009
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Copyright by Lisa Rochelle Murray 2009 P.T. Barnum Presents: The Greatest Classroom on Earth! Historical Inquiry into the Role of Education in Barnum’s American Museum by Lisa Rochelle Murray, BFA Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts The University of Texas at Austin August 2009 P.T. Barnum Presents: The Greatest Classroom on Earth! Historical Inquiry into the Role of Education in Barnum’s American Museum Approved by Supervising Committee: Dedication For my family, who encouraged me to pursue my academic dreams. And for Eric, who supported me and wouldn’t let me quit. Abstract P.T. Barnum Presents: The Greatest Classroom on Earth! Historical Inquiry into the Role of Education in Barnum’s American Museum Lisa Rochelle Murray, MA The University of Texas at Austin, 2009 Supervisor: Paul Bolin This study of P.T. Barnum’s American Museum challenges readers to examine Barnum in a new light. An argument is made that P.T. Barnum was a successful museum educator whose philosophies and actions align with three modern museum education discourses: free-choice learning, constructivism, and edutainment. These findings challenge the commonly-held belief that Barnum was simply a showman, best known for his work in the circus and for a quote that has been mis-attributed to him that, “there’s a sucker born every minute.” v The research undertaken for this investigation focuses on museums and education in the nineteenth century. This study presents a brief history of the emergence of museums in America, spanning the years 1782–1841. Six museum proprietors are discussed in accordance with their beliefs in three educational philosophies: popular education, useful education and didactic education. A focus is then made towards P.T. Barnum and his American Museum. A brief biography of Barnum prior to his career as a museum proprietor is included. The holdings and organization of the American Museum is described, revealing some of the influence it had on nineteenth-century culture. The thesis concludes by illustrating how Barnum’s American Museum exemplified three forms of education: free-choice learning, constructivism, and edutainment. In it I argue that Barnum was an effective museum educator and his legacy should reflect this important feature of his character. vi Table of Contents Table of Contents.................................................................................................. vii List of Illustrations...................................................................................................x Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study.......................................................................1 Central Research Question..............................................................................2 Problem Statement..........................................................................................2 Motivations for Research................................................................................3 Research Method ............................................................................................4 Definition of Terms.........................................................................................4 Limitations of the Study..................................................................................6 Chapter 2: Literature Review..................................................................................7 Works Written by Barnum..............................................................................7 Works Written about Barnum and His Museum.............................................8 Publications from Barnum’s American Museum .........................................11 Works that Provide Historical Context.........................................................13 Readings on Museum Education ..................................................................14 Readings about Using a Historical Research Methodology .........................16 Conclusion ....................................................................................................18 Chapter 3: The Emergence of Early American Museums and their Educational Philosophies .............................................................................19 Criticism of Early American Museums ........................................................19 The First Museums in America.....................................................................21 Education in Early Museum History.............................................................23 Popular Education................................................................................24 Peale – Philadelphia....................................................................25 The New-York Historical Society ..............................................30 William Maclure – The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia........................................................................31 vii Useful Education: Baker......................................................................33 Amusement Without Education...........................................................34 Didactic Education: Scudder................................................................35 Conclusion ....................................................................................................36 Chapter 4: Barnum: The Man and His Museum ...................................................37 The Birth of Barnum and Childhood in Bethel.............................................37 Early Employment ........................................................................................39 Family Life....................................................................................................39 Barnum as Newspaper Editor .......................................................................40 The Move to New York City ........................................................................41 Barnum’s First Acts as a Showman..............................................................42 Barnum as Museum Proprietor .....................................................................43 The Immense Establishment................................................................45 Cosmoramas................................................................................48 Specimens from the Natural World ............................................49 Aquaria........................................................................................52 Menagerie and The Happy Family .............................................53 Paintings, Pictures, and Engravings............................................54 Daguerreotypes and Photographs ...............................................56 Sculptures and Statues ................................................................57 Glass-Blowing Exhibition...........................................................58 Wax Figures................................................................................59 Objects of Scientific Interest and Inventions..............................59 Native Americans and their Relics .............................................60 Worldly Artifacts ........................................................................61 Historical Artifacts......................................................................62 Autographs and Memorabilia .....................................................63 Models.........................................................................................63 Living Curiosities........................................................................64 Misinformation ...........................................................................66 viii The Lecture Room ......................................................................69 Museum Employees.............................................................................70 Measuring Success...............................................................................71 The Fate of the Museums.....................................................................72 Barnum’s Side Projects and Personal Causes...............................................75 Conclusion ....................................................................................................76 Chapter 5: Finding Educational Outcomes in Barnum’s American Museum and Conclusions Drawn from the Research .................................................77 Barnum and His Educational Philosophies...................................................77 Creating an Environment of Free-Choice Learning.............................79 Individual Interests and Motivations ..........................................81 Social, Cultural, Historical Context............................................82 Physical Context .........................................................................83 Barnum the Constructivist ...................................................................86 Barnum the Edutainer ..........................................................................90 Review of the Study......................................................................................93 Barnum’s Legacy..........................................................................................94 Further Research ...........................................................................................95 Conclusion ....................................................................................................96