CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY Sacramento AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara Enriching Representation: Finding the Voice and Perspective of Children in California History Museums A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in History by Tory Dawn Swim Inloes Committee in charge: Professor Ann Marie Plane, Chair Professor Randolph Bergstrom Professor Christopher J. Castaneda Professor Mary Hancock Professor Lisa Jacobson June 2014 UMI Number: 3637419 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI 3637419 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346 The dissertation of Tory Dawn Swim Inloes is approved. ____________________________________________ Randolph Bergstrom ____________________________________________ Christopher J. Castaneda _____________________________________________ Mary Hancock _____________________________________________ Lisa Jacobson ____________________________________________ Ann Marie Plane, Committee Chair June 2014 Enriching Representation: Finding the Voice and Perspective of Children in California History Museums Copyright © 2014 by Tory Dawn Swim Inloes iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my wonderful committee. I have been blessed to have such a supportive, instructive, diverse, and encouraging committee: Ann Marie Plane, Randy Bergstrom, Lisa Jacobson, Mary Hancock, and Chris Castaneda. I am grateful to them for the countless hours each has labored on my behalf:. I am especially appreciative of my committee chair Ann Marie Plane who has believed in this project since its earliest origins and has always provided the perfect blend of encouragement and recognition throughout the entire process I would like to thank the wonderful history departments at UC Santa Barbara and CSU Sacramento. I am thankful for the various awards and financial support I have received, as well as the opportunity to work for The Public Historian. This dissertation is the final product of a long journey at both campuses, and I am extremely grateful for all the professors, staff members, and fellow students I have worked with at each campus. I am especially grateful to Stacy Blackburn, Julia Brock, Jill Dolan, Ty Smith, and Rachel Winslow who were tremendous friends and colleagues during the process of writing my dissertation. I am indebted to Lindsey Reed and all that she taught me regarding writing, grammar, and editing as I worked under her supervision at The Public Historian. To work with Lindsey was always a dream of mine. The opportunity to work with Lindsey and, in the process, learn how iv to write more efficiently and effectively was a necessary step in my journey to completing this dissertation, and I am forever thankful for her. This dissertation is the product of many conversations with museum professionals and volunteers throughout the state of California. I am indebted to the many individuals who, at multiple stages of my research, agreed to participate in an interview. While the overwhelming majority of participants in my research are kept confidential for reasons outlined within my dissertation, I am extremely grateful to the many opinions, ideas, thoughts, and suggestions provided by these individuals and acknowledge their influence upon my research, findings, and recommendations. I would like to thank the staff and volunteers at the Pasadena Museum of History (PMH). During my three-and-a-half years of participant observation at the PMH, I was warmly received at every visit and truly looked forward to participating in the junior docent program two days per week during the school year. I could not have asked for a better contact than Brad Macneil who eagerly included me in the junior docent program, always asked after my progress, and worked to make sure I had everything I needed while at the site. I am very grateful to the many junior docents who allowed me to observe their participation and interview them as they exited the program. I am especially indebted to the following staff and volunteers at PMH who not only encouraged my research but became dear friends in the process: Brad Macneil, Ardis Wilwerth, Adrian Panton, Elissa Hosseinzadeh, Carol Rush, Emily Long, Gale Davis, Jane Armel, Janet Kaden, Karen Loshke, Sheryl Peters, Emily Leiserson, and Laura Verlaque. v I am indebted to the wonderful volunteers at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park, CA. The enthusiasm and dedication with which they execute their weekly school program is infectious, admirable, and inspirational. Jackie Pizitz and Miriam Sprankling went above and beyond in making sure I felt welcomed and included when visiting their site. I will never forget the many bottles of water Jackie brought me as I stood in the hot sun observing children pan for gold, or the many times Miriam met me at the museum to make sure I made the proper contacts. I am thankful to the many, wonderful volunteers who allowed me to observe and interview them: Ruthann, Joyce, Barbara, Claudia, Joann, Ellie, Rhoda, Lou, Allan, Carol, Marilyn, Arline, Cheryl, Karolyn, Brenda, and Mary. I am also very grateful to Debbie Birenbaum who spoke with me at length regarding the junior docent program at the Stagecoach Inn Museum. I am indebted to many museum professionals who went above and beyond in assisting me as I conducted research at their site and giving me encouragement along the way. I am blessed to have met Jackie Dumin, Site Director of the Tallac Historic Site. During the course of my study, I could not have asked for a better contact, colleague, or friend. Jackie always made time for me during my multiple visits to Tallac Historic Site over the course of three summers, and she always made sure that I had what I needed while at her site. Jackie not only provided wonderful insight regarding her own site, but she became a wonderful resource to brainstorm with and became a true friend. I am especially indebted to Alice Stevenson, Director of the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and Alisa Lynch, Chief of Interpretation at vi Manzanar National Historic Site, who reviewed multiple drafts of pages related to their respective sites to ensure quality and accuracy. Alice and Alisa went above and beyond and I am forever grateful to them for being so supportive of my research. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with many museum professionals who gladly gave of their time (which is a rare commodity in the museum world) to assist me at various stages in my research: Erik Greenberg, Maria Kwong, Louise Pubols, Janessa West, Louise Mirrer, Heidi Doyle, and Patricia Johnson. I am also grateful to Ellen Calomiris and all of my colleagues at Rancho Los Cerritos for the wonderful support and understanding they provided as I finished my dissertation. Furthermore, I am very thankful to Celeste DeWald, Executive Director, and Sarah Sagouspe, Program Coordinator, at the California Associations of Museums (CAM) for all of their assistance in providing access to CAM publications. I am very thankful to Kenneth J. Cerniglia, Dramaturg and Literary Manager at Disney Theatrical Group, who made it possible for me to use lyrics from the Original Broadway Recording of Newies: The Musical. It was an unexpected pleasure to work with lyricist Jack Feldman as I incorporated his lyrics into my final chapter. I am exceptionally grateful to Kenneth and Jack for their excitement regarding my project and their assistance in helping me weave such inspirational lyrics into the conclusion of my dissertation. While the above individuals very much made the research and writing aspect of my dissertation possible, the following individuals ensured that I stayed emotionally vii up to the task. I am forever grateful to the friends and family who have been so supportive during such a long and isolating journey. I have been abundantly blessed by my friendship with Catarina Sales, who didn’t mind leveraging her proximity to UCSB to help me complete my dissertation. Whether allowing me to crash on her couch, or, printing out pages of my dissertation and dropping them off at professors’ doorsteps, Cate went above and beyond as a friend. I will never forget the support of Jyoti Hench and the many times she talked me through challenging aspects of the process or the survival kit she made for me to ensure my morale stayed intact. I am thankful for the many good friends I have, and their belief that I had it within me to complete something so daunting and challenging: Stacey Ericksen, Diane Oldroyd, Anne Kathryn Parma, Mark Newport, Marie Sanchez, Rebecca Peeling, Melody Duke, Keri Johnson, Clark and Nikki Coles, Alica Bills, Kristi James, and Natalie Clark. I am especially thankful to the Gonzales family (DJ, Karla, Ayiana, and Belicia) who truly showed a tremendous amount of love, support, and empathy in the final months of my dissertation. And most of all, I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for the love and support of my wonderful in-laws, Daniel and Christina Inloes. I am so grateful for the encouragement they readily gave, the pride they uninhibitedly shared, and the service they often demonstrated. Words cannot express the appreciation I hold for my parents David and Karla Swim. They are the reason I started on this path and they have made sure I stay on it when self-doubt and fear loomed.