Interpreting Agriculture at Museums and Historic Sites

Debra Reid, The Henry Ford

Document Type: Book

Publication Date: 2016

Abstract

Interpreting Agriculture at Museums and Historic Sites helps educators and interpreters see the potential for developing a humanist approach to agriculture education, exhibits, and programming. This starts with a rational for adding history, literature, theater and the arts to the study of a multidisciplinary subject – agriculture. It continues with a step-by-step procedure to document agriculture in local, regional, national, and international context. This amounts to adopting an agricultural point of view and a mind-set that recognizes multiple perspectives (a farmer’s eye view, a plant’s eye view, or an animal’s eye view) to the huge, diverse, and often controversial subject of agriculture. It provides numerous examples about how to develop interpretation over time, including basic research into archival and three-dimensional evidence, training in reading photographs and analyzing artifacts, and ideas for exhibit and programs. It identifies partners that can collaborate to increase humanities coverage. The time line and bibliography offer invaluable overviews of agriculture, national policy, and significant issues over time.

Comments

This book is part of the  Interpreting History series. 

Recommended Citation

Reid, Debra A, Appendix ______Fill in the name of the relevant appendix____, Interpreting Agriculture at Museums ad Historic Sites (2017). Available at http://alhfam.org/InterpAg. Accessed ____ date____.

APPENDIX (Parts 1-5) from Reid, Interpreting Agriculture at Museums and Historic Sites (2017)

Part I: Professional Organizations Supporting the Study of Agricultural and Rural History

Part II: Selected Advocates of Agricultural Education and Potential for Partnering

Part III: Selected Readings in Agricultural History

Part IV: Timeline: National Policy and Agrarian Legislation

Part V: ALHFAM’s Livestock Care in Museums