Discusses the use of telecommunications in museums; reviews existing museum documentary databases, including those that are accessible from remote locations; describes the RAMA (Remote Access to Museum Archive) project, a computer network linking image documentary databases of seven European museums; and discusses the outlook for electronic…

The gifts of George Peabody, self-made millionaire and educational philanthropist, made possible the Peabody Museum of Salem. The article details the life of Peabody, then explains how he created the museum to promote science, detailing its maritime history, natural history, and ethnology departments. (SM)

One of several papers on self-made millionaire and educational philanthropist George Peabody defends Peabody's philanthropy against those who criticized him as miserly, highlighting his establishment of colleges, libraries, museums, hospitals, and other charities. The paper details his life, work, politics, and death, describing the causes that he…

Discusses the applicability of the machine-readable cataloging format for visual materials (MARC VM) to museum collections. A study is described that tested the utility of the VM format revision for museum objects, particularly as supported by OCLC, and recommendations are suggested for future enhancements. (16 references) (LRW)

"Contextual areas" employ models, replicas, artwork, art materials, tools, interpretive panels, and interactive computer installations to help visitors explore the historical and cultural context of 6 of 12 works of art at the "Art Inside Out" exhibition in the Kraft General Foods Education Center of the Art Institute of Chicago. (MDH)

Explores the lives of the Issei, the Japanese who came to Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland between 1885 and 1924. Examines the immigrants' problems with discriminatory laws in the United States. Discusses the establishment of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles (California). Describes some of the exhibits on display at the museum.…

Compares Getty Center for Education in the Arts-affiliated and non-Getty-affiliated museums to examine if and how Discipline-Based Art Education has influenced contemporary art museum education practices. Finds that relationships between art education and museum education are more explicitly developed among Getty-affiliated art museums than…

Describes how a survey of 1,500 museums in six European countries and case studies in three countries were used to develop a guide to good practice and a Web site on informal education in museums. (SK)

Discusses the development and results of a naturalistic study of the instructional-design process for three permanent museum exhibits. Examines design goals, design resources, design techniques, constraints such as budget and scheduling, how museum staff makes decisions during the design process, and implications for instructional designers.…

Describes a teenage journalist's visit to the Newseum in Washington, DC, the world's only interactive museum dedicated to news. Describes visiting the Interactive Newsroom, the huge News Globe, the News History Gallery, and the Broadcast Studio. Describes also a brief visit to Freedom Park and the Newseum Education Center. Notes the enthusiasm of…

Describes an exhibit called Kid's Kitchen, built within a major exhibit called Biodiversity: Life Supporting Life, in order to discuss environmental prompts hidden within the kitchen designed to surprise students and get them thinking. (ASK)

An analysis of interactions between 154 visitors to a science museum revealed significant differences between age group and the holding power of exhibits. No significant differences were found for gender or social grouping and attraction, holding power, and engagement levels. (PR)

Examines the debate about how science should be re/presented in informal science settings, specifically the possibility of science centers and science museums addressing socio-scientific issues. Situates the debate within the current science education literature on the nature of science (NOS) and science, technology, society and environment (STSE)…

Virtual museums focus on a specific curriculum theme and showcase electronic museum-type collections such as artifacts, paintings, photographs, numerous databases, and Web links to resources around the world. Museums of all types include vital teaching tools that help students make discoveries and form connections with the past, present, and…

This article describes the artistic carving, "Period Room from Damascus." The room dates to the early eighteenth century, reflecting the tastes of Syrians under Turkish Ottoman rule. The article highlights notable historical, cultural, and artistic elements about the room and provides questions to consider.