Bringing Natural History to the People: Three Pioneers of the Pacific Northwest Frontier
Datum
1989-06
Autor:innen
Zeitschriftentitel
ISSN der Zeitschrift
Bandtitel
Verlag
University of Oregon
Zusammenfassung
In the mid-nineteenth century, three Pacific Northwest collectors established relationships with the fledgling
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. They
communicated with Assistant Secretary, Spencer Fullerton
Baird, a scientist whose philosophy placed him midway
between the "increase" and "diffusion" requirements of the
original bequest of James Smithson. The older museum
scientists had sought to keep the Institution devoted to
research—the "increase" notion, whereas the younger
scientists hoped for a museum and a library to bring the new
science to the people—the "diffusion" notion. The three pioneers took up collecting to supplant or to supplement their religion, which had come under siege due to rational
science. They wished to bring their collections to the
people in recognition of the democratic and educational spirit of the new American museum—a far cry from the
elitist curio cabinets of Europe and the popular humbug of
P.T. Barnum.
Beschreibung
viii, 150 p. Advisor: Dr. Louise Wade.
A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA OrColl QH26 .W45 1989
A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA OrColl QH26 .W45 1989
Schlagwörter
Cummins, Henry, 1840-1901, Swan, James Gilchrist, Condon, Thomas, 1822-1907, Naturalists -- Northwest, Pacific -- Biography, Natural history -- United States -- History, Pioneers -- Northwest, Pacific -- Biography