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Journal of the History of Collections Advance Access published online on March 13, 2009
Journal of the History of Collections, doi:10.1093/jhc/fhp007
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Success and failure

The tale of two museums

Peter Rivière


  Abstract

Following the Second World War there was an upsurge in interest in what was seen as a fast-disappearing traditional way of life, especially that of the countryside where rapid mechanization was bringing about sweeping changes. Two different organizations simultaneously responded to this in the same way – to found museums in which collections of objects from that disappearing world could be preserved and conserved. The Royal Anthropological Institute proposed setting up a Museum of English Life and Traditions, whereas the University of Reading decided on a Museum of English Rural Life. In this paper the events and personalities involved in these two schemes are described, and how and why the RAI's project failed while Reading's became a success is examined.

Correspondence: Address for correspondence Peter Rivière, Sessions, Park Street, Charlbury, Oxfordshire ox7 3pt. peter.riviere{at}anthro.ox.ac.uk


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