Paper short abstract:

This paper will discuss the emergence and persistence of vernacular museums, which showcase “ethnographies of the everyday” – ranging from the cultural impact of local figures to everyday lifeways – often in less formal locations, and their roles in constructing local knowledge and community.

Paper long abstract:

This paper will discuss the emergence and persistence of vernacular museums, which showcase "ethnographies of the everyday" - ranging from the social and cultural impact of local figures or groups to everyday lifeways - often in less formal locations, such as storefronts or private homes, and their roles in constructing community. Numerous examples will be visually illustrated and analyzed, with an eye toward understanding their voice in representation and the creation and dissemination of local knowledge.

These small museums, spearheaded by individuals and community groups, have increasingly emerged across the United States, as individuals seek a voice in shaping the creation of our understanding of history and culture - what merits examination and preservation, and how it is made accessible. They typically valorize small histories and cultures - of the "everyday" and the "everyman" - that are ordinarily excluded from larger, institutionalized museums, or relegated to romanticized temporary exhibits. Exploring and understanding these vernacular museums, and the mechanisms that bring them into being, allows us to discuss larger processes of history-making, preservation, democratization of knowledge, and the intersection of history, ethnography, and popular culture.