How to Build a Museum: Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture
by Tonya Bolden (Author)
Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is truly groundbreaking!
The first national museum whose mission is to illuminate for all people, the rich, diverse, complicated, and important experiences and contributions of African Americans in America is opening.And the history of NMAAHC--the last museum to be built on the National Mall--is the history of America.
The campaign to set up a museum honoring black citizens is nearly 100 years old; building the museum itelf and assembling its incredibly far-reaching collections is a modern story that involves all kinds of people, from educators and activists, to politicians, architects, curators, construction workers, and ordinary Americans who donated cherished belongings to be included in NMAAHC's thematically-organized exhibits.
Award-winning author Tonya Bolden has written a fascinating chronicle of how all of these ideas, ambitions, and actual objects came together in one incredible museum. Includes behind-the-scenes photos of literally how to build a museum that holds everything from an entire segregated railroad car to a tiny West African amulet worn to ward off slave traders.
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School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up--One hundred years ago, the National Memorial Association was formed to establish a monument honoring African American veterans of the Civil War. It took years to get Congressional support, but finally, in the late 1920s, a bill was passed to create a committee to establish a museum dedicated to African American contributions to our nation. While the committee was abolished during the Depression, the dream was not. However, it took another 70 years of urging by activists and politicians to renew interest in the project. Bolden investigates this history and the search for a museum director and artifacts, including the national call for "treasures" and the related national tour by curators in search of items for the collection. In addition, she discusses the museum's location on the National Mall, a place once bordered by "holding pens for enslaved people bound for the Deep South." Archival and contemporary photos and reproductions of artwork and other materials enhance this clearly written, well-documented book. The images increase in the second half and highlight the museum's permanent collections devoted to slavery and freedom; segregation; African American religious, civic, and educational institutions, communities, military experience; and other topics. Here, introductory paragraphs discuss the focus of the exhibits and the questions they ask, while captions add fascinating detail about the items presented. VERDICT An important, profusely illustrated account of the history, building, and collections of a national treasure.--Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JNF025260 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Symbols, Monuments, National Parks, Etc.
JNF025170 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/General
Museums
Washington (D.C.)
Design and construction
National Museum of African American History a
Historical museums
