Strategic Donations: Women and Museums in New Brunswick, 1862-1930

Abstract

This essay emphasizes the contributions made by white, middle-class women to the Museum of the Natural History Society of New Brunswick, founded in 1862. Archival sources reveal that women funded the museum by organizing entertainments, bazaars, and high teas. Although excluded from full membership in the Natural History Society, they found ways to represent themselves in the museum’s collections and acquisition records by employing the gendered strategy of gift giving. Studying these women does more than add detail to existing museum narratives. It sheds light on the shifting historical definition of museums, indicating that their economic function has changed since the nineteenth century.

Knowing their place: Feminist understandings and perceptions of women adult educators in museums

“…When the women recognised male authority, conducted bake sales, or participated in collecting and labelling natural history specimens, they were welcomed [in the museum]… When the “ladies” attempted, however, to become full members or to thwart male supervision, their position on the margins was reaffirmed. (McTavish, 2008, p. 99)When we draw attention to the historical situation of women in public museums – in these pedagogic contact zones – we are positioning them as important actors in the making and life of these institutions. Whitelaw (2012) reminds us that women were ‘central to the founding and maintenance of museums’ (p. 76).…”

“…When the women recognised male authority, conducted bake sales, or participated in collecting and labelling natural history specimens, they were welcomed [in the museum]… When the “ladies” attempted, however, to become full members or to thwart male supervision, their position on the margins was reaffirmed. (McTavish, 2008, p. 99)…”

“…Historical studies of women and museums in Canada, for example, paint a broad picture of marginalisation and discrimination. McTavish’s (2008) archival work found that although women were clearly actively involved in museum business, their treatment was quite different to their male counterparts. Museum minutes frequently spoke of ‘events such as the annual Conversazioni to which the general public as well as dignitaries were invited to hear talks given by male members of the society’, but they confined their remarks on the women’s contributions to ‘the provision of refreshments’ (p. 95).…”

“…Permanent art collections are 'the masters', collections formed from the gains of men from authorised (gifts) and unauthorised (war and appropriation) means to augment their prestige and status (Malt, 2006). Yet, counter to that discourse, feminist museum scholars such as Levin (2010) and McTavish (2008) claim that women have been active in museums since their inception. Malt (2006) posits that the number of women now working in museums is making a major difference as they 'use their influence as instruments for change to put forward issues of women's equality in museum programmes, displays, and publications and thus ultimately help shape the future image and status of women ' (p. 115).…”

19th to early 20th century geology lectures in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

“…Both men and women presented lectures to the Society and public. Women were significant contributors to the Society, even though they had a separate category as 'associate' members (McTavish 2008;Buhay and Miller 2010). In 1887 the Society established a Summer School of Science and a course of lectures on science, to deliver public lectures to non-Society members in an attempt to reach a wider audience -"Another important work undertaken by the society, and now in progress, is the course of lectures on Elementary Natural Science.…”