Cabinets on Campuses: Reimagining the Museum Through the History of Collecting

This thesis looks at the history of collections, tracing cabinets of curiosities to natural history specimens at colleges and universities during the 19th century. It will explore the trajectory of academic museums as art galleries became more prominent at colleges throughout the 20th century. This research culminates in a discussion of my senior project, a cabinet of curiosities on Vassar’s campus that displays objects from Vassar students, faculty, and staff in an interactive
exhibition that questions the potential role of academic museums in students’ lives.