Lessons from Lessons from the Great Depression the Great Depression

Marjorie SchwarzerMarjorie SchwarzerJohn F. Kennedy UniversityJohn F. Kennedy University

March 4, 2010March 4, 2010

De Young Museum, 2006De Young Museum, 2006

Liberace Museum, Las VegasLiberace Museum, Las Vegas

Activity at Exploratorium, based on Activity at Exploratorium, based on experiential ideas of John Deweyexperiential ideas of John Dewey

Palace of Legion of Honor, San Francisco Palace of Legion of Honor, San Francisco (1926)(1926)

Taxidermy display, 1928Taxidermy display, 1928Snow Museum of Natural History, OaklandSnow Museum of Natural History, Oakland

Outdoor nature lessons based Outdoor nature lessons based on experiential ideas of John Deweyon experiential ideas of John Dewey

1920s immigrants from 1920s immigrants from Greece, Italy, Eastern EuropeGreece, Italy, Eastern Europe

Between 1923 and 1930, Between 1923 and 1930, most American families bought their first most American families bought their first

radio.radio.

In 1929, the stockmarket crashedIn 1929, the stockmarket crashed

0

50

100

150

1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

In a time of financial In a time of financial

famine, the public famine, the public is forced to a is forced to a reappraisal of all reappraisal of all its possessions, its possessions, institutions and institutions and customs.customs.

——P. Youtz, Brooklyn P. Youtz, Brooklyn Museum, 1933Museum, 1933

Century of Progress ExpositionCentury of Progress ExpositionChicago, 1933Chicago, 1933

From Duluth Children’s Museum’s From Duluth Children’s Museum’s Facebook site (2009) Facebook site (2009)

Mimeographs from Mabel Wing’s oral Mimeographs from Mabel Wing’s oral history, Duluth Children’s Museum archiveshistory, Duluth Children’s Museum archives

Nelson Atkins Museum opened in 1930 Nelson Atkins Museum opened in 1930 in Kansas Cityin Kansas City

Interior, Oakland Public MuseumInterior, Oakland Public Museum

October 29, 1929October 29, 1929

Nelson Atkins Museum opened in 1930 Nelson Atkins Museum opened in 1930 in Kansas Cityin Kansas City

Andrew Mellon purchased the Andrew Mellon purchased the Alba Alba MadonnaMadonna for $1.2 million from Russia in for $1.2 million from Russia in

19311931

National Gallery of Art, founded during the National Gallery of Art, founded during the Depression by Andrew MellonDepression by Andrew Mellon

Museum of Science and Industry Museum of Science and Industry Coal Mine exhibition, 1933: Coal Mine exhibition, 1933:

an ode to technological progressan ode to technological progress

California Academy of Sciences California Academy of Sciences opened its first Africa Hall in 1934opened its first Africa Hall in 1934

1920s immigrants from 1920s immigrants from Greece, Italy, Eastern EuropeGreece, Italy, Eastern Europe

The first visitor studies were funded by the The first visitor studies were funded by the Carnegie during the Great DepressionCarnegie during the Great Depression

Visitor studies led to actionVisitor studies led to action

Many museums stayed Many museums stayed open until 10pm, seven open until 10pm, seven days a week.days a week.

They rearranged exhibits to They rearranged exhibits to make them more make them more comfortable to view.comfortable to view.

MoMA director Alfred Barr touring college MoMA director Alfred Barr touring college students through a traveling exhibition students through a traveling exhibition

In 1930, AFA began to tour In 1930, AFA began to tour

the nation’s first popular art showsthe nation’s first popular art shows

Museums offered classes in commercial Museums offered classes in commercial design for the unemployed in the 1930sdesign for the unemployed in the 1930s

Children’s games were popular in 1930s Children’s games were popular in 1930s museums museums

““The [1930s] crisis kindled The [1930s] crisis kindled America’s social imagination … America’s social imagination … asserting life-saving grace, unity and asserting life-saving grace, unity and style against the encroaching style against the encroaching darkness.”darkness.”

– Morris Dickstein, Morris Dickstein, Dancing in the Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great DepressionGreat Depression,, 2009. 2009.

InnovationInnovation

Public ServicePublic Service

SustainabilitySustainability