Introduction to my Thesis

    My thesis will discuss how informal learning about art and history has evolved since the establishment of the first museum in the United States and how significant federal funding has aided this evolution. The key research methods include the examination of primary and secondary resources, including oral histories held by the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Using these in conjunction with the work of theorists John Cotton Dana, a library and museum professional, and John Dewey, a theorist of experiential learning, I will demonstrate the connections between art education, museums, and libraries and what they share with the histories of the Charleston Art Museum and the Federal Art Project. Building upon these resources and drawing new conclusions from them, this thesis will ultimately explore the lasting legacies both of these have had on informal learning of art and history in museums and beyond.  

    As of now, my research has consisted of exploring stories from artists who directly experienced the implementation of New Deal Era programs such as the Federal Art Project. I have also been familiarizing myself with the different policies and legal details of these programs using the reports on art projects created by the director of the Federal Art Project, Holger Cahill.

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