The Historical Transformation of Cultural Institutions

本研究探讨了三种类型的建立 美国的文化机构：博物馆， 常驻歌剧团和常驻管弦乐队 的 主要调查人员将研究广泛的影响， 一系列的社会，经济和政治变化， 在代表性样本中建立文化组织 全国的县。 与欧洲相比 社会，其中有丰富的文化传统，美国人是 最初怀疑高文化，而且， 一心扑在发展工业和 农业，并与增长的问题作斗争， 城市与移民 曾经是文化的先例 然而，机构的建立， 在博物馆，歌剧院和管弦乐队中， 太好了 这项研究将调查的条件下 这些文化机构的形成，包括 国家重大事件的影响（如战争和 衰退）。 一个有待检验的论点是， 在19世纪早期， 与资源的不平等有关，但其他影响 (such随着教育的日益普及。 本研究将 有助于了解主要文化 机构最初建立和发展， 时间

This research examines the founding of three kinds of cultural institutions in the United States: museums, resident opera companies, and resident orchestras. The principal investigators will examine the influence of a wide array of social, economic, and political changes on the founding of cultural organizations in a representative sample of counties across the nation. In contrast with European societies, which had rich cultural traditions, Americans were initially suspicious of high culture and, moreover, were preoccupied with the tasks of developing industry and agriculture, and contending with the problems of growing cities and immigration. Once precedents for culture institutions were established, however, the rate of increase in museums, opera and orchestra companies was extraordinarily great. This research will investigate the conditions under which these cultural institutions came into being, including the effects of major national events (such as wars and recessions). One thesis to be tested is that the conditions that fostered culture in the early 19th century largely relate to the inequality of resources, but other influences (such as education) increasingly prevailed. This study will contribute to an understanding of how major cultural institutions were initially established and developed over time.