Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT The Maude Abbott Medical Museum has a collection of human remains which we believe is appropriate to preserve and use for teaching and research. We wondered to what extent our visitors feel the same way. We categorized all entries in our museum visitor book for 5 years into five groups based on specific words or phrases. 764 consecutive entries (approximately 13% of all museum visitors) were categorized as weakly supportive (204, 27%), moderately supportive (253, 33%), strongly supportive (286, 37%) and uncertain (21, 3%); no negative comments were identified. Subjective analysis of longer entries showed many to include positive elaborations related to themes such as learning, appreciation for the displays, and self‐reflection. We propose that the unsolicited presence of approximately 540 moderately or highly supportive book entries, many with thoughtful elaborations, is evidence of significant support for the preservation and display of the Museum's collection of human remains.
Source: Curator The Museum Journal
DOI: 10.1111/cura.70025
Author: Rick Fraser
Institution: McGill University
Language: English
Subfield: Museology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,900
OpenAlex ID: W7126228630