Tangible things : making history through objects / Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Ivan Gaskell, Sara J. Schechner, Sarah Anne Carter with photographs by Samantha S.B. van Gerbig.

Description based on resource (EBSCO, viewed June 19, 2020).

Introduction: Thinking with Things -- 1 Things in Place -- Natural History An Orchid: Say It with Flowers -- Anthropology and Archaeology A Glass Jar: A Surface Find in the Semitic Museum -- Books and Manuscripts A Papyrus Fragment: Plato from the Sharp-Nosed Trash -- Art A Limestone Mold: Set in Stone -- Science and Medicine A Collection of Powders: Political Chemistry -- History A Field-Hockey Dress: Fit for a Knockabout Sport -- 2 Things Unplaced -- A Gift from the Ladies of Llangollen: Memorandums of a Cottage -- A Galapagos Tortoiseshell: "Ship Abigail" -- A Carved Spoon: Pointing a Finger -- A Mexican Tortilla: From Exotic to Ordinary -- A Beetle Ornament: Iridescent Opulence -- A Board Game: Tracking Blondie -- 3 Things out of Place -- An Artist's Palette: The Psychology of Vision -- A Tin Bluebird: Calling for the Vote -- A Hand Plow: Plowshares and Swords -- A Carved Bird Skull: Nature or Culture? -- 4 Things in Stories-Stories in Things -- Objects as Portals -- A Nostalgic Painting: The Message -- Transits of Venus -- Changing Stories about American Indians -- Photo Essay : Unexpected Discoveries: The Joy of Object Photography -- Appendix: Harvard Collections that Contributed to Tangible Things.

Based on the rich museum collections of Harvard University, Tangible Things challenges rigid distinctions between history, anthropology, science, and the arts. Through 20 entertaining and inspiring case studies it demonstrates that almost any material thing, when examined closely, can be a link between present and past.

English.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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