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American Museum of Natural History

From Theory in Social and Cultural Anthropology: An Encyclopedia
The anthropology department at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is one of the oldest, largest, and most important such departments in America. The museum itself achieved prominence at a time when the dominant institutional home of American anthropology was in museums, and during its long history, the anthropology department has made many critical contributions to sociocultural theory or ethnology (an older term still used in museums). Its greatest period of national influence came during the years when the department was chaired by Franz Boas and Clark Wissler, ca. 1895-1920. Its centrality to the discipline has declined since then due to factors internal to the museum as well as to the changing institutional context of American anthropology. Founded in 1869, the AMNH is one of the several museums in New York City characterized by joint ownership and control: The city owns the land and its building and supplies operating funds, and a private board of trustees owns the…
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Full text Article American Museum of Natural History

From The Oxford Encyclopedia of the History of American Science, Medicine, and Technology
Founded in New York City in 1869 at the initiative of Albert Smith Bickmore, a Harvard-trained zoologist, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) was one of many late nineteenth-century institutions launched by a capitalist elite eager to assert its cultural dominance at a time of rapid…
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incorporated in New York City in 1869 to promote the study of natural science and related subjects. Buildings on its present site facing Central Park were opened in 1877. Among the buildings later added were the Hayden Planetarium (opened 1935, demolished 1997), the Roosevelt Memorial building…
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Full text Article American Museum of Natural History

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Major centre of research and education on the natural sciences, established in New York City in 1869. It pioneered in staging field expeditions and creating dioramas and other lifelike exhibits showing natural habitats and their plant and animal life. Its research collections contain tens of…
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Skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, in the American Museum of Natural History, from 'The Outline of History' by H.G. Wells, Volume I, published in 1920 (photogravure)
Artist: English School, (20th century) Location: Private Collection Credit: Skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, in the American Museum of Natural History, from 'The Outline of History' by H.G. Wells, Volume I, published in 1920 (photogravure), English School, (20th century) / Private Collection / Ken…
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Aerial view of the Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, Fifth Avenue (photo)
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Over a 20-year period, investor Richard Gilder donated more than $125 million to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He also devoted much time and brainpower—for instance in spearheading the museum’s expansion of its Hayden Planetarium into the more ambitious Rose Center for…
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Full text Article Andrews, Roy Chapman (1884–1960)

From The Oxford Encyclopedia of the History of American Science, Medicine, and Technology
naturalist and explorer Roy Chapman Andrews was among the most prominent of an early twentieth-century generation of American “museum men.” His scientific work was so thoroughly intertwined with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) from start to finish that he literally rose from janitor to…
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Sometimes the vision and management direction a philanthropist offers to a project can be as valuable as his money. Financier Richard Gilder was a longtime member of the board of directors for the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and served on its planetarium committee. By 1992, …
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Full text Article 'The Kunz Axe' (translucent dull blue-green jade)

From Bridgeman Images: The Bridgeman Art Library
'The Kunz Axe' (translucent dull blue-green jade)
Artist: Pre-Columbian Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA Credit: The Kunz Axe' (translucent dull blue-green jade), Pre-Columbian / American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA / Photo © Boltin Picture Library / The Bridgeman Art Library Dimensions: height: 27.2 Medium: …
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Full text Article Margaret Mead Film Festival

From Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World
The Margaret Mead Film Festival is an event sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History in New York and is held annually every fall. The focus of the festival is to bring challenging subjects and films involving a wide range of issues and perspectives to the fore. Documentaries, animation, …
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