In this episode of "Why They Put That in a Museum," Beth Bacon, an author and avid museum goer, joins Sarah Lees, a museum curator and researcher, to explore the origins, history, and purposes of museums. They discuss ancient Greek philosophical institutions, the Renaissance patronage of Lorenzo de Medici, and the concept of cabinets of curiosities in the 1600s. They talk about the founding of significant museums like the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford and the British Museum in London. The discussion transitions into the history of American museums, highlighting the Charleston Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. They speculate about the future of museums with evolving roles and missions. They discuss Beth’s volunteer work at the Missouri History Museum and its exhibits that engage diverse audiences and promote shared community experiences.

00:00 Introduction to the Hosts and Podcast

01:19 Today's Topic: The Concept of Museums

02:35 Historical Origins of Museums

08:23 Early Museums in the United States

11:19 Modern Museums and Their Evolving Roles

17:28 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

Some museums mentioned:
Smart History Website: https://smarthistory.org/a-brief-history-of-the-art-museum/

Ashmolean Museum at Oxford: https://www.ashmolean.org/

British Museum in London: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Charleston Museum: https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/

Peabody Essex Museum: https://www.pem.org/

Missouri History Museum: https://mohistory.org/museum

If you'd like to contact the hosts, visit: https://whydtheyputthatinamuseum.com/

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© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.

In this episode of “Why Did They Put That in a Museum?” hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees discuss the photographs of a little known photographer, Lusha Nelson. Nelson’s photos were found in a yard sale. Why’d they put them in a museum? These were not just any old thrifted finds. First, they are stunningly beautiful. Plus, Nelson's photographs include portraits of icons and luminaries like Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn. The shading and compositions are rich and evocative. Who is Lusha Nelson? He emigrated from Latvia to New York in the 1920’s. He's a self-taught photography who, during the depression, took photos for Condé Nast (yes Condé Nast was an actual person). Nelson's life and career were cut short due to his early death in 1938. Then his works were almost lost to time. Sarah shares a personal connection to this project, recounting that, when she worked at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, someone contacted the museum and offered some prints she and her husband had found in a yard sale many years earlier. Usually, curators politely decline this kind of request. But Sarah and her colleagues took a look and found a treasure trove of stunning portraits and street scenes. Sarah talks about organizing the exhibition of Lusha Nelson’s art in 2017 and the role of museums in sharing work that’s spectacular enough to be preserved and shared with the public.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:23 Meet Lusha Nelson the photographer

00:32 The Discovery of Lusha Nelson's Work

02:19 Iconic Photographs: Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn

03:39 The Significance of Nelson's Work

08:23 Sarah’s Personal Connection and Rediscovery of Nelson

12:02 Lusha Nelson's Life and Career

17:01 Street Photography and Lesser-Known Works

20:46 Legacy and Preservation

27:58 Conclusion

To look at Nelson's art, visit:

https://philbrook.org/exhibitions/lusha-nelson-found/

https://www.artnet.com/artists/lusha-nelson/

To reach out to the podcasters, visit:

https://whydtheyputthatinamuseum.com/

Send us ideas & feedback.

© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.

In this episode of 'Why They Put That in a Museum,' hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees discuss the unusual story of Vivian Meier, an unknown nanny whose extraordinary street photography was discovered by chance in an unclaimed storage locker. They discuss the unique and enigmatic nature of her photographs and the very unusual way her body of work came to be known. In fact, none of Meier’s powerful and thought-provoking photos are on display in traditional museums. Sarah and Beth go on to explore broader questions about the definition and purpose of museums. Tune in to discover why Vivian Meier's photography is a hidden gem waiting to be explored.

Suggested Links

https://www.vivianmaier.com/

https://newyork.fotografiska.com/en/exhibitions/vivian-maier

Timeline

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:50 Today's Subject: Vivian Meyer

02:21 The Discovery of Vivian Meyer's Work

05:15 Analyzing Vivian Meier's Photography

11:33 The Debate: Should Meier's Work Be in a Museum?

20:47 The Purpose of Museums

22:34 Conclusion

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whyd-they-put-that-in-a-museum/id1792614250

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© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.