David-Thiery Ruddel

Thirty years of curatorship in two national museums and over a decade of writing and teaching in museology has given me ample time to reflect on my role in these institutions. Over this period, I’ve found myself returning to earlier critiques regarding the role museums play in portraying narrow versions of the past. History is being used to promote an identity that leads to chauvinism in subtle and overt ways. 

My goal is to identify these trends particularly  in national museums, and to a lesser degree in the field of museum studies. I focus on the role of appropriation in institutional development and examine what exhibitions emphasize and omit. The writing I have posted here on these themes takes the form of articles, letters to the editors of newspapers, introductions to monographs and unpublished drafts, the latter in different stages of revision. I have also included a few earlier publications on the history of Quebec.

Two bouts of cancer make me aware of the limited time remaining to share my conclusions.

Critical comments are most welcome.  For citations, please follow accepted practices for citations. No permission from me is necessary.
Address: Toronto, ON