Riches, Rivals & Radicals

"As author Marjorie Schwarzer tells us, a look at the past century of America's museums reveals a captivating if slightly imperfect real-life masterpiece, flowing with a vibrant palette of wealth and ambition, accented by bold patches of jealousy, generosity and rivalry, artfully woven together into an elegant tapestry of passion, mystery and intrigue. During the past century, U.S. museums have transformed themselves into cultural landmarks of our society; institutions that educate, inspire, and lead their communities. The story of that transformation is one that mirrors the history of the nation itself. It includes many notable, and some notorious, characters. And it involves some of history's most prominent American families: Getty, Rockefeller, Ford, Vanderbilt, Carnegie and many others. Published by the American Association of Museums to commemorate the "Year of the Museum" in 2006 and mark AAM's Centennial, Riches, Rivals and Radicals: 100 Years of Museums in America traces the rise of the American museum over the past century. "The history of museums in this country is one of America's greatest stories but it is a story that has never been told in its entirety until now," said Edward H. Able, Jr., President and CEO of the American Association of Museums. "Marjorie Schwarzer has done a superb job of capturing the energy, excitement and significance of 100 years of museums; her book reminds us all just how much museums matter in our lives, and how valuable museums will always be in our culture." -- Publisher.