Exploring the Convergence of House Museums and Community Archives

Current trends in the heritage field suggest that libraries, archives, and museums may benefit from working together, sharing resources, and sharing spaces – be it on the web or physically. This paper will argue that one type of museum, the house museum, would benefit especially from converging with local community archives. Community archives provide visitors with a direct connection to their community through their specialized collections and intimate focus. Meanwhile, house museums allow for a level of immersion in the exhibit that purpose-built museums do not. Their local focus also ties them to a specific community, just as community archives are tied to their local community. Together, house museums and community archives can provide a more nuanced understanding of history to their community and improve the social standing, resources, and outreach of both institutions