Title: Faith in objects : American missionary expositions in the early twentieth century /
Authors: Hasinoff, Erin L.
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan,
Year: 2011
Subjects: Missions Exhibitions.; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural.; RELIGION / Christian Rituals & Practice / General.; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General.; RELIGION Christian Ministry Missions.; Missions; United States Church history; United States Church history
Abstract: "In the early twentieth century, missionary expositions were a central event in the religious life of many Americans. They also converged with the research agenda of anthropology, which was then defined by museum work. This thoughtfully researched book brings the untold history of the World in Boston of 1911 to light. Extraordinary in terms of content, geographic scope, and attendance, "America's First Great Missionary Exposition" was conceived on the model of world's fairs, and grew out of an established tradition of missionary exhibitions. This compelling history reveals how the material culture of missions shaped domestic interactions with evangelism, Christianity, and the consumption of ethnological knowledge"--Provided by publisher.
Contents: Preliminaries -- Antecedents -- The world in Boston of 1911 -- Setting the stage -- First impressions -- Pedagogical architecture -- Object lessons -- Spiritless pleasures -- The missionary exhibit of 1900 -- An established tradition -- Missionary engagements -- Objects of missionary education -- Stewardship -- Scripted parts -- Lifelong lessons.