In the 100-plus years since the opening of the San Diego Museum of Man (SDMoM) in California, there has never been a comprehensive overview of the institution as a museum of anthropology and archaeology, including an assessment of its methodological and theoretical orientations. The purpose of this research is to explore how paradigm shifts within the field of anthropology have influenced strategies of collection of artifacts and types of exhibits shown at the SDMoM. By surveying the Museum’s archival records, documents, and publications for comparison against literature on the history of anthropology and similar museums, the resulting analysis will result in a greater understanding of how changes within the field of anthropology have influenced the Museum over time. It will also provide insight into what SDMoM can accomplish in order to reflect the discipline while still serving the needs of target communities. This research has the potential to help current Museum staff and stakeholders shape the Museum’s future through a more comprehensive understanding of its past as well as to serve as original research in the field of Museum Anthropology.
