Journal of the History of Collections

Scope & Guideline

Documenting the evolution of collections across time.

Introduction

Welcome to the Journal of the History of Collections information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Journal of the History of Collections, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0954-6650
PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1989 to 1994, from 1996 to 2024
AbbreviationJ HIST COLLECT / J. Hist. Collect.
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressGREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of the History of Collections focuses on the multifaceted nature of collecting practices, their historical contexts, and their implications for art history and cultural studies. It aims to explore the relationships between collectors, institutions, and the artifacts they gather, thereby illuminating the significance of collections in shaping cultural narratives and identities.
  1. Exploration of Collector Profiles:
    The journal frequently examines the lives and networks of individual collectors, emphasizing how personal tastes and social circumstances influence collection formation.
  2. Historical Context of Collections:
    Papers often contextualize collections within broader historical movements, exploring how art and artifacts were gathered, displayed, and valued in various epochs.
  3. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    The journal embraces interdisciplinary methodologies, incorporating perspectives from art history, anthropology, sociology, and museum studies to examine collections and collecting.
  4. Impact of Colonialism and Globalization:
    A significant focus is placed on the implications of colonialism and globalization on collecting practices, including the ethical considerations surrounding looted artifacts and cultural appropriation.
  5. Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices:
    The journal investigates the evolution of museums and curatorial practices, discussing how collections are managed, interpreted, and presented to the public.
  6. Material Culture Studies:
    There is a strong emphasis on material culture, analyzing how objects reflect societal values and historical narratives through their collection and display.
The Journal of the History of Collections has identified several emerging themes that reflect current scholarly interests and societal concerns. These trending scopes indicate a dynamic engagement with the complexities of collecting and its implications for culture and identity.
  1. Decolonization of Collections:
    A growing body of research is focused on the decolonization of collections, addressing the need to confront colonial legacies in museum practices and the restitution of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin.
  2. Digital Collecting and Virtual Exhibitions:
    As the digital landscape evolves, there is an increasing exploration of digital collecting practices, virtual exhibitions, and the impact of technology on how collections are curated and accessed.
  3. Environmental and Ethical Collecting:
    Emerging studies are beginning to interrogate the environmental impacts and ethical considerations of collecting, particularly in relation to sustainability and the provenance of objects.
  4. Collecting as Social Practice:
    Research is increasingly framing collecting as a social practice, examining how community engagement and social networks influence collection formation and interpretation.
  5. Intersectionality in Collecting Narratives:
    There is a rising trend towards exploring intersectionality within collecting narratives, considering how factors such as gender, race, and class shape the practices and experiences of collectors.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of the History of Collections continues to thrive, certain themes have shown a marked decline in emphasis over recent years. These waning scopes reflect shifting interests in the field and may point to broader trends in academic research.
  1. Focus on Traditional Art Movements:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in papers centered solely on traditional art movements without a broader contextual analysis of collecting practices, suggesting a shift towards more interdisciplinary and contextualized studies.
  2. Local and Regional Collecting Practices:
    Research focusing specifically on localized or regional collecting practices has diminished, possibly overshadowed by more global perspectives that emphasize transnational networks and movements.
  3. Connoisseurship and Attribution Studies:
    The emphasis on connoisseurship and the attribution of artworks has waned, reflecting a broader critique of traditional art historical methodologies that privilege expert opinion over collective narratives.
  4. The Role of Private Collectors:
    Discussions solely focused on the role of private collectors in isolation from institutional contexts are becoming less frequent, indicating a trend towards integrating private and public collecting narratives.
  5. Static Historical Accounts:
    Papers that offer static historical accounts of collections without engaging with contemporary issues or ongoing debates in the field are appearing less frequently, as scholars seek to connect historical practices with current ethical considerations.

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