Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology

The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology is located in historic Old Library, West Chester University’s iconic neoclassical building built in 1902 to house the institution’s first library. Built of local green serpentine stone, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. In addition to the Museum, the building houses the Department of Anthropology and Sociology and its affiliated Institute on Race and Ethnic Studies.

The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology originally operated as the All College Museum throughout the 1970s and 80s, and in 2007 was established as the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology under the operation of the Department of Anthropology & Sociology. In 2013, Dr. Michael A. Di Giovine became its first formal Director.

Maintaining a permanent collection of nearly 300,000 archaeological and ethnographic materials, the Museum is West Chester University’s teaching center for museum studies and a nexus for students, the campus, and greater community.  Through sequenced coursework and practice, students in the Museum Studies program learn the nuances of exhibit development and curation, museum administration, object collections management, conservation, and audience research. 

Exhibitions are co-curated by museum studies students as their capstone projects, and often feature a mix of artifacts from the permanent collection and loans from community partners. Partner institutions include the Chester County History Center, The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, the Global Philadelphia Association, the Hartenberger World Music Collection, and numerous other museums, community organizations and private lenders. The Museum and Department of Anthropology & Sociology proudly collaborates with the Delaware Tribe of Indians.

Past exhibitions have explored Native American art and culture, The Silk Road, foodways, human rights in Latin America, and the Roaring 20s.  University faculty are encouraged to explore and utilize these exhibits with their students. The Museum welcomes community members and groups. There is no fee for entry, though groups are requested to make a contribution.

Under the direction of Dr. Michael A. Di Giovine, the Museum is part of the West Chester University Museums and Special Archives (WCUMSA), which is composed of our institution, the Francis Harvey Green Library, and the WCU Special Collections. It is also part of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics’ Center for STEM Inclusion, which helps support community outreach to local elementary and middle schools. The Museum is a member of the American Alliance of Museums.

Photo Credit: Taria Rivera-Montes