History through Objects or Material Culture

Overview

Thomas Kador argues “The term object-based learning (OBL) refers to any facilitated learning activity that draws on multisensory engagement with material culture.”^[1] This overview explores how historians use objects as lenses into historical narratives. This methodology draws heavily on anthropology and archaeology.^[2]

Case Study

Historian Timothy Brook demonstrates using objects as a lens into world history narratives in his 2008 book Vermeer’s Hat. See this interview with Brook to understand his framework and background.  http://www.essentialvermeer.com/interviews_newsletter/brook_interview.html. Brook’s methods inspired the digital humanities project Essential Vermeer and the interactive catalogue  where scholars curate the paintings of Johannes Vermeer, creating clickable narratives that begin with the object.

Reading

Mars, Roman and Neil MacGregor. “From The World to America: Neil MacGregor meets Roman Mars.” A History of the World in 100 Objects. BBC and the British Museum. July 13, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nyhpl5. Listening time 35 minutes.

• Mars, Roman. A History of the US in 100 Objects. BBC. 2026. https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p0njg0dx (review – no need to listen to whole series)
• MacGregor, Neil. A History of the World in 100 Objects. BBC and British Museum. 2010. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nrtf5 (review – no need to listen to whole series)

Ducady, Geralyn. “Using Objects in Teaching.” Process: A Blog for American History. Organization of American Historians. https://www.oah.org/process/using-objects-in-teaching/.

Kador, Thomas. Object-Based Learning: Exploring Museums and Collections in Education. UCL Press. 2025. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212322/1/Object-Based-Learning.pdf. (Review to get a sense of object-based learning practice)