Edward P. Alexander

Edward Porter Alexander, Ph.D. (1907 – July 31, 2003) was an historian, author, museum administrator, and a professor of museum studies.

Dr. Alexander was the director of the New York State Historical Association at Ticonderoga and Cooperstown from 1934 to 1941, the director of the [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org Historical Society of Wisconsin] from 1941 to 1946 and the vice president for interpretation at Colonial Williamsburg from 1946 to 1972.He was also the founder and first director of the Museum Studies Program at the University of Delaware (1772 until his retirement in 1978).

He served as president of the American Association of Museums and the [http://www.aaslh.org American Association for State and Local History] and was a fellow of the [http://www.rmsc.org/museum/museumframeset.htm Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences] (now Rochester Museum & Science Center).

He was born in Keokuk, Iowa, graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, earned a master’s degree in history at the University of Iowa and a doctorate in history at Columbia University. He also held an honorary degree from Drake University.He died of a heart ailment at age 96.

Published books

*"James Duane: Revolutionary Conservative" (1978),
*"Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums" (1979),
*"Museum Masters: Their Museums and Their Influence" (1983),
*"The Museum in America: Innovators and Pioneers" (1997).

References

* [http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2004/ealexander.html University of Delaware Memoriam]
* [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/85spring/br-museum.htm Review of "Museum Masters: Their Museums and Their Influence"]
* [http://www.spnhc.org/documents/september2003.pdf Obituary in SPNHC Newletter]