Who Owns the Past?: Cultural Policy,
Cultural Property, and the Law
Rises Above The Hyperbole
Public and private institutions in the United States have long been home to
a variety of art works, antiquities, and ethnological materials. For years,
these collections have been seen as important archives that allow present
and future generations to enjoy, appreciate, and value the art of all
cultures. The past decade, however, has seen major changes in law and
public policy and an active, ongoing debate over legal and ethical issues
affecting the ownership of art and other cultural property. Contributors to
Who Owns the Past? include legal scholars, museum professionals,
anthropologists, archaeologists, and collectors. In clear, nontechnical
language, they provide a comprehensive overview of the development of
cultural property law and practices, as well as recent case law affecting the
ability of museums and private collectors to own art from other countries.
Topics covered include rights to property, ethical ownership, the public
responsibilities of museums, threats to art from war, pillage, and
development, and international cooperation to preserve collections in the

developing world. Engaging all perspectives on this debate, Who Owns
the Past? challenges all who care about the arts to work together toward
policies that consider traditional American interests in securing cultural
resources and respect international concerns over loss of heritage.
Personal Review: Who Owns the Past?: Cultural Policy, Cultural
Property, and the Law
Who Owns the Past is exactly what it purports to be, a compilation of views
written by people with a wealth of knowledge and direct experience in the
intricate world of cultural property preservation. The Review by Amy-D
above is unfortunately an ideological polemic that belongs in a blog, not in
a review. Anyone who wishes to learn about the issue must study and
evaluate the arguments presented by diverse and sometimes conflicting
interests. This book presents a position that is certainly germane to the
discussion and one that any rational thinker will be able to appreciate. It is
insightful, intelligent and surprisingly inexpensive. I highly recommend it.
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