This collection of essays brings together six distinguished scholars in American studies; they examine the progress, problems, and potential of material culture research in America. From an interdisciplinary perspective--representing cultural geography, vernacular architecture, American studies, history of technology, deocrative arts, museum studies, and folklore--thse respected authorities survey the major material culture research and assess the most creative and innovative contemporary research.

Thomas J. Schlereth's introductory chapter critically analyzes the value of material culture as a means of studying history through object rather than written documents. He concentrate on both the worth and the difficulties of "above-ground archaeology" as a historical research method. And the following chapters discuss the fields and subfields within material culture, summarize the present scholarly trends, and include current bibliographic information useful to a wide range of scholars.