Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Art. Objects. Museums. Ideas. Questions. What happens when you put things on display and invite people in to look? Have you ever seen art on display and wondered, “Why’d they put that in a museum?” Museum curator Sarah Lees and author Beth Bacon start each conversation with one item, in one specific museum. We explore the object, its history, and the cultural ideas surrounding it. In the end, that object takes on new meaning as listeners discover the fascinating reasons it ended up in a museum.
Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Lusha Nelson: Photographs of Jesse Owens, Katherine Hepburn, and more
In this episode of “Why Did They Put That in a Museum?” hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees discuss the photographs of a little known photographer, Lusha Nelson. Nelson’s photos were found in a yard sale. Why’d they put them in a museum? These were not just any old thrifted finds. First, they are stunningly beautiful. Plus, Nelson's photographs include portraits of icons and luminaries like Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn. The shading and compositions are rich and evocative. Who is Lusha Nelson? He emigrated from Latvia to New York in the 1920’s. He's a self-taught photography who, during the depression, took photos for Condé Nast (yes Condé Nast was an actual person). Nelson's life and career were cut short due to his early death in 1938. Then his works were almost lost to time. Sarah shares a personal connection to this project, recounting that, when she worked at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, someone contacted the museum and offered some prints she and her husband had found in a yard sale many years earlier. Usually, curators politely decline this kind of request. But Sarah and her colleagues took a look and found a treasure trove of stunning portraits and street scenes. Sarah talks about organizing the exhibition of Lusha Nelson’s art in 2017 and the role of museums in sharing work that’s spectacular enough to be preserved and shared with the public.
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:23 Meet Lusha Nelson the photographer
00:32 The Discovery of Lusha Nelson's Work
02:19 Iconic Photographs: Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn
03:39 The Significance of Nelson's Work
08:23 Sarah’s Personal Connection and Rediscovery of Nelson
12:02 Lusha Nelson's Life and Career
17:01 Street Photography and Lesser-Known Works
20:46 Legacy and Preservation
27:58 Conclusion
To look at Nelson's art, visit:
https://philbrook.org/exhibitions/lusha-nelson-found/
https://www.artnet.com/artists/lusha-nelson/
To reach out to the podcasters, visit:
https://whydtheyputthatinamuseum.com/
Send us a text with ideas for new episodes or just let us know what you think.
© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.
