What is Object Biography?

Every object has a history.

Some histories are obvious. Most are lost.

Object biography is the practice of studying an object as if it had a life of its own—where it was made, who owned it, how it was used, how it changed hands, and what stories remain attached to it.

My interest lies in objects that retain some trace of that history. A handwritten name. A photograph. A veteran's account. A receipt. A document. A chain of custody that connects an object to the people who carried, wore, used, or received it.

This site documents those objects and the research surrounding them.