When considering souvenirs, one might view them as mere tokens of personal memories or investments. However, the history of souvenirs is far more complex and intriguing. Professor Maggie Popkin from the Department of Art History and Art has delved into this rich history, earning a $60,000 Public Scholars Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support her work on a book titled, I Came, I Saw, I Collected: A History of the Souvenir, to be published by Reaktion Books. 

This fellowship will enable Popkin to explore the cultural significance of souvenirs from antiquity to the present. She aims to bridge academic insights with public interest, making complex concepts accessible to a broad audience.

We spoke with Popkin to discuss her book, souvenirs and advice for others hoping to secure funding for their research and works.

What is the synopsis of your research for the book?

My book explores the mass-produced souvenirs that surround us. Objects that replicate famous places and events, from Colosseum magnets and Statue of Liberty figurines to Taylor Swift Eras Tour bracelets. It is easy to dismiss these objects as cheap imitations of the places and events they represent. Labels such as “tchotchke” belittle souvenirs’ significance in contrast to what supposedly matters: the “original.” 

Yet souvenirs are neither trivial nor strictly modern. Throughout history, they have shaped perceptions of places, people and events. They are vital to shaping how we come to know our world, its social institutions and our relationships within these structures—processes never more important than in times before mass media and mass literacy, when visual communication was essential. 

Drawing on examples from antiquity to the present, my book investigates how souvenirs construct the cultural meaning of places, events, and people and implicate fundamental questions about replication and authenticity.

What attracted you to the “history of the souvenir” as a topic for a book?

I find myself increasingly captivated by objects that allow us glimpses into the imaginations and aspirations of historical people whom surviving texts often overlook. I first became interested in ancient Roman souvenirs because they offer such wonderful insights into popular culture in the Roman Empire. Often we focus on evidence produced by elite Roman men living in major cities, but souvenirs allow us to explore the experiences and interests of so many other individuals. 

As I wrote my second book, Souvenirs and the Experience of Empire in Ancient Rome (Cambridge University Press, 2022), it became clear to me that while souvenirs function differently in particular times and places, there are also striking similarities between how we use souvenirs today and how people throughout history have used them. Souvenirs are a topic that my family and friends love to discuss with me–everybody has a story they want to share and I see souvenirs as a legitimately interesting academic topic that is refreshingly relatable and engaging for people. 

How will this award assist you in the writing of your book?

The NEH Public Scholars Fellowship will allow me to take 12 months of leave in 2025 to focus on completing the book.

How does the Cleveland Museum of Art impact research at CWRU?

One of the fun things about writing this broad history of the souvenir is that I’ve been able to draw on the amazing collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) beyond my usual areas of Greek and Roman art. From Medieval European pilgrimage souvenirs to early modern Japanese woodblock prints that could act as souvenirs of Edo (modern Tokyo), I’m excited to use objects from the CMA as case studies in my book, and I hope that doing so will highlight, even if indirectly, the extraordinary relationship that exists between the CMA, my department and CWRU.

What advice do you have for faculty peers or students wondering how to seek funding from the NEH or other organizations?

Applying for outside funding can sometimes feel daunting, but drawing on the experience of successful fellowship recipients is a great place to start. I’ve always found it helpful to speak with prior recipients whose interests are close to my own. Often they are very generous about sharing advice and even offering their applications materials as a model. 

There are also so many wonderful organizations that support student research. The Undergraduate Advising Support Office has lots of helpful information about fellowship and grant opportunities. For undergraduates and graduate students interested in seeking outside funding, I really encourage you also to speak to your professors! We want to see you succeed and are very happy to help you find ways to support your scholarly ambitions.