Click "show more" to display all of the (short) readings.

Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum Is Reviewing Its Collection of Human Remains. Here’s Why That Matters for Disability Representation.

By Riva Lehrer from Art in America, June 16, 2023

The Mutter Museum has come up in our discussions a couple of times. People rightfully question the ethics and provenance behind displaying human remains. I thought that people might be interested in the perspective of Riva Lehrer, a renowned artist, disability activist, and writer who was one of my mentors when I was a young artist in Chicago.

In Riva's words, "As the Mütter debates the fate of their holdings, in other quadrants of my community (I am Disabled), complex ideas about the display of nonnormative bodies are emerging. For so long, we’ve been absent from movies, art, and books, save for the occasional ableist trope. We are starting to recognize that this museum is one of the very few places where we actually see ourselves, where we confront our reality and our place in history."

She goes on to discuss harmful and offensive examples of the Mutter's current displays, and ways that they could be improved to provide a more holistic view of people with disabilities as human beings.

UPDATE: The Philadelphia Inquirer just published an article that gives succinct background about the controversy and the Mutter Museum's current response, so I'm adding it to the recommended reading.

Mutter Museum is Changing the Way it Collects and Displays Human Remains

by by Rosa Cartagena for The Philadelphia Inquirer

Published Aug. 20, 2025, 4:08 p.m. ET, audio version included.

2 people who donated parts of their bodies to Philly’s Mütter Museum now want them back

By Alan Yu from WHYY, June 26, 2024

Audio and transcript text provided.

Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned

by Neda Ulaby from NPR's "All Things Considered" August 11, 2006

Audio and transcript text provided.

This article discusses the provenance of the bodies in the Bodyworlds exhibits.

Optional additional references:

It would be unfair to omit the perspectives of the administration of the Mutter Museum, so I will refer you to "Mutter Matters", their FAQ about their review process and professional standards.

This article provides background for the controversy, but I realize not everyone has a NYT subscription.

A Museum of 'Electrifying Frankness' Weighs Dialing It Down

by Franz Lidz from The New York Times, August 13, 2023

Books on Related Topics:

If you're interested in longer reads, I highly recommend Riva Lehrer's memoir Golem Girl and Christin O'Keefe Aptowicz's book Dr. Mütter’s Marvels; A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine. I've requested for Brickbat Books to order a couple of copies of them.