This thesis examines the structural and epistemological limitations of cataloging systems in university museum collections, with particular attention to issues of discoverability, terminology, and data fragmentation. Drawing on personal experience working with the Archaeology and Anthropology Collections at Wesleyan University, it identifies how keyword-dependent metadata and siloed databases constrain access to collections and shape the production of knowledge.

The project combines theoretical analysis with qualitative research and a case study. It situates cataloging within debates in museum studies, critical cataloging, and science and technology studies, and draws on survey and interview data from collections professionals to identify common challenges, including limited interoperability, inconsistent terminology, and restricted search functionality. It then explores an alternative approach through a case study using the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) to model relationships within a subset of African collections.

The findings suggest that current systems are structurally limited in representing complex relationships and evolving interpretations. Ontology-based approaches offer a promising way to improve access and support more flexible, context-rich forms of knowledge production in university museums.

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