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Michigan Museum Association records

 Collection
Identifier: 018.MMA

Scope and Contents

The records in this collection are from the administrate offices of the Michigan Museum Association (MMA) and include materials dating mostly from 1997-2007, with copies of by-laws and job description documents created in 1979, 1980, and 1982. The collection contains subject files kept by members of the MMA executive team in the daily operations of the organization. There are also copies of major presentations given and grant applications completed, along with the subsequent documentation required to fulfill the grant requirements. Members of the executive team and individuals who were in communication with team members, are documented in correspondences throughout the collection. There are lists of MMA members, both individual and organizational, as well as program participant lists included in this collection. Programs that provide training for museum professionals in order to help Michigan museums accomplish their missions, as well as strategic multi-organization partnerships to help improve museum attendance and programming are recurring subjects in the collection. The participant manuals for these programs are included in the collection in addition to short publications used to disseminate information for museum practitioners to use with their collections.

Files are arraigned into four series based on the focuses of the organization: Administrative files ; Advocacy; Events; and Grant Administration.

Administrative Files are separated into five subseries by creator or function. They include: Director's Files; Executive Board Files; Administrative Reports and Notices; By-laws, Job Descriptions, and Policies; and Correspondence.

Within the subseries Director's Files, are further divisions for the files kept by Teresa Goforth and LuAnn Kern during their respective tenures as directors of MMA. The subseries of Executive Board files is separated into: meeting minutes (which are further subdivided by date); correspondence; nomination committee files; and rosters. Administrative Reports and Notices, and Correspondence can each be subdivided into date groups. There is only one folder which contains all the By-laws, Job Descriptions, and Policies.

The Advocacy materials relate to the activities of MMA to help the museum community at large. The subseries in this section involve activities that MMA was involved in to help spread knowledge about the museums in Michigan and the museum profession, including: Publications that were created by MMA to help disseminate information to their members as well as to the public about museums and Interagency Cooperation, which is further divided by the organization that MMA was partnering with and then foldered according to the name of the program they were working on together.

The Events series includes the events which were put on by MMA during this period. These events are organized by year from 1992 through 2006. Each year includes materials on the MMA annual conference and when available materials on other MMA events during that year.

Lastly, the Grants series highlights this major operation of the MMA. Materials in this series are is subdivided by the name of the granting organization then further divided by the name of the grant.

This collection contains very limited materials from before 1987. Materials from 1973-1987 relating to the Michigan Museum association can be found within three separate collections (record group numbers: 82-08; 84-47; and 86-29 ) at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing.

Dates

  • Creation: 1979 - 2007
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1997 - 2006

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Founded in 1962, the Michigan Museum Association (MMA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in Michigan. It was formed to help support museums in Michigan by sharing expertise and resources. The main goal of the organization is to help Michigan's museums thrive and continue having a positive impact on their communities. MMA members include professionals, volunteers, and institutions representing every type of museum, including historical sites, nature, science centers, and zoological societies.

MMA offers workshops, facilitates communication, and provides information on topics and issues encountered by museums in order to share knowledge and to increase the prestige and professionalism of the museum field. Michigan Museum Association plans events, including an annual conference, to help improve face-to-face communication and networking among museum professionals. Members participate in advocacy work to improve the financial and legislative situations to allow museums to be sustainable institutions, and strive to create better public perception to help museums be recognized as the invaluable cultural and educational resources they are. As part of the goal to help museums gain the financial strength to provide access to their resources, MMA applies for and distributes grant money from many large granting institutions including Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. These grants are either redistributed to Michigan museums for programming or used to fund community outreach programs that help the entire museum community through staff training or public relations campaigns.

Extent

4.4 Linear Feet (11 archive boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Records from the administrate offices of the Michigan Museum Association (MMA) contains subject files; major presentations given and grant applications completed, along with the subsequent documentation required to fulfill the grant requirements; correspondences; member lists, both individual and organizational; training materials; and short publications used to disseminate information for museum practitioners. The bulk of material in the collection date between 1997-2006. The collection The collection does not include a full run of all executive board meetings, or records prior to 1979.

Related Materials

Other materials from 1973 through 1987, relating to the Michigan Museum Association can be found in three separate collections Record group numbers: 82-08; 84-47; and 86-29 at the Archives of Michigan, located on the second floor of the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing.

Processing Information

Collection arranged and described by Wayne State University Graduate Student, Amy Seipke, 2012.

Title
Michigan Museum Association records
Status
Completed
Author
Amy Seipke
Date
2012 June 18
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Eastern Michigan University Archives Repository

Contact:
Bruce T. Halle Library, Room 310
955 West Circle Drive
Ypsilanti Michigan 48197
734-487-2673