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Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley records

Notifications

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
2083
Repository:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Extent:
12.3 linear feet (; 31 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley records (Collection 2083), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Date:
1939-1998 (bulk) and 1939-2004, undated (inclusive)
Creator:
Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
Abstract:
The Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley is a regional association of museums founded in 1939 in order to promote Philadelphia museums and tourism. In addition to supporting its member institutions and their collections, the council has served as a resource and networking organization for museum professionals and as a forum to present issues of public interest. It has been especially active in promoting school-museum cooperation and the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage through collection care seminars and disaster preparedness. It has served on four occasions as host to the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums. The collection consists of 12.3 linear feet of textual and graphic documentation produced by or related to the council from 1939 to 2004, including administrative, financial and committee records, as well as documentation of various projects and affiliations with other cultural organizations in the Philadelphia region.

The Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley is the oldest and one of the largest regional associations of museums in the United States. The council was formed in 1939 by a group of thirteen institutions meeting to discuss a cooperative plan to promote Philadelphia museums and tourism in conjunction with the New York World’s Fair, which was held that year. It was to be composed of “those cultural and scientific institutions within the City of Philadelphia that have for the general public exhibits of permanent and cultural interest. It will serve its members as a medium through which their mutual interests may be unified and will further serve to bring to the attention of the world at large the invaluable resources that its members possess.” The Philadelphia Council of Museums, as it was first known, appointed an executive committee with the responsibility of producing and distributing a pamphlet describing museums in the city.

The council was active in promoting local institutions and their collections through public relations and outreach, notably through museum education partnerships with schools, and through the early use of radio and television, as well as the publication of directories relating to member activities. It promoted the preservation and storage of museum collections during World War II, and was an early advocate of conservation, collection care training, and disaster preparedness for member and affiliated institutions. Over time, the council’s mission became more inclusive and focused on the networking opportunities of museum professionals. Articles of Incorporation (1975) stated that the purpose of the council was to promote “communication between its member institutions; to act as a collective voice on matters affecting museums; to provide counseling service to museums and other educational institutions, and to individual persons contemplating museum careers; and to provide a forum for confraternity…” In this respect, the Council has recognized the accomplishments of individuals and organizations by the presentation of its annual Museum Service Award. The Council has also supported an ongoing discussion of issues facing museums in the areas of inheritance law, non-profit status, and the responsibility of museums to protect cultural heritage.

The council has continued to promote the resources and collections of museums and related cultural institutions to educators through the publication of school-related directories such as “Key to Discovery,” and its biennial seminar and guide, “Beyond the Blackboard.” It has mounted a series of public awareness campaigns through city-wide promotional efforts such as “Warm-Up to Museums.” The Council was host to the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums in 1951, 1965, 1982, and 1995. During its 50th anniversary celebration in 1989, the council, now the Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, boasted sixty-eight member institutions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Current information concerning the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia, as it is known today, can be found at http://philadelphiamuseumcouncil.com/

The records of the Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley consist of 12.3 linear feet of textual and graphic documents produced by or related to the council from 1939 to 2004 (bulk date to 1998). The collection is divided into four series: Series 1. Administrative, including meeting notes, correspondence, executive files and related subjects dealing with the administration and operation of the council; Series 2. Financial, containing records related to budgets, income and expenses, and financial accounts; Series 3. Committees, comprising records of the larger standing committees and also subject files related to these committees; and Series 4. Projects and Affiliations, containing documentation of projects undertaken by the council as a whole, or in cooperation with outside institutions.

The individual files retain the original content and arrangement maintained by the council officer or committee responsible for the file, with only minor excisions for duplication and sometimes reordering of documents in chronological order. Some duplication of subject matter will necessarily be found throughout the collection. Researchers should note that even where there are dedicated files for specific topics or projects, related material can usually be found in other files, especially files related to correspondence, meeting minutes, and general executive files. The best introduction to any council project can often be found in the business and executive meeting minutes covering the period directly preceding and during the project.

Council files from 1939-1976 tend to consist mainly of documents determined to be of permanent value such as meeting minutes, final reports, official correspondence. Files from 1977-1990 are more likely to contain, in addition, planning and meeting notes, and various kinds of extraneous material gathered because of its relation to a topic or project, often undated. Files after 1990 begin to show significant gaps in the official record. Names of committees and other entities within the council have changed frequently from 1939-2004. For labeling purposes, the most common names in use during the last years of bulk records for the collection have been used.

Gift of Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, 1981-1983, 1992, 2010, 2014.

Accession numbers A1992.15, 2010.029, and 2014.046.

The original processed records of the Museum Council of Philadelphia consisted of about 16 boxes (6.4 linear feet) of administrative, financial, committee and program documents from 1939 through 1976. In 2014 additions to this collection of five Hollinger boxes (6 linear feet) of new documents as well as two volumes, were added to the collection and minimally processed. One of the boxes contained almost entirely records of the early Council from about 1939 to 1945; the rest covered the period from 1976 to 2004. In 2016 the 2014 additions were incorporated into the original collection and this collection was organized into four series. The volumes were disbound and incorporated into the text files. For the most part, the filing scheme of the original collection was maintained when the additions were added. Two professional-grade videotapes from the Warm-Up to Museums campaign, Projects and affiliations series, are closed to researchers until they can be reformatted.

People
Organization
Subject

Publisher
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Arek Torosian and James R. DeWalt
Finding Aid Date
; 2012, 2016
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Collection Inventory

Scope and content note

The Administrative series contains meeting minutes, correspondence, executive files of council officers, and various other documents related to council organization and operations. Meeting minutes from 1939 to 1976 are essentially business meeting minutes, with occasional insertions related to a meeting topic or speaker. Beginning in 1973, minutes of the executive committee are interfiled. From 1976 there are separate files for business and executive minutes. The executive committee was variously known as the executive board and the board of directors. Minutes followed a calendar year until about 1974, thereafter a fiscal year, July to June. In later years the June business meeting was known as the annual meeting, but this meeting differed from the others only in that an effort was made to have all members present, a sort of annual report or annual message was delivered by the president, and an unusual speaker or venue was chosen. Meeting locations were shared among council members. The annual report or message is usually not present in full text. What appears in this series as annual reports, 1979-1985, was a brief attempt to offer promotional and informational published reports. Later meeting minutes tend to contain more supplemental material. There are working files in preparation for meetings, preliminary notes and drafts of minutes, and additional documents relating to the meeting.

Correspondence files from 1939 to 1976 include most of the council’s executive correspondence. After this date correspondence tends to be distributed throughout the collection. Executive files, starting in 1980, contain correspondence and other documents from the files of council officers, secretaries and presidents. The content of these files overlaps significantly with other files in the collection dedicated to various committees and projects. The series also contains files dealing with council history, by-laws, organization, planning, legal matters, and samples of graphics and stationery.

Meeting minutes, 1939-1976.
Box 1 Folder 1-46
Business meeting minutes, 1976-1986.
Box 2 Folder 1-13
Business meeting minutes, 1986-2001, circa 2003.
Box 3 Folder 1-14
Executive board minutes, 1976-1989.
Box 4 Folder 1-14
Executive board minutes, 1989-1995, 1998.
Box 5 Folder 1-12
Executive board minutes, unidentified notes, circa 1988-1994.
Box 5 Folder 13
Correspondence, 1939-1955.
Box 6 Folder 1-20
Correspondence, 1956-1964.
Box 7 Folder 1-35
Correspondence, 1965-1985, 1987.
Box 8 Folder 1-37
Executive files - Secretary Wint, President Bolan, 1980-circa 1982, undated.
Box 9 Folder 1
Executive files - President Dyson, 1983-1985.
Box 9 Folder 2-3
Executive files - Secretary Worden, 1984-1986.
Box 9 Folder 4
Executive files - Secretary Diethorn, 1991-1992, undated.
Box 9 Folder 5
Executive files - President Carter, 1991-1993, undated.
Box 9 Folder 6
Executive files - President Esler, 1993-1994, undated.
Box 9 Folder 7
Executive files - Secretary Diethorn, 1993-1994, undated.
Box 9 Folder 8
Executive files - President Esler - Advocacy, 1993-1995, undated.
Box 9 Folder 9
Executive files - President Esler, 1994-1995, undated.
Box 10 Folder 1
Executive files - President Esler - Letters of support, 1995.
Box 10 Folder 2
Executive files - President Diethorn, 1995-1999, undated.
Box 10 Folder 3-5
Annual reports, 1979-1985.
Box 10 Folder 6
Annual report working file, 1989-1992, 1996, undated.
Box 10 Folder 7-8
By-Laws, 1975, 1976, 1984, 1993, undated.
Box 10 Folder 9
Constitution, articles of incorporation and related documents, circa 1939, 1955, 1962, 1975, 2000, undated.
Box 11 Folder 1
Administrative and program records binder (disbound), compiled circa 1951-1960.
Box 11 Folder 2
Museum Council history, 1974.
Box 11 Folder 3-4
Duties of officers, 1978, undated.
Box 11 Folder 5
Election of officers, 1983.
Box 11 Folder 6
Long-range plan, 1984.
Box 11 Folder 7
Insurance, 1986-1987.
Box 11 Folder 8
Non-profit status and taxes - Pennsylvania Senate Bill 877, 1990, 1993-1994.
Box 11 Folder 9
Non-profit status and taxes - Responding to a Property Tax Challenge, 1994.
Box 11 Folder 10
Graphics and stationery, 1944, circa 1960.
Box 11 Folder 11
Graphics and stationery, circa 1981-1982.
Box 11 Folder 12
Graphics and stationery, 1986-circa 1988.
Box 11 Folder 13
Graphics and stationery, circa 1989.
Box 11 Folder 14

Scope and content note

The Financial series contains documents relating to business records of the council: budgets, checking and savings account records, receipts, disbursement vouchers. Starting about 1980, the minutes of the executive board begin to include periodic financial reports to officers, but this is not consistent. Financial reports include both internal reports and audits by outside accountants. Some of the files in this series relate to specific programs and projects of the council and its committees; at other times these files are found with documents relating to the project. The decision of where to place these files was determined by their location in the original collection. Researchers should look in both the Financial series and the Committee and Projects series for these records.

Treasurer's file, 1939-1942, 1944-1947.
Box 12 Folder 1-2
Treasurer's reports and financial statements, 1949-1971.
Box 12 Folder 3
Account and checkbooks, 1952-1957.
Box 12 Folder 4
Receipts, statements and invoices, 1947-1966, 1970-1975, undated.
Box 12 Folder 5-6
Bank statements, 1954-1958.
Box 12 Folder 7-11
Bank statements, 1970-1977.
Box 12 Folder 12-16
Bank statements, 1978-1979.
Box 13 Folder 1
Receipts and related, 1976-1978.
Box 13 Folder 2-3
Treasurer's file, 1975-1980, undated.
Box 13 Folder 4
PAFA cancelled meeting - Cash return and correspondence, 1978.
Box 13 Folder 5
Checking account, 1978-1983.
Box 13 Folder 6
Checking account, alternate, 1980-1981.
Box 13 Folder 7
Savings account, 1979-1980.
Box 13 Folder 8
Bills due/paid, 1978-1981.
Box 13 Folder 9
Museum Council projects, matching funds, 1980-1981.
Box 13 Folder 10
Financial reports and statements, 1980-1982.
Box 13 Folder 11
Financial reports, accountant, 1979-1982.
Box 13 Folder 12
Key to Discovery records, 1980-1981, undated.
Box 14 Folder 1
Dues correspondence, 1980-1982.
Box 14 Folder 2
American Association of Museums annual meeting 1982 - Financial statements and budgets, 1981-1982, undated.
Box 14 Folder 3
Bills paid/receipts/invoices, 1981-1983.
Box 14 Folder 4-5
Bills paid/outstanding, 1982.
Box 14 Folder 6
Expense estimates, 1981-1983.
Box 14 Folder 7
Provident checking account, 1982.
Box 14 Folder 8
Girard checking account, 1981-1983.
Box 14 Folder 9
Girard savings account, 1981-1983.
Box 14 Folder 10
Delaware Cash Reserve account, 1982-1983.
Box 14 Folder 11
Bills paid/receipts, 1983-1984, undated.
Box 15 Folder 1
Financial correspondence, 1983-1985.
Box 15 Folder 2
Financial reports, accountant, 1983-1985.
Box 15 Folder 3
Reports and budgets, 1983-1989.
Box 15 Folder 4
Disbursement vouchers, 1987-1989.
Box 15 Folder 5
Cash receipts and disbursement books, 1987-1988.
Box 15 Folder 6
Federal tax return, 1990.
Box 15 Folder 7
What Every Charity Should Know about the New Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 8
Invoices/checks/receipts, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 9
Disbursement vouchers, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 10
Financial statements and report, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 11
Disbursement vouchers, consultant, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 12
Disbursement vouchers, public awareness, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 13
Disbursement vouchers, travel, 1991.
Box 15 Folder 14
Disbursement vouchers, salary, 1991-1992.
Box 15 Folder 15
Disbursement vouchers, material/supplies, 1991-1992.
Box 15 Folder 16
Disbursement vouchers, services, 1991-1992.
Box 15 Folder 17
Collection Care Training Program, 1991-1992.
Box 15 Folder 18
Financial reports, accountant, 1993-1995.
Box 15 Folder 19

Scope and content note

The Museum Council supported a number of both standing and ad hoc committees throughout its history, with frequent changes in name and responsibility. For purposes of organization, this series reflects the major standing committees as they existed in the 1990s: membership, public relations, program, educators, and curators and registrars, with some brief files representing other committees following these. These files contain not only documentation related to the committee itself, but also the work of the council in these areas, whether or not it can be assigned to any specific committee. There were several committees, such as nominating, that have little or no documentation in the collection despite early and frequent mention in council literature. The executive board was originally designated the executive committee; its files are located in the Administrative series.

The membership committee files begin in 1939, even though a formal committee did not exist until 1942. Most of the documentation concerning early membership can be found in the Administrative series correspondence and meeting minutes files. This section contains material related to membership application, council directories, mailing lists, dues, and change of address, as well as specific committee minutes and business. The council directories are the easiest way to determine the officers, members and various committees of the council in any given year. Included under this committee are also files pertaining to council members, both individual and institutional.

The public relations committee files document efforts by the council to promote and publicize the council and its members, including news and press clippings. Much of the work of this committee was related to the publication of a calendar of events or a special event calendar, as well as various efforts to promote member institutions. These projects were undertaken in the early years of the council by various ad hoc committees with titles such as publicity, or calendar of events.

The program committee was devoted almost exclusively to securing speakers and related programs to be presented at the monthly business meeting. Files frequently contain personal background information on speakers, as well as transcripts of the presentation.

The educators committee, sometimes referred to as the education committee, was concerned with museum-school engagement and promotion of museum resources to educators. Over the years the committee oversaw the production and publication of several guides to museum collections for educators, including “Educators Guide to Museum Resources in the Delaware Valley,” “Key to Discovery,” and “Beyond the Blackboard,” which included a biennial seminar.

The curators and registrars committee worked in several capacities to promote collection care and conservation through seminars and other workshops. Its most important accomplishment was the publication of “Disaster Preparedness: A Resource Guide and Manual” in 1989 and 1994.

Membership - Miscellaneous, circa 1939-1945, undated.
Box 16 Folder 1
Membership - Membership lists, 1941-1970, 1972-1976, undated.
Box 16 Folder 2-5
Membership - Dues, 1970-1972.
Box 16 Folder 6
Membership - Board and membership lists, 1976-1980, undated.
Box 16 Folder 7
Membership - Tributes to members, 1964-1972, 1983, undated.
Box 16 Folder 8
Membership - Personal vitae, 1973-1976, undated.
Box 16 Folder 9
Membership - Correspondence, 1977-1979.
Box 16 Folder 10-11
Membership - Minutes and reports, 1977-1979, undated.
Box 16 Folder 12
Membership - Application draft, circa 1979.
Box 16 Folder 13
Membership - Institutional applications, 1978-1983.
Box 16 Folder 14
Membership - Rejected applications, 1978-1982.
Box 16 Folder 15
Membership - Meeting minutes and memoranda, 1979-1981, undated.
Box 17 Folder 1
Membership - Associate representative elections and correspondence, 1979-1983.
Box 17 Folder 2
Membership - Update and changes, 1980-1981, undated.
Box 17 Folder 3
Membership - Directories, 1980-1981.
Box 17 Folder 4
Membership - Address labels, 1981, undated.
Box 17 Folder 5
Membership - Update questionnaire, 1981, undated.
Box 17 Folder 6
Membership - Roster of museums, 1981-1982, undated.
Box 17 Folder 7
Membership - Address changes, 1981-1982.
Box 17 Folder 8
Membership - Representative changes and memoranda, 1981-1983, undated.
Box 17 Folder 9
Membership - Directory and roster of museums, 1982-1983.
Box 18 Folder 1
Membership - Address changes, 1982-1983.
Box 18 Folder 2
Membership - Directories, 1983-1986.
Box 18 Folder 3
Membership - Mailing list changes, 1983-1989.
Box 18 Folder 4
Membership - Mailing lists, 1983-1987, undated.
Box 18 Folder 5
Membership - Associate and honorary memberships accepted, 1987-1993.
Box 18 Folder 6
Membership - Applications - Awbury Arboretum, 1982, 1988-1989, undated.
Box 18 Folder 7
Membership - Applications - Daniel Boone Homestead, 1991-1992, undated.
Box 18 Folder 8
Membership - Applications - Carpenters' Hall, 1984, 1987, undated.
Box 18 Folder 9
Membership - Applications - Elfreth's Alley Association, 1985, 1988-1989, undated.
Box 18 Folder 10
Membership - Applications - The Highlands Historical Society, 1988, undated.
Box 18 Folder 11
Membership - Applications - Hope Lodge, 1987, undated.
Box 18 Folder 12
Membership - Applications - Institute of Contemporary Art, 1983-1984, 1987, undated.
Box 18 Folder 13
Membership - Applications - Mennonite Heritage Center, 1986-1988, undated.
Box 18 Folder 14
Membership - Applications - James A. Michener Arts Center, 1989-1990, undated.
Box 18 Folder 15
Membership - Applications - Pennypacker Mills, 1982, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 19 Folder 1
Membership - Applications - Walt Whitman Association, 1987, undated.
Box 19 Folder 2
Membership - Applications - Wharton Esherick Museum, 1984, 1988, 1990, undated.
Box 19 Folder 3
Membership - Information for applicants, 1987-1988, 1997, undated.
Box 19 Folder 4
Membership - Museum Service Award - Martha Gable, 1986-1987, undated.
Box 19 Folder 5
Membership - Directories, 1987-1989, 1991-1993.
Box 19 Folder 6
Membership - Member institution photographs, 1964, circa 1987-1990.
Box 19 Folder 7
Membership - Proposed dues structure, 1988.
Box 19 Folder 8
Membership - Dues invoices, 1991-1995.
Box 19 Folder 9-12
Membership - Correspondence, 1995-1998, undated.
Box 19 Folder 13
Membership - Duties of membership chair, 1988, 1994.
Box 19 Folder 14
Membership - Associate member applications, 1996.
Box 19 Folder 15
Membership - Directories, 1995-1996, 1997, 1999-2000.
Box 20 Folder 1
Membership - Gretchen Worden obituaries, 2004.
Box 20 Folder 2
Membership - Member institution brochures and guides, 1939-circa 1990.
Box 20 Folder 3-4
Public Relations - Publicity, circa 1939-1940.
Box 20 Folder 5
Public Relations - War related activity, 1943, undated.
Box 20 Folder 6
Public Relations - Newspaper clippings, 1947-1975.
Box 20 Folder 7
Public Relations - Museum leaflet, 1950-circa 1957.
Box 20 Folder 8
Public Relations - Museum brochure, correspondence, 1960-1963.
Box 20 Folder 9
Public Relations - Museum brochure, 1961, undated.
Box 20 Folder 10
Public Relations - Calendar of events, correspondence, 1963-1966.
Box 20 Folder 11
Public Relations - Calendar of events, 1963-1965, undated.
Box 20 Folder 12-13
Public Relations - Calendar of events, expenses and mailing, 1963-1965.
Box 20 Folder 14
Public Relations - Calendar of events, reports, 1965.
Box 20 Folder 15
Public Relations - Directory of Philadelphia Cultural Organizations, 1975-1976.
Box 20 Folder 16
Public Relations - Promoting Philadelphia's museums, proposals, 1982-1983.
Box 20 Folder 17-18
Public Relations - "Collaborative Ventures" study, 1983, undated.
Box 21 Folder 1
Public Relations - "Collaborative Ventures" final report, 1983.
Box 21 Folder 2
Public Relations - "Museums for a New Century" report, 1984.
Box 21 Folder 3
Public Relations - Meeting minutes, 1984-1985, undated.
Box 21 Folder 4
Public Relations - Meeting minutes and correspondence, 1985-1989, undated.
Box 21 Folder 5-8
Public Relations - Mailing list, 1980, 1988, undated.
Box 21 Folder 9
Public Relations - Member survey, 1988.
Box 21 Folder 10
Public Relations - Special events calendar, correspondence, 1989.
Box 21 Folder 11
Public Relations - Special events calendar, events lists submitted, 1989, undated.
Box 21 Folder 12
Public Relations - Special events calendar, drafts and final, 1989.
Box 21 Folder 13
Public Relations - Correspondence, 1999.
Box 21 Folder 14
Program - Speaker transcripts, 1943, undated.
Box 22 Folder 1
Program - Pennsbury trip, 1946.
Box 22 Folder 2
Program - Speaker transcripts, 1976-1978, undated.
Box 22 Folder 3
Program - Correspondence and survey, 1979-1980.
Box 22 Folder 4
Program - Correspondence, 1980-1984, undated.
Box 22 Folder 5-8
Program - Meeting schedule, 1984-1985.
Box 22 Folder 9
Program - Correspondence, 1985-1987, undated.
Box 22 Folder 10-11
Program - Correspondence, 1992-1993, undated.
Box 22 Folder 12
Program - Program schedules, 1991-1995.
Box 22 Folder 13
Program - Program announcements, 1999, 2001, undated.
Box 22 Folder 14
Educators - Minutes and correspondence, 1978-1980.
Box 23 Folder 1
Educators - "The Educator's Guide to Museum Resources in the Philadelphia Area" proposal.
Box 23 Folder 2
Educators - "The Educator's Guide to Museum Resources in the Philadelphia Area" correspondence, 1978-1979.
Box 23 Folder 3
Educators - "The Educator's Guide to Museum Resources in the Philadelphia Area" distribution and publicity, 1977-1978, undated.
Box 23 Folder 4
Educators - "The Educator's Guide to Museum Resources in the Philadelphia Area" distribution requests, 1978-1979, undated.
Box 23 Folder 5
Educators - "The Educator's Guide to Museum Resources in the Philadelphia Area" finances, 1977-1978.
Box 23 Folder 6
Educators - "Key to Discovery" advisory board and planning, 1979-1981, undated.
Box 23 Folder 7
Educators - "Key to Discovery" grant proposal and reports, 1979-1980.
Box 23 Folder 8
Educators - "Key to Discovery" Public Committee for the Humanities and other funding sources, 1979-1981, undated.
Box 23 Folder 9
Educators - "Key to Discovery" mailing lists, 1979-1981, undated.
Box 23 Folder 10
Educators - "Key to Discovery" publication estimate, 1979.
Box 23 Folder 11
Educators - "Key to Discovery" correspondence with Council members, 1980.
Box 23 Folder 12
Educators - "Key to Discovery" publicity and related conference planning, 1980, undated.
Box 23 Folder 13
Educators - "Key to Discovery" thank-you letters, 1981, undated.
Box 23 Folder 14
Educators - "Key to Discovery" form letters, 1980-1981.
Box 23 Folder 15
Educators - "Key to Discovery" evaluation and press release form letters, 1981.
Box 23 Folder 16
Educators - "Key to Discovery" press releases, undated.
Box 23 Folder 17
Educators - "Key to Discovery" publicity planning, 1981, undated.
Box 23 Folder 18
Educators - "Key to Discovery" publication mock-up, circa 1980.
Box 23 Folder 19
Educators - "Museum Education Resource Book", 1986, undated.
Box 24 Folder 1
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" conference and planning, 1986, undated.
Box 24 Folder 2
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" publications, 1986, 1988.
Box 24 Folder 3
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" 1988 conference, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 24 Folder 4
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" 1988 conference workshop applications, 1988, undated.
Box 24 Folder 5
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" 1988 conference evaluations, undated.
Box 24 Folder 6
Educators - "Beyond the Blackboard" orders, 1988-1993, undated.
Box 24 Folder 7
Educators - Budget information, 1987-1994.
Box 24 Folder 8
Educators - Meetings and programs, 1987-1991, undated.
Box 24 Folder 9
Educators - Outreach activities, 1987-1989.
Box 24 Folder 10
Educators - Philadelphia Daily News Newspaper in Education Program, 1988, undated.
Box 24 Folder 11
Educators - Administrative, 1988, 1990, undated.
Box 25 Folder 1
Educators - Mailing lists, circa 1988.
Box 25 Folder 2
Educators - Meetings and programs, 1992-1994, 1997, undated.
Box 25 Folder 3
Educators - "Excellence and Equity" report, 1992, undated.
Box 25 Folder 4
Curators and Registrars - Meetings, 1981-1992, 1999, undated.
Box 25 Folder 5
Curators and Registrars - Administrative, 1990, undated.
Box 25 Folder 6
Curators and Registrars - Disaster planning manual, 1982-1983.
Box 25 Folder 7
Curators and Registrars - Disaster preparedness manual - Fels Fund grant, 1988-1990, undated.
Box 25 Folder 8
Curators and Registrars - "Disaster Preparedness: A Resource Guide and Manual", 1989.
Box 25 Folder 9
Curators and Registrars - Disaster preparedness manual, publication and distribution, 1990-1991, undated.
Box 25 Folder 10
Curators and Registrars - Disaster preparedness manual, second edition planning, 1992-1994.
Box 25 Folder 11
Curators and Registrars - Disaster prepardness manual, second edition survey questionnaire, 1993.
Box 25 Folder 12
Curators and Registrars - Disaster Preparedness manual, second edition, other organization manuals, 1992-1993, undated.
Box 25 Folder 13
Curators and Registrars - Disaster preparedness, second edition notes and drafts, undated.
Box 25 Folder 14
Curators and Registrars - "Disaster Preparedness: A Resource Guide and Manual" Second Edition, 1994.
Box 25 Folder 15
Curators and Registrars - Disaster preparedness manual, second edition publication and distribution, 1994-1998, undated.
Box 25 Folder 16
Curators and Registrars - Conservation Center disaster preparedness grant proposal and workshop, 1993-1996.
Box 25 Folder 17
Curators and Registrars - Collection Care Training Program, 1988-1993.
Box 26 Folder 1
Curators and Registrars - Collection Care Training Program, draft proposal, 1990.
Box 26 Folder 2
Curators and Registrars - Collection Care Training Program, program materials, 1990-1991, undated.
Box 26 Folder 3
Curators and Registrars - Collections Management Workshop, 1991.
Box 26 Folder 4
Curators and Registrars - Conservator/Collection Care Network, 1994, undated.
Box 26 Folder 5
School Museum Relations Committee, 1947.
Box 26 Folder 6
Ad Hoc Committee on Cultural Institutions, 1969-1970, undated.
Box 26 Folder 7
Long-Range Planning Committee, 1983-1984, undated.
Box 26 Folder 8
Safety and Security Committee, 1995.
Box 26 Folder 9

Scope and content note

The Projects and affiliations series contains files related to projects that the Museum Council undertook as a whole (not restricted to one individual or committee), or that relate to joint projects with other organizations. Major council projects included International Museum Week (1955-1956), the Warm-Up to Museums promotional campaign (1986-1988), and the public forum “Earning Their Keep: Alternative Uses for Museum Collections” (1995). Significant collaborations and affiliations included support for the Philadelphia Council on Tourism (1961-1969), and the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. The council also hosted the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums (now American Alliance of Museums) on four occasions. The 1982 annual meeting is particularly well documented. The series includes a professional grade videotape public service announcement related to the Warm-Up to Museums campaign.

New York World's Fair, 1939, undated.
Box 26 Folder 10
The Junto: Philadelphia's Adult School, 1941, undated.
Box 26 Folder 11
War and post-war planning, 1942, 1944, undated.
Box 26 Folder 12
Philadelphia tourism guides, 1947, undated.
Box 26 Folder 13
International Museum Week 1956 - Correspondence, 1956.
Box 26 Folder 14-19
International Museum Week 1956 - Bills paid, 1956.
Box 26 Folder 20
International Museum Week 1956 - Poster, 1956, undated.
Box 26 Folder 21
International Museum Week 1957 - Publicity, 1957.
Box 26 Folder 22
International Museum Week 1957 - Correspondence and poll, 1956-1957.
Box 26 Folder 23
International Museum Week 1956/1957 - Photographs, 1956-1957.
Box 26 Folder 24
People-to-People Program, 1956-1957.
Box 26 Folder 25
Delaware Valley Industrial Editors, 1957-1958.
Box 26 Folder 26
"The World of Books" poster, circa 1957.
Box 26 Folder 27
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - Minutes, 1961.
Box 27 Folder 1
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - News releases, 1961.
Box 27 Folder 2
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - Correspondence, 1961-1962.
Box 27 Folder 3
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - Minutes, 1968-1969.
Box 27 Folder 4-5
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - Reports and rules, 1967-1969.
Box 27 Folder 6
Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism - Committee reports, 1968-1969.
Box 27 Folder 7
Philadelphia tourism brochures, 1958, 1964, undated.
Box 27 Folder 8
Philadelphia Convention and Tourist Bureau - Annual report, 1968.
Box 27 Folder 9
Tourism outside of Philadelphia, 1956, 1961-1962, 1975, undated.
Box 27 Folder 10
American Association of Museums 1965 annual meeting, 1964-1965.
Box 27 Folder 11
Philadelphia 1976 Bicentennial - Planning, 1966-1967.
Box 27 Folder 12
Philadelphia Festival of 1976 - Planning report, 1975.
Box 27 Folder 13
American Studies Association proposal, circa 1975.
Box 27 Folder 14
Philadelphia Area Cultural Consortium, 1975-1978, 1980, undated.
Box 27 Folder 15
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Planning, 1976, 1978.
Box 27 Folder 16
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Executive Planning Committee minutes, 1980-1982, undated.
Box 27 Folder 17
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Grant support, 1982.
Box 27 Folder 18
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Program binder, 1981-1982.
Box 27 Folder 19
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Hospitality and Information Committee report, 1981-1982.
Box 27 Folder 20
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Information book, 1982, undated.
Box 28 Folder 1-3
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Final report, 1982.
Box 28 Folder 4
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Individual reports and budget, 1982, undated.
Box 28 Folder 5
American Association of Museums 1982 annual meeting - Letters of congratulation, thank-you, 1982.
Box 28 Folder 6
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance - Cable television proposal, 1982.
Box 28 Folder 7
The Children's Repertory Company, Inc. - Museum outreach play, 1983.
Box 28 Folder 8
Museum travel symposium, 1983.
Box 28 Folder 9
Museum Marketplace II, 1983, undated.
Box 28 Folder 10
Fire prevention workshop, 1984-1985.
Box 28 Folder 11
Women for Greater Philadelphia - "Museum Showcase", 1981-1985.
Box 29 Folder 1
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Planning and participation, 1985-1986, undated.
Box 29 Folder 2
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Publicity, 1985-1986, undated.
Box 29 Folder 3
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Flyer and poster, 1985, undated.
Box 29 Folder 4
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Public service announcement, 1985.
Box 29 Folder 5
Additional folder information

Materials in this folder refer to a televised public service announcement made by WPHL Productions. Videotape of the PSA is held in Box 31 of this collection.

Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Finances, 1985-1986.
Box 29 Folder 6
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Warm-Up Willie mascot, 1985-1987, undated.
Box 29 Folder 7
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Kick-off event, 1985-1986, undated.
Box 29 Folder 8
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Critique and evaluation, 1986, undated.
Box 29 Folder 9
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Planning and publicity, 1986-1987, undated.
Box 29 Folder 10
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Finances, 1986-1987.
Box 29 Folder 11
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Flyer/poster, 1986, undated.
Box 29 Folder 12
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Bus shelter posters, 1986-1987.
Box 29 Folder 13
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Publicity photographs, Philadelphia Zoo, circa December 1986.
Box 29 Folder 14
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Publicity photographs, Franklin Institute, circa January 1987.
Box 29 Folder 15
Warm-Up to Museums 1987 - Report, 1987.
Box 29 Folder 16
Warm-Up to Museums 1988 - Planning and pubicity, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 29 Folder 17
Warm-Up to Museums 1988 - Press releases, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 29 Folder 18
Warm-Up to Museums 1988 - Kick-off party photographs, Philadelphia Zoo, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 29 Folder 19
Warm-Up to Museums 1988 - Press clippings, 1987-1988, undated.
Box 30 Folder 1
Warm-Up to Museums 1988 - Flyers and graphics, 1988, undated.
Box 30 Folder 2
Mayor's Cultural Advisory Council, circa 1987-1988.
Box 30 Folder 3
"The World at your Doorstep" essay contest, 1987-1989.
Box 30 Folder 4
50th anniversary celebration and essay contest winners, 1988-1989, undated.
Box 30 Folder 5
American Assocition of Museums publications competition, 1989, undated.
Box 30 Folder 6
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, 1989, undated.
Box 30 Folder 7
American Association of Museums 1995 annual meeting - Planning, 1991-1994, undated.
Box 30 Folder 8
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - Correspondence, 1995.
Box 30 Folder 9
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - News articles and editorials, 1995.
Box 30 Folder 10
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - Media relations, J.H. Communications, 1994-1995.
Box 30 Folder 11
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - Planning notes, 1995, undated.
Box 30 Folder 12
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - Flyer, 1995, undated.
Box 30 Folder 13
"Earning Their Keep" public forum - Reservation forms, 1995.
Box 30 Folder 14
Warm-Up to Museums 1986 - Public service announcement videotape.
Box 31
Additional item information

Box 31 contains two professional grade (1" C format) public service announcement videotapes made at the Balch Institute on December 16, 1985 by WPHL Productions for the Warm-Up to Museums project. Additional information concerning these PSA's is contained in Box 29, Folder 5 of this collection. These videotapes are closed to researchers until they can be reformatted.

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