Gary-

Try the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. A few years ago, the Essex
Institute (a county historical agency) joined with the Peabody Museum of
Salem (a maritime museum). It was a fairly big deal for the community and
there was a lot of hoopla about it at the time.

Their address is:

The Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square
Salem, MA 01970
617-745-1876
(This may be not totally accurate, as my AAM directory at home is from 1988!)

In any case, you might talk with Peter Fetchko, who was the director of the
Peabody, and I believe is now the Chief Curator.

Also, the Peabody had an earlier merger many years ago with the Milton
Museum, which was a ceramics museum in Milton, MA. I believe the Milton
Museum closed down and moved lock, stock and barrel to Salem.