Hi !

        I am interested in commenting on historic house museums, their genesis,
fiscal support and longevity in the community.  I would be pleased to be
interviewed on this subject as my life's career is in this field.  I
spent a bit of time in the late 80's and early 90's in consciousness
raising for house museums and worked with the AAM and historic house
museum staff affiliated with AAM to establish the Professional  Interest
Council for Historic Houses. This was done in the hope that the issues
and concerns of historic houses would receive a national sounding board
and that more resources would be available to house museums.
        These museums have so much to offer in defining our culture on an
intimate level-- the places where people live.
        House museums have the same problems troubles as larger museums except
that the staff is smaller and the budget is smaller.  However, the
problems only get bigger if they cannot be addressed because of
deficiencies.
        So many of the problems suffered at house museums could be allieviated
if  more time was spent preparing board members in their service to these
institutions.  If this need to educate and train board members were to
become a major point of discussion within the museum community, much of
the time wasted in petty issues and misunderstanding could be saved.
Museums boards need to bring on individuals who have a proven
understanding of their responsibilities and a committment to the
insitition.

Vicki