Museum Organization & Structure
Lonn,
 
Thanks for the response.
 
> Without a scholarly staff, you may be headed in the direction that guard at the British Museum
> once described to me when he said "Most people thnk that all you need to have a museum is
> a mummy and someone to take the money."
 
That is sure a real perception.  And way too often, it is the Museum of Doors, Windows and Screens that also has a mummy.   It also contains another myth - that the money from the visitors can fund a museum.  I have encountered way too many people involved with small museums that believe a museum is what you see when you walk in the door and make no allowances for storage or work rooms or even administrative offices.
 
Originally I had it as COLLECTION and CURATION SERVICES where the curatorial staff would be located.  Indeed, the Curator would head this division.  Under this division would be all the restoration, conservation, storage, replication, etc of artifacts and historical objects. 
 
One of the reasons for building an organization structure this extensive is to ensure that all tasks and functions needed to run a MUSEUM and a (nonprofit) BUSINESS.  As Yoggi Berra says in one of the  Aflac commercials "If you don't have it, you don't know you need it."   
 
So where do videos, dvds, films, slides, photographs, newspapers and clippings, letters and related things belong?  Under the library's collections or in the main collection of historical objects?  What about works of art? 
 
Kirk
 
 

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lonn Taylor
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 08:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Museum Organization & Structure

Dear Kirk,
 
     In most museums, the functions listed in your question (acquisition, transportation, restoration, replication, maintenance, and exhibition) are to one extent or another the responsibility of the curatorial staff. I notice that your proposed table of organization does not include curators.  Another important function that is not evident in that table is the interpretation of the artifacts in the collection, which is also a curatorial function. I'd suggest amending the Research and Archives service slot to read "Curatorial and Research Services" and make the folks in this division responsible for the scholarly tasks that are, in fact, the reason for the museum's existence. If you intend to have an ongoing restortion program, you probably also need a conservation division, where the experts who will carry this program out will reside. Without a scholarly staff, you may be headed in the direction that guard at the British Museum once described to me when he said "Most people thnk that all you need to have a museum is a mummy and someone to take the money."
 
Lonn Taylor,
Fort Davis, Texas 
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Kirk Ransom
To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 9:06 PM
Subject: Museum Organization & Structure



I am trying to develop an organization structure for an aviation museum.  How are other similar museums organized?.  Please look at the following and tell me if I am on track or way off base. 

In the following scheme, there is an Executive Director overall and a Business Manager over the Business Operation department and a Museum Director over the Museum Operations department. 

I realize that many of the functions shown could and would be done by one staff member (or volunteer) but I want to include all of the functions that would be necessary for effective day-to-day operations of a museum.  This will ensure that functions are not overlooked and allow for smooth growth and development.  I am trying to group similar things together and present a workable span of control for the managers and directors. 

For small museums that feature large objects in their exhibition and collection programs, like trains, ships, or airplanes, which take up the bulk of the effort running the museum, where does the day-today management of the acquisitions, transportation, restoration, replication, maintenance, and even exhibition fall?  Under the Collection Management division or as a separate division under Museum Operations? 

Thanks,

Kirk Ransom
Minnetonka, MN



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