*********Forwarded Message Follows ***************************************** Dear Stacey -- While this is only one kind of museum (albiet the largest segment of the museum population in America in number), women were very instrumental in the historic house museum movement of this century. While some poke fun at "little old ladies in tennis shoes", and while the women who pioneered this movement were admittedly from a very narrow segment of the population socio-economically and ethnically, the Mount Vernon Ladies Assoc. began a system of acquiring funds to purchase historic sites and open them for public benefit that accounts for the single largest catagory in museums overall today and certainly the largest expansion in museum type in the last 100 years. The historic house museum philosophy has progressed far beyond the shrine mentality that initiated many of these projects, but there is no doubt that these women's efforts were pivotal in shaping the historic preservation and house museum movement. For more information I would suggest contacting Mount Vernon and The National Trust for Historic Preservation (202) 673-5000. Good luck. Michelle L. Craig Traveling Psychology Exhibition [log in to unmask] *********End of Forwarded Message********************************************