Fred, I think your perceptions of academic museums are basically on target, although the underlying reasons for the lack of status are complex. In the process of starting a new museum (which is taking about three times longer than I would like in the '90s) I have been working to forge a relationship with a neighboring university. While the reaction of individual departments have ranged from interested to "glad to be aware of it," the university administration has been extremely cool. The problems seem to stem from several areas. First, with the notable exception of anthropologists and life sciences departments, many academics (especially administrators) do not seem to know exactly what to DO with a museum and its resources. The image of museums is still one of a "cabinet of curiosities" suitable primarily as a repository for field specimens after the all-important publication is generated. Concepts of how to teach with artifacts seem to be very limited -- an ironic situation in a species that is defined by its ability to make and use tools . . . This is often compounded by ghost faculty who, in the best 19th century tradition, hold joint appointments in academic departments and as "curators" with the museum. The graduate school I matriculated from some 20 odd years ago had a list of probably 30 Ph.d.s from various departments on its staff list. In my three years there I cannot remember having seen more than three or four of them set foot in the museum. The appointments were basically vita-stuffers and ways to juggle salaries. If they had actually used the facility, their interaction would probably have been limited to specimen storage and logistical support, -- not in developing exhibits, outreach programs for the greater community and other functions. These concepts, in all fairness were probably alien since few had any training in museum administration, museum education, etc. A tremendous problem is the lack of perception in many academic institutions of what a museum can do for community interaction. Like NASA having to justify its expense with Teflon and satellite t.v., universities are having to show what they give back to their communities. After forging a great relationship with a university at my last posting I have attempted to do the same here and found little administrative interest. Yet this same university has been moaning about how to become more involved with the local community, how it could showcase its achievements to the public, and how, as a relatively young institution, it could make its bones. Arguments that a museum afiliation could be a focal point for community interaction, that exhibits and programs could showcase academic achievements and that a museum represents a certain status have fallen on deaf ears. However, there has been a sterling effort to start a football team and many grand statements about how it will showcase the university. Can't wait to see that half time show featuring abstracts of the latest history department publications. I am well aware that there are several innovative university museums with faculty grounded in museum administration. They have used their facilities to serve as links to the local community. Adjunct curators are encouraged not only to list their affiliations on their vitas, but to develop exhibits and educational programs, incorporate museum collections and resources into their courses and make themselves accessible to the general public -- aside from limited office hours. They also understand that the term PUBLICATION can refer to an exhibit that might be seen by 30,000 persons in comparison with a journal article that might actually be read by 300. As for donations, while computer centers, medical research centers and other glitzy facilities may have sex appeal, many of them lack permanence. A museum will be around long after the Mr. Gotrocks-sponsored Porcine 2000 computer subsystem will have been displatched to the obsolete parts bin. Immortality is one of the few things museums can convey (at least stable museums). Don't give up on academic museums. The challenge is to show what a museum can do for community interaction and to prove how we can showcase achievements the next time they want to compete for that grant. And to convey to academics that museum exhibits can be as valid as journal articles. It also doesn't hurt to talk about such decidedly non-academic subjects as economic contribution, tourism value, etc. Byron A. Johnson, Exec. Dir. The Tampa Bay History Center [log in to unmask]