Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Vallery records
Collection 2083
1939-1994(9.7 Linear feet ; 21 boxes, 2 volumes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
- Title
- Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Vallery records
- ID
- 2083
- Date
- 1939-1994
- Extent
- 9.7 Linear feet ; 21 boxes, 2 volumes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Arek Torosian
- Language
- English
- Mixed materials [Box]
- 1-21
- Mixed materials [Volume]
- 1-2
Preferred Citation note
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley records (Collection 2083), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
On February 16, 1939, a group of Philadelphia museum representatives met to discuss the New York World’s Fair. The group saw the fair, which was held from April to October that year, as an opportunity to promote and advertise Philadelphia and its museums. Out of this meeting was born the Philadelphia Council of Museums. Among its charter members were Dr. Henry Butler Allen and William F. Jackson of the Franklin Institute, Dr. Fiske Kimball of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, and Franklin H. Price of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
The council’s primary mission of distributing information about and promoting cooperation among the city’s cultural institutions has remained true to this day, though it tackled other issues in the past. This was especially true in the 1940s as a result of World War II. The council examined ways to preserve artifacts during such a crisis and frequently worked with organizations to come up with preservation solutions. The council continues to operate in the city as the Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley and provides professional development and networking opportunities for its members.
The collection is organized in 21 boxes and 2 volumes. The dates of the collection range from 1939 to 1994. Materials from 1939 to the late 1970s include minutes of special, regular, and luncheon meetings; general correspondence; files relating to special programs; some financial records; membership lists, directories, and calendars; and other literature of the council. The collection also includes a box of bank statements and other financial papers from the 1980s. Volume 1 in the collection includes a binder of administrative papers labeled "collections care," and Volume 2 is a copy of the Museum Council's disaster guide and manual, all of which are from the 1990s.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2012
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
- Education--20th Century
- Museums--Philadelphia--20th century
- Public History
Collection Inventory
| Box | ||||
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Minutes February 1939 - 1976 |
1 | |||
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Correspondence 1939 - 1960 |
2 | |||
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Correspondence; Philadelphia Area Council on Tourism (PACT) - Minutes, Correspondence, History, Committee Reports, News Releases 1961 - 1978 |
3 | |||
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History of MCP; International Museum Week; Museum Week; Treasurer's Reports; Financial Records; Miscellaneous Records |
4 | |||
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MCP Brochure; Calendar of Events; Directory of Cultural Organization; Delaware Valley Industrial Editors; Miscellaneous Records; Brochures and Pamphlets; Newspaper Clippings |
5 | |||
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Board of Director Minutes; Business Meeting Minutes; General Membership Meeting - Speaker Transcripts; Board and Membership Lists 1976 - 1980 |
6 | |||
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Key to Discovery material Scope and Contents noteThe objective of the program was to provide resources for primary and secondary educators to engage with their students in the humanities. The documents deal mostly with administrative concerns, such as correspondence, finances, and schedules. |
7 | |||
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Address List, Labels; Miscellany; Minutes, General Business Meeting; Educational Committee Minutes; Board of Directors' Minutes 1978 - 1981 |
8 | |||
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American Association of Museums - Annual Meeting, Minutes, Annual Report, Correspondence; Fiscal Year - Financial Records 1982 |
9 | |||
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Proposals for Feasibility Study to Promote Philadelphia Museums; Graphics; Roster of Museums, Address Changes; Annual Reports / Modification of Membership Forms; General Business Meeting - Working File, Minutes; Board of Directors - Working File, Minutes 1979 - 1983 |
10 | |||
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Membership Committee - Institutional Applications, Associate Representative Elections and Correspondence, Rejected Applications for Institutional Membership, Minutes and Memos, Directories and Changes, Membership Update, Outdated Informational Fact Sheet, Membership Update Questionnaires, Memos and Representative Changes, Curator/Registrar Committee 1979 - 1983 |
11 | |||
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Membership Committee - J. Copeland, W. Klein, Miscellany, Miscellaneous Notes from H. Taylor, Membership Application Draft, W. Klein Correspondence, Miscellany, Educators' Guide Grant, Annual Report, Financial Statements, Bills Due / Bills Paid, By-Laws, Executive Board Minutes, Officers, Business Meetings, Board of Directors Meetings, American Association of Museums Convention 1976 - 1982 |
12 | |||
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Miscellaneous Financial Papers; Treasurer's Correspondence, Receipts, Checking Account Statements; Treasurer's Reports; PAFA Cancelled Meeting: Check/Cash Return Information and Correspondence; Checking Account Balance; Philadelphia Area Cultural Consortium 1976 - 1981 |
13 | |||
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Programs 1979 - 1984 |
14 | |||
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President's Correspondence (Robert H. Dyson); Public Relations Committee; Long-Range Plan; Women for Greater Philadelphia; Museum Market Place; Cooperative Promotional Study; Calendar; Treasurer 1983 - 1985 |
15 | |||
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Executive Board Minutes; Business Meetings; Secretary; Treasurer; Programs; Mailing List 1983 - 1987 |
16 | |||
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Directories; Miscellaneous |
17 | |||
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Mixed Minutes and Administrative Files 1982 - 1983 |
18 | |||
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Warm Up to Museums; Executive Committee; Warm Up Minutes/Receipts; Labels; Business Meetings; Board of Executives; Miscellaneous; Shooting for the Gold; General Business Meetings/Minutes; Warm Up Publicity; Presser Foundation; Jazz Miscellaneous Material; Warm Up Comments Questionnaire; Business Meetings/Minutes; Calendar; Softball; Museum Month Warm Up Willie; Channel 6 PSAs; RSVPs; Philadelphia and the New Navy; World Affairs Council; Steps Rosenfeld 1980 - 1988 |
19 | |||
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Records 1982 -1983 |
20 | |||
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Current Files; Collection Care 1991 - 1992 |
21 | |||
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| Volume | ||||
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American Association of Museums - Information Book, Annual Meeting 1982 |
1 | |||
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Disaster Preparedness: A Resource Guide and Manual 1994 |
2 | |||
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