Note #2:
Developing a Statement of Purpose for the Museum

The Statement of Purpose defines the museum's most basic goals. Every museum should have a written Statement of Purpose because the Statement will influence every decision made at the museum. The Statement of Purpose ensures that the objectives of the museum remain clear and consistent when new members are appointed to the museum's governing body. It promotes understanding and common aims for everyone involved in the operation of the museum.

If the community is in the process of establishing a museum, the Statement of Purpose is one of the first documents to be written and approved by the founding body. It should be defined long before a collection is acquired and the museum is developed.

In the case of an established museum, the governing body prepares the Statement, unless it decides to delegate this function to the director or curator in cooperation with a sub-committee. It may take several meetings to write the Statement of Purpose. After each draft is written, it should be circulated, thoroughly discussed and altered to reflect the objectives of the governing body. Once the governing body gives majority approval to the Statement, it should try to avoid amending the Statement to include other, unnecessary issues. The Statement should be kept clear and concise. If and when amendments are necessary, they should be authorized and approved by a majority of the members of the governing body, and the staff should be made aware of them.

In a brief paragraph, the Statement should clearly and concisely include the following:

1. the primary reason for creating the museum
2. functions of the museum (This includes collection, preservation, research, exhibition, interpretation, and may include other functions such as special events, activities, the use of the museum by other organizations, and limits on that use.)
3. geographical area to be served
4. subject area to be covered in the collection
5. time period to be covered
6. method of review and amendment of the policy

Here are two examples of a Statement of Purpose:

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Whitestone House Museum
Statement of Purpose

Whitestone House Museum, owned and operated by the Amberley Historical Society, has been restored to depict the domestic, professional and political life of James Alexander Thornecliffe, postmaster and local political leader, as well as the life of the Thornecliffe family in Amberley. The museum will collect, preserve, research, exhibit and interpret "in situ" all those objects which are documented to have been used by the Thornecliffe family in the 1850s, in accordance with documented research of the family, the county, and the era. The Amberley Historical Society has appointed a museum Committee of Management whose main objective is to ensure that the museum carries out these functions and serves the residents of Whitestone County by promoting special activities. The museum Committee of Management will also encourage local interest groups to carry out activities at the museum, providing those events are not detrimental to the integrity of the museum and its collections.

This Statement of Purpose may not be altered without the consent of the Committee of Management of this institution.

_________________________      _________________________

Date                           Signed

                               _________________________

                               Chairman

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Campbell County Museum
Statement of Purpose

Campbell County Museum has been established to tell the story of the founding, settlement and development of Campbell County from 1850 to 1910. The museum, owned by Campbell County and operated by the Campbell County Museum Board of Management, will collect, preserve, research, exhibit and interpret a collection of historical artifacts. It will serve the inhabitants of Campbell County and the surrounding area by carrying out these functions and by its emphasis on special activities at the museum. The program area of the museum is also available to all local, non-profit organizations, with the permission of the director, to present complementary activities and events.

This Statement of Purpose may not be changed without the approval of the Campbell County Museum Board of Management.

_________________________      _________________________

Date                           Signed

                               _________________________

                               Chairman

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It is important that the museum's goals and objectives are recorded in a written Statement of Purpose. Because of the importance of this document, the governing body should review the Statement annually. The Statement of Purpose is probably the museum's most influential written document, and must adequately express the structure, goals and objectives of the museum's endeavours.

For further reading:

Macbeath, G. and S. J. Gooding. Museum Management. Ottawa: Canadian Museums Association, 1969.

Washburn, W. E. Defining A Museum's Purpose. New York: New York Historical Association. Monographic Studies Number 1, 1975.