Museums and Archives in Peril

Abstract

In a budget reduction sneak attack on the eve of the July 4th weekend, the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, and the Chancellor of the Board of Regents of New York State effectively beheaded the century-old ([ 1 ][1]) archaeology program at the New York State Museum ([ 2 ][2]). Heedless of the consequences to extensive research and exhibits collections, ongoing research and education programs, and responsibilities to the state's cultural and historical heritage, and without alerting New York State Museum administrators, the New York State Education Department laid off two archaeology curators and the state archaeologist. We are living in a fiscal climate that diminishes the value of cultural programs such as museums to economic recovery. New York's draconian measures are the most recent in a series of similar actions across the country ([ 3 ][3]–[ 5 ][4]), and they foreshadow the future of cultural institutions and programs. Some institutions, such as Indiana University, are merging archaeological units, along with their endowments, with larger collections units ([ 6 ][5]). This change allows the previously protected endowment funds to be directed toward broader purposes than originally intended, and in turn puts the long-term stability of the funds at risk. Even members of science programs housed in publicly funded museums, such as the New York State Museum's geology and paleontology curators, are not immune to misguided efforts that target small, relatively voiceless disciplines. The archives of centuries of data collection that they leave behind are also in danger of abandonment. If we do not vigilantly guard our gates—individually, collectively, and regardless of disciplinary focus—we cannot count on our elected or appointed officials to act in a fashion that protects our best interests as researchers and educators. If we value our hard-won systematic collections and view them as assets to be bequeathed to future generations, we should value and protect the institutions that house them and the people that care for them. 1. [↵][6]1. A. C. Parker , Excavations in an Erie Indian Village and Burial Site at Ripley, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., N.Y. State Museum Bull. 117 (The University of the State of New York, Albany, NY, 1907). 2. [↵][7]1. R. Karlin , “Supporters: Museum cuts would hurt,” [www.timesunion.com/news/article/Supporters-Museum-cuts-would-hurt-1455555.php][8], 7 July 2011. 3. [↵][9]1. K. Kloor , “Firing of Utah archaeologists alarms community,” ScienceInsider, 24 June 2011. 4. “Michigan says farewell to the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries,” [www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--225350--,00.html][10], 30 October 2009. 5. [↵][11]Michigan Executive Order 2009–36, “Abolishing the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries,” 13 July 2009, effective 1 October 2009. 6. [↵][12]“Mathers Museum, Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology merger yields cultural history powerhouse,” IU News Room, 4 August 2011. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-5 [5]: #ref-6 [6]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [8]: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Supporters-Museum-cuts-would-hurt-1455555.php [9]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [10]: http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--225350--,00.html [11]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text [12]: #xref-ref-6-1 View reference 6 in text