The Museums Association

Abstract

THE thirtieth annual conference of this association, held at Oxford on July 7–10, under the presidency of Sir Henry Howorth, showed the return of peace conditions in a particularly large attendance. An important discussion was opened by Mr. E. E. Lowe on a recent recommendation by the Adult Education Committee of the Ministry of Reconstruction that the control of municipal museums (including art galleries) should be transferred to the local education authority. While this recommendation was supported by two officials of the Board of Education, who spoke in their private capacity, it was opposed by all the museum, curators and by several members of museum committees, some of whom also served on education committees. Though museum authorities are, as they long have been, anxious to co-operate fully and intimately with schools and other educational institutions, they feel that many of their important functions cannot properly be described as educational, and they deprecate any form of control that would obscure this fact. On the other hand, they would welcome assistance and inspection by a separate museum department that should link up all the museums of the country and be directed by men familiar with museum work. A special committee was appointed to draw up a statement on behalf of the museums, and, if possible, to arrange conferences with the Government Departments concerned.