American Association of Museums

American Association of Museums
Name	American Association of Museums
Founded	0 1906
Location	Arlington, Virginia, United States
Focus	Museum advancement
Key people	Laura L. Lott (final President & CEO)
Website	https://www.aam-us.org

American Association of Museums. The American Association of Museums was a prominent professional organization dedicated to representing and advancing the museum field across the United States. Founded in the early 20th century, it established critical standards and provided essential resources for institutions ranging from major art museums to local history museums. For over a century, it served as a central advocate and forum for professionals before evolving into its successor organization.

History

The organization was established in 1906 at a meeting convened at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, with early leadership from figures like George Brown Goode of the Smithsonian Institution. Its formation coincided with the Progressive Era's emphasis on professionalization and public service within cultural institutions. Throughout the 20th century, it grew in influence, hosting its first major conference in Detroit in 1919 and later establishing its headquarters in Washington, D.C. to better engage with federal agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Key historical moments included its advocacy during the creation of the National Endowment for the Humanities and its response to major events like the Great Depression and World War II, which shaped museum practices nationwide.

Mission and activities

The core mission centered on enhancing the value of museums to their communities and the profession by developing standards and best practices. It conducted extensive advocacy on Capitol Hill for legislative issues affecting cultural heritage, such as funding for the National Science Foundation and indemnity legislation. Its activities included organizing the annual AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, one of the largest gatherings of museum professionals globally. The association also managed professional development programs, issued ethical guidelines, and worked on initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within institutions like the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Accreditation program

In 1971, the association launched a rigorous museum accreditation program, which became a hallmark of institutional quality and excellence. The voluntary process involved a comprehensive self-study and peer review by a committee of experts from institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Field Museum of Natural History. Accreditation signified that a museum met nationally recognized standards for governance, collections stewardship, and public service. This program reviewed hundreds of museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, setting a benchmark for the entire field.

Name change to American Alliance of Museums

In 2012, following a multi-year strategic planning process, the membership voted to change the name to the American Alliance of Museums. This rebranding was intended to reflect a more collaborative, inclusive, and forward-looking orientation for the 21st-century museum landscape. The change was officially enacted during the annual meeting in Minneapolis, signaling a renewed focus on building alliances across the sector and with external partners. The transition emphasized continuity in core functions like the accreditation program while embracing new directions in digital innovation and community engagement.

Publications and resources

The association was a prolific publisher of field-wide resources, most notably the bimonthly magazine Museum News and the scholarly journal The Journal of Museum Education. It published essential reference works like The Official Museum Directory and The AAM Guide to Collections Planning. Through its press, it released seminal texts on topics ranging from curatorship and conservation to museum law and ethics. These resources were utilized by professionals at institutions worldwide, from the British Museum to the Tokyo National Museum, and helped disseminate research presented at conferences like those of the International Council of Museums.

Leadership and governance

The organization was governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership, which included directors from major institutions like the Getty Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Day-to-day operations were led by an appointed President and CEO, with Laura L. Lott serving as the final leader before the name change. Key governance committees, such as the Accreditation Commission and the Ethics Committee, were staffed by volunteers from museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Its organizational structure included numerous professional networks, such as the Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation and the Curators Committee, which shaped national discourse.

Category:Museum associations Category:Professional associations based in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1906