Catalogue description Records of the Museums Association

The Museums Association was set up as the result of a proposal put forward by the West Yorkshire Philosophical Society that the curators of provincial museums throughout England should form an association that would meet annually. At the first meeting, held in York during 1889, it was agreed that such an Association should be formed.

The aims of the new association were very wide and included the compilation of a complete index to all provincial museum holdings; the possibility of regular interchange of 'specimens'; discussions on the arrangement and classification of items; and the establishment of a collection of relevant government literature. The Association also accepted the role of representing the museums community in dealing with legislation, both national and international, which could have a potential effect on museums and galleries.

The Council of the association meets regularly and an annual general meeting is held at which papers on topics of interest to the museum community are read and discussed. From its earliest days, publications have been produced including a regular monthly journal.