The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), formerly the American Association of Museums,[2] is a non-profit association whose goal is to bring museums together. Founded in 1906, the organization advocates for museums and provides "museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward."[3]
AAM represents the scope of museums, professionals, and nonpaid staff who work for and with museums. AAM represents more than 25,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, 4,000 institutions, and 150 corporate members. Individual members include directors, curators, registrars, educators, exhibit designers, public relations officers, development officers, security managers, trustees, and volunteers.
An informal meeting was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C., on December 21, 1905, for the "purpose of discussing the advisability of endeavoring to establish an association of the museums of America."[5] Major events in the history of the Alliance include:
1906: Founding
1911: Directory of North and South American museums published
1980: Museum Assessment Program (MAP) created on the recommendation of a committee chaired by E. Alvin Gearhardt, with MAP supported through a cooperative agreement with IMS, the Institute of Museum Services (later renamed IMLS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services)
2003: Launch of the Nazi-Era Provenance Internet Portal (NEPIP)[6][7]
2006: Year of the Museum – 100th anniversary of AAM
2009: First Comprehensive Strategic Plan "The Spark" adopted
2012: Name changed to "American Alliance of Museums"[2]
Media and Technology (M&T) is a Professional Network of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The M&T Network is the AAM link between museums and media technologies. It identifies, examines, and advocates appropriate uses of media technologies in helping museums meet the needs of their public. Membership is limited to institutions or individuals that are members of AAM.[8]
