University Museum (Southern Illinois University Carbondale)

The University Museum at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is part of the College of Liberal Arts, and is housed in Faner Hall on the SIUC campus. The University Museum has been a repository of artifacts since Cyrus Thomas was commissioned to begin collecting for a museum by the first board of trustees of Southern Illinois Normal University some time before 1871.[1] Originally housed in the building known as "Old Main", the museum first opened to the public in 1874. The museum is considered to be an "encyclopedic museum", with an inventory of 70,000 artifacts.[2]

University Museum
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Established1874
LocationFaner Hall, Door #12
1000 Faner Drive
Mail code 4508
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Coordinates37°42′58.19″N 89°13′15.84″W
FounderCyrus Thomas (1871)
DirectorChris Walls, Interim director
CuratorAlison Erazmus (Exhibits)
Susannah Munson (Anthropology)
Nearest parkingPublic metered parking available across from the Student Center and beside Woody Hall.
WebsiteOfficial website

In 2006, the museum was the recipient of a Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History for a 2004 exhibit, Words, Wood & Wire: The History of Southern Illinois as Told Through Folk Songs and Musical Instruments.[3]

Longtime museum director, Dona Bachman, retired in 2016, after 16 years at the university.[4] As of March 2017, financial constraints at the university have prevented the museum from starting a search for a replacement.[5]

The museum was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 1977. In February 2017, the museum lost its accreditation due to concerns about loss of staff and budget cuts. According to interim director Chris Walls, "The entire university system has failed the museum".[6]

Effective July 1, the University Museum will close.[7]

References
  1. "About The Museum". University Museum. SIU Board of Trustees. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. Marnie Leonard (August 29, 2016). "Daily Egyptian : A wealth of history and oddity: the SIU Museum archives". Dailyegyptian.com. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  3. "Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Museum captures prestigious award - news release". US Fed News Service, including US State News. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  4. Olivia Spiers (November 18, 2016). "Daily Egyptian : Retirement of Dona Bachman signals 'end of an era' for University Museum". Dailyegyptian.com. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  5. Olivia Spiers (January 19, 2017). "Daily Egyptian : University Museum opens spring exhibits despite staffing and budget cuts". Dailyegyptian.com. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  6. Olivia Spiers (March 9, 2017). "Daily Egyptian : Grants could drop for the unaccredited University Museum". Dailyegyptian.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  7. "Southern Illinois University Museum to close temporarily, a result of state budget impasse". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved 8 June 2017.


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