Wenham Historical Association & Museum, Inc.

Notes from the nonprofit

Organizational History and Key Achievements

The Wenham Museum is a ninety-one (91) year old institution. The museum was founded within the Wenham Village Improvement Society (WVIS), when a local resident donated her doll collection and her home to the town. In the 1950s, the museum was individually incorporated.

In 1997, a dedicated team of local volunteers expanded the building and bolstered the endowment. This visionary group of women, who extensively volunteered their time and efforts at the museum, recognized that the museum had grown and needed to professionalize its operations. They had the foresight to lay the groundwork for that growth.

Following the 1997 building expansion, the museum staff continued to professionalize. The organization also maintained its accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Approximately six (6%) percent of museums and historical associations nationwide are accredited.

Generally, accreditation by the AAM requires a museum to maintain the highest standards of ethics, collections care, interpretation, and programming. It also requires that the museum operates in a sustainable manner with a focus on prudent organizational development. In July 2013, the Wenham Museum learned it received its fifth reaccreditation, making it one of handful of institutions to have been accredited five times. Receiving this news on the heels of the organization’s 90th anniversary was a proud moment for the institution.

The Wenham Museum has lofty and ambitious goals to meet the growing needs of its visitors and members as well as to preserve, grow, and interpret its collection. The Wenham Museum also seeks to maintain its accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The above goals are embodied in its Strategic Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in March 2013.