• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Ninepipes Museum

of Early Montana History

  • Museum
    • About
    • Staff
      • Contact Us
    • Collections & Exhibits
    • Online Catalog
  • Programs
    • Our Video Conversations
    • Bud’s Page
    • Blog
    • Event Calendar
  • Gift Shop
  • Visit
    • Admission
    • Tours
    • Local Attractions
    • Testimonials
  • Support
    • Memberships
      • Business Members
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Site Map

NEH Collections Needs Assessment

June 18, 2020 by Ninepipes Museum

PDF DownloadREPORT INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT SUMMARY

The application:

This NEH small museum assessment project promised to look at the current situation of all museum objects in the care of the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana (herein NMEM or simply “the Museum”), both on display and in storage, and to provide recommendations in three areas:
1) Short-term recommendations for items in critical need of conservation and improvements to storage and display;
2) Long-term recommendations for improvements to storage and display areas, including environmental control and monitoring, security, smoke mitigation, ritual care, pest management and disaster planning;
3) Evaluation of policy and practices relating to collection management and security, and plans for long-term loan acquisition.
These recommendations were to be assessed in three site visits, and prioritized into a report that essentially comprises a long-range preventive conservation plan.
Finally, the application promised visits with board and staff, tribal members and representatives, and with members of the local museum and preservation community, to explain the project and promote sharing interests and resources in the preservation of local material culture.

This report

During the site visits and in communications with NMEM staff, the consultant attempted to look at all aspects of museum practice and operations. This reflects the view of the consultant that the collections are the source and focus of any museum, and therefore drive everything a museum is and does. A museum’s operations revolve around its mission, and its mission is grounded firmly in the collection that created the need for both the museum and its mission.

The consultant’s comments regarding governance, community outreach, and education/interpretation are made from a collections preservation point of view, keeping in mind:

• Exhibits need to present well-researched information in a way that is clear and appealing to the public.
• Objects must be exhibited, stored and used in ways that protect their physical integrity and contribute to their long-term preservation.
• Objects must be kept and exhibited in a way that is respectful of the culture or person from which the object came, and of the spiritual qualities embodied in the object itself.
• Each museum must write and enact policy and methods that meet professional standards, but also that meet the needs of its operations within its community.

Site visits and results

The recommendations in this report stem directly from the site visits, conducted in the spring of 2019. Three site visits were initially planned but only two were necessary, along with communication by telephone and email, to gather needed information. During the site visits, the consultant met individually with each staff member involved with the collections, as well as the board president, the founder, and Salish/Kalispel (Pend O’reille) and Kootenai cultural representatives.

This report does not include descriptions of the final workshops and informational meetings with staff, tribal members and other museums that culminated the project, though it does contain their recommendations. The consultant intends that those meetings will open or widen doors to positive relationships between NMEM and other area stakeholders. Museums are community spaces, and positive community relationships are critical to the longevity of any museum. Small, geographically close museums with similar missions can share resources and information to the benefit of all collaborators and their stakeholders.

Read the full report here:

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Ninepipes Museum

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search Our Site

Stay Informed with Regular Updates.

* indicates required

Interact with Us.

Story or Photo Submission Shop Our Gift Shop Become a Volunteer Make a Donation

Special Thanks

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana is supported partly by local business.  These businesses help to support the museum.  They are much appreciated.

Consider a Business Membership

Upcoming Events

  1. AUGUST 6TH FIRST SATURDAY

    August 6 @ 10:00 am
  2. SEPTEMBER 3RD FIRST SATURDAY: Artist: Jim Thomason

    September 3 @ 10:00 am

View All Events

News & Community

  • JULY SECOND FIRST SATURDAY EVENT 10 AM-4 PM
  • Collections Policy Manual Complete
  • Louie and Charley Mollman at Ninepipes Museum
  • KEEPING THE VALLEY’S HISTORY ALIVE: A SUMMER BENEFIT Sunday, July 17
  • AUGUST 6TH FIRST SATURDAY

Hours of Operation

We greatly appreciate our visitors and patrons!

MUSEUM ADMISSION FEES
Adults $9
Seniors/Veterans $8
Students $7
Children (ages 6 -12) $5

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana is listed as a Blue Star Memorial Museum, able to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

FAMILY RATES
Adults $7.50
Seniors and Veterans $6.50
Students $5.50
Children:
Ages 6-12 $4.00
5 and under Free

SCHOOL AND TOUR GROUPS
20 or more individuals
Adults $7.00
Seniors and Veterans $6.00
Students $5.50
Children Ages 6-12 $4.00

Call 406-644-3435 or email us at info@ninepipesmuseum.org to schedule your tour.

69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824

National Endowment for the Humanities

The Montana History Foundation

Affiliate

Consider a Donation

Donate using our secure Paypal account

Testimonials

This is one of the most exquisite displays of Euro/Indian cultural meeting I’ve seen. Beautifully organized and displayed — Connie, Gig Harbor, WA

Very thoughtful narrative and photos and artwork. Good to hear detail told in its timeline. Wish I had more time to spend. Thank you — Penny, Grand Rapids, MI

What a wonderful introduction to the people of the area and their history. Thank you. — Adam, Worcester, MA

Learned so much about local Native American tribes. Extremely interesting. — Bernadette, Bennington, VT

Articles of Interest

  • Articles
  • Business Member
  • Events
  • First Saturday
  • New Exhibits
  • News
  • Sponsors
  • Stories from Bud



Footer

Please Help Support

Ninepipes Museum

The Nature Trail

Ninepipes Museum

The Ninepipes Museum

Ninepipes Museum

  • (406) 644-3435
  • info@ninepipesmuseum.org
  • Welcome
  • Search


WELCOME  |  ABOUT US  |  EVENTS  |  MUSEUM  |  GIFT SHOP  |  JOIN US  |  DONATE  |  BUD’S PAGE

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana

69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana is a 501(c)3 non-profit located in rural Northwest Montana. Donations are tax deductible.

Shipping costs are calculated for the lower 48 states in the U.S. For our International, Alaskan and Hawaiian customers we will contact you about shipping rates before your order is shipped. You can always call us at the Museum or email us with questions - (406) 644 3435. info@ninepipesmuseum.org


Click Here Designs

Become a Volunteer
Story or Photo Submission
69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824
000-000-0000
Are you willing to release restrictions on use of this item for public viewing or pictures in our social media venues