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 Updated: 2/28/2012 
Museum of Art & Archaeology
Columbia, Missouri
Mission
MU Museum of Art and Archaeology Mission Statement

The Museum of Art and Archaeology advances understanding of our artistic and cultural heritage through research, collection and interpretation. We help students, scholars and the broader community to experience authentic and significant art and artifacts firsthand and to place them in meaningful contexts. We further this mission by preserving, enhancing and providing access to the collections for the benefit of present and future generations.

History

The Museum of Art and Archaeology was founded in 1957 as the Study Collections for Art History and Archaeology. In 1961 it became the Museum of Art and Archaeology. In that year fourteen Old Master paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation were given to the university, and the first gallery of the museum was opened in the university library building. In 1976 the collections became generally accessible when the museum moved to Pickard Hall, named in honor of Professor John Pickard. Pickard, who trained in Germany, was the first chair of the university’s Department of Art History and Archaeology, founded in 1891. Together with Professor Walter Miller, an archaeologist and first dean of the university’s Graduate School, Pickard immediately began collecting original works of art, as well as materials for teaching—slides, photographs, oil copies of famous paintings, and a collection of plaster casts of famous sculptures (Cast Gallery). The whole collection was named the Museum of Classical Archaeology and History of Art. Over one hundred and fifty works of art from those early years are still part of the Museum of Art and Archaeology’s collection. During the depression years, the Museum of Classical Archaeology and Art ceased to exist, as did the Department of Art History and Archaeology, but with the appointment of Professor Saul S. Weinberg to the Department of Classics in 1948 and of Professor Homer L. Thomas to the Art Department in 1950, the decision was made to reestablish the Department of Art History and Archaeology, which led to the creation of the Study Collections in 1957. In 1967, the tenth anniversary of the museum, Muse, Annual of the Museum of Art and Archaeology, was inaugurated. Muse publishes articles on works in the collection, reports on museum activities, and has in the past included reports on excavations supported by the museum. The annual listing of acquisitions in Muse records the growth of the collection. With the move to Pickard Hall in 1976 the museum began to play a more significant role in the community. A friends’ group, Museum Associates, was founded at the time of the opening and has played a significant role in supporting the museum’s activities and acquisitions throughout the years.

Artifact Collections

MUMAA holds more than 15,500 objects in its permanent collections. The collection of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern art works and artifacts is especially strong, and there are significant holdings from ancient Egypt and Byzantium. The Museum also has important holdings in European and American art from the fifteenth century to the present, including a Samuel H. Kress Study Collection of European paintings. The Museums holds more than 2000 prints and drawings. Asian, African, Ancient Americas, and Oceanic cultures are also well represented.

Programs

MUMAA offers a range of educational programs for adults and all ages of children. Programs range from pre-school activities through P-12 docent-led tours, weekend programs through undergraduate and graduate-level offerings presented by staff curators. A range of programs are available for lifelong learners, and special programs are available for senior citizens, including a continuing collaborative program sevring patients with Alzheimers. The Museum also offers free films, and the Museum Associates support group offers programs like Art in Bloom, the annual Crawfish Boil, and the Paintbrush Ball.

Facilities
Governance
MUMAA is a unit of the University of Missouri College of Arts and Science under the supervsion of Dean Michael J. O'Brien

Library

MUMAA maintains a non-circulating working library of reference works relating to the Museum's collections.

Access: Students, Scholars

Appointment required: True

Services

Docent or curator-led tours are available, please call 573-882-3591 to schedule a tour.

Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
Address
1 Pickard Hall, Univ of Mo
Columbia, MO 65211
phone: 573-882-3591
fax: 573-884-4039
e-mail: museumuser@missouri.edu
home page: maa.missouri.edu/
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Hours of Operation
Public Hours

Museum offices are open 8-5 weekdays

Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday9 AM - 4 PM
Sunday, Saturday12 PM - 4 PM
Thursday9 AM - 8 PM
Mondayclosed

MUMAA is closed on University holidays

Admission
Museum Type(s)
Archaeology
Art
Staff
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

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