|
The Society exists to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit artifacts and records pertaining to the history of the Maitland area in order to bring about a better understanding and appreciation by the community of its history and economic, political, and social heritage. The Society is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of history and making it available and accessible to the community we serve.
The Society achieves its mission through:
preservation of Maitland’s stories and artifacts through collection acquisition and management;
interpretation and exhibition of Maitland’s artifacts and stories; and
hands-on educational programs for visitors of all ages.
As the Society has grown over the past 37 years, it has become an active, community institution educating children and adults. The Society focuses its resources not just on collections and exhibits, but increasingly on education and programming. The Society plans to revise its mission statement to reflect this growth. This enhanced focus is consistent with museum studies research on the future of museums in today’s changing society. In the 2004 publication, Reinventing the Museum, Harold Skramstad wrote:
“Now they (museums) must help us create the new world of “inreach,” in which people, young and old alike, can “reach in” to museums through experiences that will help give value and meaning to their own lives and at the same time stretch and enlarge their perceptions of the world.”
As the Society consolidates its locations, a new campus will emerge. The following vision encompasses the future of the Society as a whole:
Objective
The Maitland Historical Society inspires visitors to explore the human experience by discovering the stories of one Central Florida town.
Vision
The Society collects, interprets, preserves and exhibits artifacts and records pertaining to the history of the Maitland area.
The Society believes in the power of history to stimulate thought, provide context, spark the imagination, challenge paradigms, and inspire action.
The Society develops engaging exhibits and educational programs which provide opportunities to experience authentic cultural materials and facilitate discussion about the human experience using the stories of the sometimes ordinary, sometimes extraordinary lives of Maitland residents.
The Society provides support, interpretation, and dissemination of information to promote and assist in historic preservation and research.
The Society maintains a research library open to the public.
The Society is dedicated to the primacy of the visitor experience both inside the museums and outside in a campus-like setting.
The Society is committed to serving the residents of Maitland through education and preservation and seeks to serve the broadest possible audience through accessible and diverse programs and exhibits.
The Society seeks to inspire a passion for history in individuals and the community through education and preservation.
|
