History & Mission
Beginning in April 1987, a group of concerned Michigan citizens
representing the state’s archives, museums, and libraries met for a
series of discussions to explore the establishment of a statewide organization
concerned with finding solutions to the problem of deteriorating cultural
resources in Michigan. With staff and financial support from the Michigan Council
for the Humanities (now the Michigan Humanities Council), this group was encouraged
to expand its membership and or organize formally.
On October 10, 1988 the Michigan Alliance for the Conservation of Cultural
Heritage was officially established and received nonprofit 501©(3) status
on August 30, 1990. The organization was founded on the belief that those
who care for these resources should unite to identify, conserve, and promote
their continuing availability for the enjoyment, education, and benefit of
present and future generations. It is run by a Board of Directors, individuals
not representing their associations but selected because of their association
and interest.
On November 17-19, 1991, a conference entitled Conserving Michigan’s Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century was held under the auspices of the MACCH at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The goal of the conference was to establish a common preservation agenda for Michigan through analyzing the state’s collective preservation needs and formulating unified objectives to address those needs. The audience was drawn from professionals working in museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation networks and related institutions around the state, as well as citizens interested in the preservation of cultural properties. For access to the full report that was produced from that conference please order through MACCH.
