NJ State Museum is Born
The New Jersey State Legislature establishes the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton to collect and exhibit natural history, archaeology, and industrial specimens.
The New Jersey State Museum Foundation (aka the Association for the Arts and the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum) was established in 1968 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) to support the State Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and educational programs through fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, and promotion. In the early years, the Foundation served as the core docent and volunteer group for the State Museum.
Through the generous support of our members, donors, and partners, the New Jersey State Museum Foundation provides vital resources to the State Museum. Over the last five decades, the Foundation and its partners have made possible hundreds of exhibitions and thousands of acquisitions for the collection, and served countless numbers of adults and children through educational programs.
To date, the Foundation has provided millions in funding through grants and direct gifts. Because the State Museum is a center for scholarly study and its professional staff are known as experts in their respective fields, the Foundation also provides sponsorship for their research opportunities. Membership with the New Jersey State Museum Foundation ensures the State Museum will continue to serve as an invaluable resource for the residents of New Jersey and a leading destination for art, history, and science.
The New Jersey State Museum Foundation also operates the Museum Shop. All proceeds from the gift shop’s sales support the publications and collections of the Museum.
Mission
The mission of the New Jersey State Museum Foundation is to support the collections, exhibitions and programs of the New Jersey State Museum through advocacy, fundraising, promotion and volunteerism.
Vision
The vision of the New Jersey State Museum Foundation is to maintain a strong and dynamic organization with the necessary resources and capacity to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the Foundation and the Museum. The organization functions independently of the State and the Museum but works collaboratively to further the Museum’s mission.
Board of Trustees
Melissa Mantz
Membership and Development Coordinator
Charlie Lynch
Manager
Retail Operations, Museum Shop
*Mrs. Phillip Allen
Karen Ali
*Dorothy Bartaris
*William Beitel
*John Belli
*Maude Belli
*Janet Bickal
H.LBoyer Royal
*Alice Caulkins
*Joseph Chorlton
Howard Cohn
*Mrs. Frank Cole
*Bettie Coleman
*Cyril Collins
Larry Conti
Gabrielle Deen
Marcia Dewey
*C. Douglas Dillon
Julie Dixon- Thomas
*Mrs. Eric Eweson
*Seymour Fingerhood MD
Christopher Forbes
Lynn Formidoni
*Franz Geierhaas
*Ann Gips
*Walter Gips
*Marjo Graff
Mary Guess - Flamer
*Llura Gund
*Ingrid Hammond
*Queenie Henon
*Ernest Hickok
Lawrence Hilton
Jacquie Johnson
*A. Richard Kemble
Hima Kher
George Korn
Sally Lane- Graff
*Abbot Low-Moffat
*Fleury Mackie
*Mrs. John Marin
*Mitzi Marks
*Susan Merians
*Sidney Merians
*Molly Merlino
*Joyce Moore
Libby Moore
Mary Anne Mountford
*Beverly Nester
*Sidney Nusbaum
Susan Palsir- Huber
*James Pardoe
*Teresa Pardoe
*Mrs. W Park Armstrong
*Janet Patten-Mills
*Barbara Peskin
Dorothy Plohn
Jaclyn Polin
Steven Richman
*Ferdinand Roebling
*Mary Roebling
*Carol Rosenthal
*Albert Rosenthal
Georgia Schley
Reeve Schley
*Marie Schoch
Leah Sloshberg
*Allison Stern
Barbara Stokes
*Hellie Stowell
Pam Switlik
Susan Vescera
*Mrs. Gurdon Wattles
*Mrs. John Watts
*Walter Wechsler
*Barbara Wescott
*Charles Wodehouse
Dolores Yazujian
* signifies that the honorary trustee is deceased
Timeline