This article was published in Museum News July/August 2006.
When Ed Able took over as president of the American Association of Museums in 1986, the organization had 7,693 individual members, 2,135 institutional members, 34 staff and an annual operating budget of $2.4 million. The annual meeting that year was in New York and attracted about 4,000 delegates. Twenty years later AAM serves a combined 20,000 individual, institutional and commercial members, and has a staff of 65 and an operating budget of $10 million. The annual meeting, held this past April in Boston, drew more than 6,000 museum professionals. When Ed steps down on Aug. 1, 2006, he will be the longest-serving president in the 100-year history of the organization.
Although not trained as a museum professional himself—he served as assistant director of the Smithsonian’s Resident Associates program in the 1980s—he has always had a keen grasp of the issues and challenges facing museums. He brought his considerable expertise in business and nonprofit management to the task of running AAM, a major factor in the growth and effectiveness of the association. He leaves as a nationally recognized leader of the cultural and nonprofit sectors, having chaired and served on numerous boards such as Independent Sector, BoardSource, the National Humanities Alliance, the Travel Industry Association of America, the American Society of Association Executives and others.
Ed’s plans for his post-AAM life are still taking shape, although he has expressed a desire to slow things down for a while and “smell the roses.” In the past few weeks he has spoken little about himself but much about AAM, its direction for the future, its positive impact on the U.S. museum community. He has repeatedly affirmed his strong sense of “pride and accomplishment” in the organization that he has led so effectively into the 21st century.
Preparations for his retirement were a carefully guarded secret prior to his public announcement in early May and took even his staff by surprise. But literally within minutes of the announcement, the accolades and well wishes began pouring into the AAM offices in Washington. Here is a very small portion, randomly selected, of the many messages received.
It is hard to imagine AAM without Ed Able. Ed, you have been an exemplary leader and a great friend to America’s museums. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with you for all these years. Ann Mintz
Chair, AAM Standing Professional
Committee on Diversity |
One of the most impressive and rewarding things I have witnessed in my l-o-n-g-g-g-g career is watching the evolution of AAM. I knew AAM before and after Ed Able, and Ed, you have made the organization, and as a consequence our field and all of the institutions within it, better. Thank you for all you have done for AAM, for the member institutions and for those of us who work in those museums. It is my hope that the years ahead hold everything you desire. Margo Dundon, President & CEO
Museum of Science and History
Jacksonville, Fla. |
You have done an amazing job for all of us, and we wish you the best of everything going forward. You have earned a rest!!! Your successor will certainly have big shoes to fill, but know that all of us will be grateful to you for a very long time. . . . Take care of yourself!! The best is yet to come. Nancy Kolb
Chief Executive Officer
Please Touch Museum
Philadelphia |
Your retirement signals the end of an important era in museum history. Although I have not been active on the national level for a long while, I have followed closely the progress of AAM and you. I think back to the “good ole days” and the fun we had, the progress we made and our many accomplishments, and I smile. The best to you in your retirement. I have a hard time imagining you relaxing. Louise L. DeMars, Executive Director
New England Carousel Museum
Bristol, Conn. |
It has been a delight to have your leadership, guidance and contributions at the SPC [Standing Professional Committees] Council table during my tenure. I’ve enjoyed the challenging conversations and the humorous ones and will remember and learn from them all—thank you. As immediate past SPC chair, I wish you much laughter, joy and relaxation as you embark on your next endeavors. Ann A. Fortescue
Director of Education and Visitor Services
Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
Pittsburgh |
Ed—It’s hard to imagine AAM without you. It has been such a pleasure for me personally to have worked with you at the Smithsonian in the early 1970s when we were in our “museum infancy,” then later, as an AAM board member, to work with you as “museum grownups.” I greatly value your friendship and your wise counsel. Whoever is hired as your replacement will be following a person of stature and aplomb, even in the face of flooding exhibition halls. I’ll never forget the sight of you in L.A., your lovely suit completely soaked, calmly trying to assuage the situation! You will be greatly missed. Claudia Oakes
Chief Operating Officer
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Garden City, N.Y. |
Thank you for your years of service—you’ve left an incredible legacy, and all of us in the field are so enriched because of your hard work over the last 20 years. I have greatly appreciated your advice, leadership and work with our region—it’s been so important to WMA and to me personally. I wish you continued success and some restful days ahead. Melissa Rosengard, Executive Director
Western Museums Association
Berkeley, Calif. |
This is awesome, Ed. Congratulations. I definitely want to be at the roast, er, I mean the going-away party. Boy, do I have some stories. Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr.
President and CEO
Indiana Historical Society
Indianapolis |
