An email from University President Don Birx and Provost Nate Bowditch

We are writing to share an important update about the future of the Museum of the White Mountains (MWM) at Plymouth State University—and to reaffirm our deep commitment to the collections, scholarship, and public engagement that have defined the Museum since its founding.

Due to ongoing State of New Hampshire budget reductions impacting higher education, Plymouth State University must close the Museum’s current standalone building. This decision was not made lightly. While the physical museum space is changing, we want to be clear about what is not changing: the collections, and the University’s stewardship of the Museum of the White Mountains- these will remain intact.

Stewardship of the Collection

Plymouth State University will retain the entire MWM collection. Works currently housed in the Museum will be carefully relocated to the Spinelli Archives in Lamson Library, joining the remainder of the collection already preserved there. This move ensures long-term care, security, and professional archiving of the collection, while maintaining access for teaching, research, and exhibition planning.

Campus‑Wide Museum Presence

MWM has always been a campus‑wide resource, and moving forward, the Museum’s presence will be woven into the academic and public life of the University in a way that fits our budget.

Rotating and permanent exhibitions drawn from the MWM collection could be displayed in Lamson Library, Hyde Hall, Silver Center, and throughout campus, expanding visibility and engagement.

The current exhibition, Rooted: A Story of Trees, remains on view in the Silver Center lobby. Additional dedicated campus art exhibition spaces are being established in Lamson Library and the Silver Center.

Together, these spaces—along with additional installations across campus—will form the opportunities for physical expression of the Museum of the White Mountains and provide expanded reach and visibility for both our campus community and the community at large.

Governance and Operations

The Museum of the White Mountains will be overseen by the University’s Office of Academic Affairs, in collaboration with Lamson Library and the Silver Center staff. Day‑to‑day operations and exhibitions will be supported by library staff, art faculty, student workers, and trained volunteers working together across departments.

We are fortunate to have faculty and staff with experience supporting this work, ensuring that MWM continues to meet high professional and educational standards.

Artwork in the Current Building

A detailed plan is being developed to carefully and responsibly move all artwork and artifacts currently in the Museum building. Every effort will be made to ensure the safety and proper handling of these works throughout the transition.

Looking Ahead

While this moment marks the end of one chapter, it also opens new possibilities. Integrating the Museum of the White Mountains into the new academic structure of the University allows us to expand its reach, increase student engagement, and bring the collection to wider campus and community audiences in a way that fits our fiscal reality.

There is work to be done to revisit the mission of the MWM. Without funding for a full-time director and assistant director, a new vision that carries forward elements of the original mission and charts a sustainable way forward will be forged. You can anticipate hearing more about this from the faculty leading this effort in the weeks and months to come.