Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100, or about 3%, are currently accredited. WRHS is one of only five accredited museums in Northeast Ohio.

“The AAM Accreditation has come with a good deal of hard work,” says WRHS Cleveland History Center director Angie Lowrie. “It was a true team effort of staff, board, advisors and volunteers all working together over the last several years. 

Alliance accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over 50 years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability.

“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” says Marilyn Jackson, AAM president & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”

The AAM accreditation process examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation a museum must first conduct a year of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Alliance’s Accreditation Commission, made up of an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee’s report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

Lowrie says the peer reviewers’ comments were cause for WRHS officials to celebrate, noting the report cited the organization’s educational role as meeting the highest standards.

“Educational curriculum is well-grounded in contemporary educational pedagogy and is designed to be specifically responsive to state learning standards,” the reviewers say in the report. “The educational role of the [Western Reserve Historical] Society appears to be at the heart of their operations and is well supported throughout the organization.’”

The report also notes WRHS’ exemplary practices of collection stewardship, stating, “Its collections policies, documents, forms and processes were all very high quality.”  Under Public Service, the reviewers noted, “The Western Reserve Historical Society has a strong commitment to working in partnership with their community to ensure relevance and accountability.” 

“The Western Reserve Historical Society is a well-run institution that benefits from a dedicated and knowledgeable staff that is effectively pursuing its mission and serving its community and is poised to continue to do so well into the future.”

Kelly Falcone-Hall, WRHS president and CEO, says she is grateful to the AAM for the recognition. "We owe a debt of gratitude to the staff, board of directors, volunteers, and our many constituents for your leadership, support and involvement with WRHS over the last decade,” she says. “Because of you, we are worthy of this national recognition, and I am proud to work alongside you to maintain WRHS’s commitment to excellence.”