International Museum Day is coming up on May 18 but, before that, let’s go back to 1978. We invite you to discover the story behind the creation of this milestone to rally the international museum community by diving into our recently digitised archives.

1976: THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA

As early as 1949, André Leveillé, president from 1948 to 1956 of Icom’s Committee No. 1 for scientific and technical museums, planetaria, health museums, and museums of the history of science and technology (the future CIMUSET), called for a “museum crusade” at the end of his introduction to the issue of Museum, Vol II, No. 4, 1949, entitled “Museums in the service of all / Les Musées au service de tous.

« Museum directors may look to the future with confidence, but they must also realize where their duties and responsibilities lie. They must work with fait11 and enthusiasm, joining in the croisade for museums that we are appealing to Unesco to launch  with all the powcr  and resources at its command.»

From 1956 onwards, ICOM launched two “museum crusades” (7-14 October 1956, and 1967-1968), focusing on the educational role of museums. But it wasn’t until the 138th meeting of the Executive Board on 24-25 June 1976 that the idea of creating an annual world day dedicated to the cause of museums was born. The minutes of this meeting state:

"After examining some concrete proposals made by various National Committees, the Executive Council decides : […] – To ask the Soviet National Committee to formulate a proposal for the establishment of an International Museum Day.” 1977: 12TH ICOM GENERAL CONFERENCE, MOSCOW”

1977: 12TH ICOM GENERAL CONFERENCE, MOSCOW 

The 1977 Moscow General Conference brought together professionals from all over the world on the theme of “Museums and cultural exchanges”. The proceedings of this conference are available online.

Hubert Landais and Georges Henri Rivière at ICOM Moscow 1977