Address to Women’s Art Society, January 10 1937

It had been suggested that as the Museum is about to come of age, a brief history of its career, together with an account of its aims and ambitions, would be of interest to the members of the Art Association.

In judging of its progress, I would ask you to remember that so far the Museum has been without a grant or an endowment of any kind. Every object purchased has been paid for by friends of the Museum, who were sympathetic with its aims.

As we progressed, it became evident that unless the entire building was to be flooded with articles of comparative insignificance, we must pick and choose with the greatest care, but important objects cost important sums. We cannot make bricks without straw. We need benefactors and fairy godmothers.

The aim and object of the Museum is to give pleasure to all - not merely to the jaded dilettante, but more practically to the artist craftsman who heretofore has had to rely on photographs for information – if not for inspiration. A more ambitious scheme will develop as time goes on for we hope, as our collections grow to so arrange them that the History of Art can be taught….

My time is short, and I would briefly introduce to your notice a selection of some 50 objects from our museum, confining myself to a few remarks relative to each slide. We will have to travel rapidly across and around the world & up and down the centuries, but I hope you will detect some attempt at system & order in my address.