A registered charity, The Association of Friends of The Norris Library and Museum (FTNM) was formally established in 1975. Following its inaugural meeting that October, it had a membership of 43 by the year’s end. By its 40th anniversary year that had increased to 275 and new members are always welcome.
The FTNM was established to support and aid the Museum by increasing public awareness of it, raise funds through various activities to assist with projects, and to provide practical volunteer support for the Museum Curator (now Director) in running the Museum.
The FTNM has a constitution. It was an early decision of good governance to keep the association as a separate entity from the St Ives Town Council management committee that operates the Museum as the sole trustee of the Herbert Ellis Norris bequest. But the FTNM works closely with the Town Council as it always has.
The FTNM provides fellowship for its members through the arrangement of events, meetings and social activities. It has developed an extensive collection of publications for sale in the Museum today to help raise funds.
The FTNM has contributed artefacts and donations to specific projects, one being £35,000 towards the redevelopment of the Museum in 2016-17. Find out more about the history of the FTNM from “Friends for 40 years” by Bridget Flanagan, local historian, author and FTNM member.