Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission was created with a primary function to oversee the operations of the state museum.  The Commission is also entrusted by statute with establishing the strategic direction of the museum, with an emphasis on the educational and cultural enrichment of the citizens of this state.  As such, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that the citizens of this state have access and exposure to the museum collections and special changing exhibits, and that current collections are preserved appropriately and exposed to the public.  Further, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that future acquisitions are made in a deliberate manner in support of the mission and goals of the museum, for the purpose of the educational and cultural enrichment of citizens of the state. Click on the Commissioner profile blocks below to read biographies.

Senator Bo Watson

Commission Chairman Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Ambassador Victor H. Ashe, II

Collections Acquisitions Committee Chair Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Danielle Whitworth Barnes

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Cathy Cate

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

David Fox

Ex-Officio Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Patsy Hazlewood

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Ashley Howell

Ex-Officio, Executive Director Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Michael Keeney

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

The Honorable Steve K. McDaniel

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Barbara Brown Street

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Scott Price

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Laura Travis

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Phillip Renfroe

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Sharon Dennis

DHSMC Liaison Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Lottie Ryans

Commissioner Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

Tennessee State Museum - Mission Statement - Adopted by DHSMC September 13, 2010

The mission of the Tennessee State Museum is to procure, preserve, exhibit, and interpret objects which relate to the social, political, economic, and cultural history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, and to provide exhibitions and programs for the educational and cultural enrichment of the citizens of the state.

Douglas Henry State Museum Commission - Mission Statement - Approved by DHSMC September 13, 2010

The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission was created with a primary function to oversee the operations of the state museum.  The Commission is also entrusted by statute with establishing the strategic direction of the museum, with an emphasis on the educational and cultural enrichment of the citizens of this state.  As such, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that the citizens of this state have access and exposure to the museum collections and special changing exhibits, and that current collections are preserved appropriately and exposed to the public.  Further, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that future acquisitions are made in a deliberate manner in support of the mission and goals of the museum, for the purpose of the educational and cultural enrichment of citizens of the state.

2010 Tennessee Code - Title 4 - State Government - Chapter 20 - Art 

Part 3 - Douglas Henry State Museum Commission 
4-20-303 - Transfer of duties and functions from the Tennessee arts commission - Function of the commission.

(a)  The duties and functions of the Tennessee arts commission relative to the operation of the state museum are transferred to the Douglas Henry state museum commission.

(b)  The primary function of the commission shall be to oversee the operations of the state museum. The commission shall also be entrusted with establishing the strategic direction of the museum, with an emphasis on the educational and cultural enrichment of the citizens of this state. The commission shall work to ensure that the citizens of this state have access and exposure to the museum collections and special changing exhibits, and that the current collections are preserved appropriately and exposed to the public. The commission shall also work to ensure that future acquisitions are made in a deliberate manner in support of the mission and goals of the museum, for the purpose of educating the citizens of this state.

[Acts 2009, ch. 497, §§ 1, 7.]