Protect the Mütter

01/12/2024

Wondering where yesterday's WHYY article went? So are we!
Email and ask:
[email protected]
[email protected]

01/11/2024

EDIT: For reasons unknown, WHYY has taken down the article. Email WHYY [email protected] [email protected] and ask why!

A new article from WHYY sheds more light on the disastrous leadership running the Mütter. We can't share most of what we're told from inside sources because they fear for their jobs and careers, but it's incredibly bad. And on top of the HR issues, Quinn specifically states that she has an agenda that is NOT what the Mütter is about. It is a medical history museum. PLEASE speak out!! Share, call, email, message, flier...we NEED TO STOP THIS!! Help us protect the Mütter

Philadelphia's famous Mütter Museum of medical history started a national controversy in 2023 by removing all online exhibits and videos. The person at the heart of that, and the museum's important decisions going forward, is executive director Kate Quinn.

01/08/2024

You know what one of the biggest bummers of the new administration is? Other than the censorship or the lack of transparency and accountability, and the deluge of HR issues...the
Mütter Museum used to be cool. They had cool events that were fun and interesting to go to. Murder at the Mütter, Mischief at the Mütter, Merry Emporium, Civil War 'Refreshment Saloon', Historical Happy Hours, Book Clüb, freaking Death Salon...now it's so boring. Blood drives and orchestra performances are fine events but they're not what the Mütter is about. The current leadership is grinding the community and culture of Mütter Museum into the dirt and it sucks. All the staff that have left were so integral to the culture & community of the institution. Even non-event items like the Mütter Tree or the informational videos, were fun. There is a spirit to the
Mütter Museum that is being dangerously eroded. Social justice issues like climate change and reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights were championed. There was even a Día de Mu***os in the past. The current leadership doesn't *get* the Mütter. In the past, when you went to Mütter Museum, chances were you'd run into Robert Hicks or Gretchen Worden and they would be SO excited to talk to you and tell you about the institution and the collections.

It's become clearer and clearer that the board of
College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the current leadership doesn't get it. And they're choking the life out of the institution - or trying to. We won't let them. We won't let the Mütter Museum go the way of Atwater-Kent.

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter

01/03/2024

Out with the old, in with the new. May this be a restorative year for our beloved institution. Here are some ways you can help us protect the Mütter in the new year:

Share your concerns with the interim CEOs:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Be civil, concise, and clear. Communicate why you believe the path the Mütter is on is a mistake, and what you’d like them to do.

Call and Email Kate Quinn (as she specifically requested):

[email protected]
215-399-2336

Tell her how you feel. Be Civil.

Submit an op-ed to your local newspaper about why the Mütter is important to you and how you feel about the current leadership

Regularly share the PtM petition and posts

Keep up the pressure on the administration on social media

Keep being awesome! We so appreciate you. 🫀

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter

01/01/2024

Happy New Year from Protect the Mütter!! Wishing a restorative and productive 2024 for us all 🫀🎆

12/30/2023

So this is pretty cool! Our petition is one of the top 10 Change[dot]org petitions in Philadelphia this year! In fact, it's the 3rd most signed petition. That is thanks to you!! Thank you to our incredible supporters who read, signed, shared (and shared and shared and shared) the petition to Protect the Mütter.

We're only a few signatures away from 36k and we'd love to start the new year on a nice even number. If we hit 36k before 2024, we'll do another giveaway 🥳

12/25/2023

A Mütter Christmas Carol 💀

12/20/2023

Update - winner selected and posted to our Instagram! Thank you to all who participated

GIVEAWAY ALERT on our Instagram!

It's "the holiday season" so we thought we'd give some gifts to our amazing supporters. Enter to win by leaving a comment on our Instagram post tagging someone who isn't following us but should and enter to win! We'll be randomly picking THREE winners. (US shipping only, entries must be made before 12/20/23 11:59PM EST).

12/15/2023

Kate Quinn said in the recent Curating Bodies zoom talk that she accepts every interview and will talk to *anyone* who reaches out. So give her a call at 215-399-2336 and/or email [email protected] and prove her right! Please be respectful.

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter

12/15/2023

We are livetweeting this zoom. Comments are disabled but there is a Q&A. Recording will be available later (will post). Let us know if you have questions you'd like us to post!

12/13/2023

If you're looking for a great gift this holiday season, consider a Protect the Mütter shirt for your loved one(s)! Available from VollWunder on Etsy and WonderWitch Boutique! All proceeds go to the campaign, helping us boost social media posts and print materials. Links in comments.

12/09/2023

"Educational" is a bit of a stretch but....

The administration finally answered some questions about the cancelation of the Merry Emporium and unsurprisingly, they tried to throw staff under the bus again. Of course, that's poppycock and we know it. It's just another move to sanitize the Mütter and rob a unique and beloved institution of its culture and community to turn it into something it's not.

Mutter supporters say the cancellation is a sign of more unwelcome changes. The museum's new leadership says they're just trying something new.

12/07/2023

Happy first night of Chanuka from Protect the Mütter! 🕎

12/04/2023

An excellent op-ed by Dr. Marianne Hamel, forensic pathologist and the chair of the WILM Committee.

In its campaign to preserve the dignity of the dead, the leadership of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has forgotten how to treat the living with respect.

11/29/2023

A new article in the Philadelphia Inquirer today sheds light on how the current leadership is [mis]handling donations from living donors, including ones already made. Videos still down, requests not being honored, questioned unanswered. The leadership of the Mütter MUST change!

Past agreements with those who wanted to donate their skeletons and other anatomical parts to the museum are on hold as new management develops a human remains policy.

11/28/2023

It's "Giving Tuesday" so give the administration a piece of your mind- check out the newsletter! And if you're not subscribed, do that, too

There are SO many issues with the Mütter asking for money right now. It’s been over a month since the Public Feedback Town Hall and yet there has been no change in agenda or behavior. Dr. Mütter’s Merry Emporium being canceled is just one example of the leadership continuing to ignore and alie...

11/28/2023

The gall of the administration of College of Physicians to ask for donations this is honestly kind of shocking. Or it would be, if it wasn't totally in line with their tonedeaf approach to managing the Mütter.

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter

11/26/2023

Wow! We had a HUGE response to our Small Business Saturday shout-out post. We were able to share dozens of local small businesses, many of whom had previously vended at Dr. Mütter's Merry Emporium. Whether the administration of the Mütter Museum/ College of Physicians
realizes (or cares) they screwed over a lot of local makers and artists with the abrupt cancelation of the Emporium. They don't seem to understand the importance and vitality of the Mütter community Check out our Instagram/fb stories to see all the small businesses who participated.

11/25/2023

We're so grateful for our supporters, many of whom are artists, makers, and small business owners. Post your shop in the comments and we'll share it in our stories. Whether they meant to or not College of Physicians screwed over a bunch of local makers by canceling Dr. Mütter's Merry Emporium. We hope this helps

11/23/2023

The organizing team at Protect the Mütter wishes a Happy Thanksgiving to all who observe. We are so thankful for our amazing supporters, and for the progress we have made as an organization. At the same time, we must acknowledge the harmful origins of the holiday, as well our city, state and country. Today we'll be sharing resources from Indigenous groups who we encourage everyone to check out and support.

11/17/2023

We've been a little quiet this month because of some exciting developments behind-the-scenes. Our organizers have been engaged in very productive conversations with persons high up in the administration and feel cautiously optimistic about the future. Good things may be on the horizon.

It turns out someone WAS listening at the public feedback town hall 🤞🏻

11/06/2023

Some recent comments left on the petition that underline the importance of the collection and its display 🖤

11/05/2023

GO BIRDS 🦅🦅🦅

Dr. Mütter was a lifelong underdog who was no stranger to bitter rivalries. You know who he'd root for.

11/03/2023

A write-up on the goings on at the Mütter by The Bookish Historian is available now

Upheaval at a Philadelphia cultural heritage icon, Georgian ladies-of-ill-repute, and kings of skating.

11/02/2023

We've updated our Calls to Action to include signing up for the emails newsletter and signing up for Community Participation (links in comments)

11/01/2023

Rather than our organizing team writing a post for Día de Mu***os, we would like to invite supporters to check out local Hispanic and Latinx organizations who have information, events, and festivities in honor of the holiday. Check out this piece in the Inquirer today about the tradition, and keep an eye on our stories for local events and resources in honor of the day.

Día de los Mu***os is a vibrant celebration of ancestors and loved ones who have passed, filled with parades, costumes, and dance.

10/31/2023

Dr. Mütter's Merry Emporium is canceled.

Several supporters who have vended at the Merry Emporium in the past alerted us to this alarming development. The administration says they're "listening" but canceling another beloved and well-attended event indicates otherwise. TELL THE ADMINISTRATION THEY'RE MESSING UP!! Email [email protected] tweet, message, post (keep it civil).

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter

10/26/2023

We're going to have a table at the Bristol Alt Faire this Friday, 10/27! Come out to Energy Ripple in Bristol, PA to get some seriously limited edition PtM swag featuring art by Anne Hoskins and help support Protect the Mütter 💀

10/24/2023

The administration has finally released the recording of last week's public feedback town hall!! Check it out

Postmortem: Mütter Museum Project Kick OffWe are hosting a series of community meetings, workshops, and discussions to gather your input about our collective...

10/24/2023

It's been a week since the Public Feedback Town Hall and the recording still hasn't been made available. We are calling on the administration to release the recording of the town hall. Share this image and tag the Mütter Museum and College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Tell them to release the recording!

Help us protect the Mütter Museum! Sign the petition https://www.change.org/ProtecttheMutter