MISSION
The mission of The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is to educate, inspire, and delight people of all ages by collecting, displaying, and interpreting toys and miniatures that illuminate diverse narratives and cultural heritage.
VISION
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures ignites curiosity and imagination through transformative experiences. In collaboration with our communities, we explore the meaning and significance of how art and play give meaning to our society and highlight our shared history through the lenses of miniatures and toys.
Learn more about the history of the museum in a short introduction video HERE.
HISTORY
The Museum was established in 1982 as the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, featuring the collections of Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Hall Marshall. Operating in the historic Tureman Mansion on the corner of 52nd and Oak on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, the 7,500-square-foot museum had two full-time staff members.
Over the next 30 years with expansions in 1989 and 2004, the Museum grew to 33,000 square feet. During the same period, the collection increased to over 72,000 objects. In 2012, the museum embarked on its first public capital campaign to raise $10.2 million to support building and exhibit improvements. The campaign raised $10.73 million, and the Museum began a 19-month renovation in 2014.
The Museum reopened as The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures on August 1, 2015, with the world’s largest fine-scale miniature collection and one of the nation’s largest historic toy collections on public display. The Museum’s collection currently numbers more than 93,000 objects – and counting.
Today, the Museum is a place where art meets history and every visitor leaves feeling a little younger.
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1982
T/m was established as the Miniature Museum of Kansas City
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1989
Museum expansion
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2004
The museum grew to 33,000 square feet during another expansion. With this expansion, the museum was able to increase its collection to feature over 72,000 objects
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2005
Mary Harris Francis (co-founder) passes away
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2010
Barbara Hall Marshall (founder) retires
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2012
The museum embarked on its first public capital campaign to raise $10.2 million to support building and exhibit improvements
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2014
Raising $10.73 million, the museum began a 19-month renovation
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2015
The museum reopened as The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, with the world's largest fine-scale miniature collection and one of the nation's largest historic toy collections on public display
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2016
Toys from the Attic exhibit receives Leadership in History Merit Award from the American Association of State and Local History
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2018
Playing for Keeps: The VFW Marble Tournaments, 1947-1962, exhibit receives Leadership in History Merit Award from the American Association of State and Local History
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2021
Barbara Hall Marshall (co-founder) passes away
our staff
ADMINISTRATION
MARKETING
DEVELOPMENT
COLLECTION/ LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT
Madeline Rislow, Curator/ Sr. Manager of Learning and Engagement
rislowm@toyandminiaturemuseum.org 816.235.8004
Rachel Wathen, Museum Educator, Volunteers and Group Tours
rachelwathen@toyandminiaturemuseum.org 816.235.8011
Faith Ordonio, Museum Educator, K-12 and Family Programs
faithordonio@toyandminiaturemuseum.org 816.235.8005VISITOR SERVICES
Melvin Brooks, Earned Revenue and Visitor Services Manager
melvinbrooks@toyandminiaturemuseum.org 816.235.8007
Nathan Ford, Visitor Services Representative
WORK STUDY STUDENTS
Everett Dufur, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
Tayt Tillman, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
Sukhmun Kaur, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
Cameron McCaslin, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
Thomas Kelly, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
Andrew Bates, Strategic Initiative Coordinator
board of directors
MUSEUM FOUNDERS/ Mary Harris Francis, Barbara Marshall
OFFICERS/ Corey Ziegler (Chair), Anne Manning (Vice Chair), William A. Hall (Treasurer), Rachel Sterbenz (Secretary)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ Dr. Antonio Byrd, Wolfe Brack, Troy Lillebo, Teresa Martinez, Margaret McGuiness, Saralyn Reece Hardy, Susan Stanton, Jean-Paul Wong
COMMITTEE MEMBERS/ Lori Beam, Julia Gargallo, Julia Jackson, Bob Simmons, Carla Smocks
HONORARY DIRECTORS EMERITI/ J. Scott Francis, David Francis, Margaret Silva
Careers
Thank you for your interest in working at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. The Museum is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a highly qualified workforce and offers a variety of career opportunities. At The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, employees enrich and develop their love of museums, history, and art while contributing their specific skills and talents to the museum mission. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer. For more information on our diversity mission, visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website. Join the T/m team today!
Part-Time Visitor Services Representative
The purpose of this role is to support the Museum’s mission, strategy, and DEAI goals by providing exceptional hospitality and visitor experiences to all individuals and groups visiting the museum. The Visitor Services Representative sells admissions and Museum Store merchandise, answers questions, and provides visitors access to amenities. The ideal candidate will possess an optimistic, welcoming attitude and strong attention to detail, communication, multi-tasking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with other museum staff. This position will remain open until filled with review of applications to begin immediately.
Visitor Services RepresentativeStrategic Administrative Coordinator
The Strategic Administrative Coordinator role involves coordinating special projects and handling administrative tasks related to operational, fundraising and programmatic aspects. The Strategic Administrative Coordinator will provide support for the Executive Director/CEO and projects across departments. This position will remain open until it is filled, with an initial review date of April 22, 2024.
Strategic Administrative CoordinatorSummer/Fall 2024 Research Fellows
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures invites applicants for summer and/or fall semester 2024 Research Fellows. These paid positions will play an integral part in a project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to make the Museum’s collection more accessible in digital format. Working with existing collecting records in PastPerfect Web Edition, the Research Fellow is responsible for conducting more in-depth investigation to enhance the interpretation of the collection. This includes drafting object ID labels and narrative/didactic text. Please submit a cover letter, CV/resume, and three references by Monday, March 4, 2024, to: Amy McKune, Curator / Senior Manager of Collections, mckunea@toyandminiaturemuseum.org.
FULL POSITION DESCRIPTIONSummer 2024 Learning and Engagement Internships
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures invites applicants for summer 2024 Learning and Engagement interns. Interns will help facilitate the museum’s summer programming, including the summer camp, drop-in activities, and tours between May 22 - July 31, 2024. Each position comes with a stipend, and interns will be provided with interpretive training and best classroom management practices as part of the experience. Please submit resume, names and contact information for two references, and a cover letter by Monday, March 4, 2024, to: Madeline Rislow, Curator / Senior Manager of Learning and Engagement, rislowm@toyandminiaturemuseum.org
FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION
press
For further information or to schedule a press visit, please contact by email at info@toyandminiaturemuseum.org or call 816.235.8009.
PRESS KITS
Museum Fact Sheet 2023
PHOTOGRAPHY
For high-resolution images of the museum and collection, please email to info@toyandminiaturemuseum.org or call 816.235.8009.
Please review the museum’s photography rights and permissions.
ANNUAL REPORTS & FINANCIALS
2018 Audit
2018 990
2019 Audit
2019 990
2020 Audit
2020 990
