"1944 January 15: From ‘The Museum Collections: A Brief Report,’ by Alfred H. Barr, Jr.: 1. The Museum’s Purpose: A Suggested Restatement. Fourteen years ago in applying for a charter…the Museum stated that its purpose was ‘to encourage and develop the study of the modern arts and the application of such arts to manufacture and practical life.’ In this sentence the word ‘study’ is conspicuous. Doubtless it was used to reassure the Board of Regents as to the Museum’s serious educational intentions…I should like to propose a new statement based upon a deeper and more active meaning of education than is implied by the word ‘study.’ This statement would be: The primary purpose of the Museum is to help people enjoy, understand and use the visual arts of our time. By enjoyment I mean the pleasure and recreation offered by the direct experience of works of art. By helping to understand I mean answering the questions raised by works of art such as: why? how? who? when? where? what for? — but not so much to add to the questioner’s store of information as to increase his comprehension. By helping to use I mean showing how the arts may take a more important place in everyday life, both spiritual and practical. Obviously, these three activities — enjoying, understanding, using — should be thought of as interdependent. Each confirms, enriches and supports the others. Together they indicate the Museum’s primary function, which is educational in the broadest, least academic sense."

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