TU-Museum Deal Falls Through

Thursday, December 27th 2007, 5:35 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The University of Tulsa apparently will not be taking over the management of the Thomas Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. City officials and TU President Steadman Upham say a contract between the city, the university and the Gilcrease family could not be agreed upon.

Upham says in an e-mail to faculty that negotiations were stalled by longtime differences between the Gilcrease family and the city of Tulsa.

An effort to allow TU to manage the museum began in October after a report from a museum expert called the museum's management structure "dysfunctional" with the potential to jeopardize the collection.

The Gilcrease has been without a director since January when Joe Schenk was reassigned to the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum after being fired by the Gilcrease Association.

Related stories:

8/6/2007 TU Might Takeover Management At Gilcrease

100/9/2007 Changes In The Works At Gilcrease Museum