New Agreement Renews Plan For TU To Manage Gilcrease Museum

The University of Tulsa and Tulsa city leaders have resurrected a deal that will let TU take over control of Gilcrease Museum.  The plan fell through last month because of a disagreement between the university and the Gilcrease Family trust. 

TU wanted to remove a "reversion clause" that could, under certain circumstances, give back some of the museum's collection to the family.  The family wanted to be compensated in return.  Instead, the two sides have agreed to leave the original deal between the city and the family as is.

"That remains intact.  It has the same force and effect that it has had since 1963.  Nothing changes about our relationship with the family.  And we look forward to having a good working relationship with them in the future," said Tulsa's Director of Community Development and Education Initiatives, Susan Neal. 

The city of Tulsa says the University of Tulsa will bring much-needed expertise and a unified management to the museum.  Up until now, the management has been shared by three different groups, which one expert called "dysfunctional".