Support for Museum

On behalf of the staff, boards and supporters of the California Afro-American Museum (CAAM), I wish to express my deep appreciation for your fair and timely editorial (“Save These Two Local Treasures,” June 29) on the predicament of both CAAM and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Since its publication, we have experienced a modest increase in support by the corporate community, with TRW and GTE among the most recent companies that have provided funding for museum programs and issues. Two well-respected and long-established African-American businesses, Broadway Federal Savings and Loan (which lost its main branch during the recent unrest) and Angelus Funeral Home, came to the aid of our summer junior docent program, providing for the employment of 10 teen-agers in the museum. Several professional associations have also asked what they can do to keep CAAM open and moving forward.

Your editorial has helped energize both our traditional supporters as well as new ones. Although the state’s economy and the budget stalemate have continued to hamper the operation of this museum, as well as many other state facilities, the support generated from the public has helped to mitigate the problem.

TERRIE S. ROUSE

Museum Executive Director

Los Angeles