A Special Relationship Part III: The Gann Museum Becomes a Non-Profit 

In my previous article, I talked about how the library leased the Gann Building to the Saline County Art League in the ‘70s and how the first Gann Museum Board was formed. Now I’m going to talk about the next step in the museum’s journey. To become an independent non-profit, Pat Dunnahoo and the other board members had to file incorporation papers which needed to be approved by the government. On June 1, 1980, the Arkansas Gazette published an article saying that the board had filed a petition to form a nonprofit organization. Board Secretary Arlene Rainey said they had not yet begun collecting items as they weren’t “that far along yet,” and that the State Archeological Office had agreed to provide monthly exhibits.¹ 

The day after, on June 2, the Benton Courier announced that the incorporation papers of the Gann Museum of Saline County were approved by Circuit Judge John Cole of Sheridan. Now, as an official non-profit organization, the 13-person board of directors could begin their work. The board of directors at that time consisted of Pat Dunnahoo, Arlene Rainey, Samuel Callie, Jerrene Holliman, Doris M. Galbraith, Jeff Cook, Judy Smith, Cherry Demuth, Janice Parker, Valine B. Mayer, Sebert Magby, Jean Cowden, and Gwen Evitts.² 

The Gann Museum’s debut was announced in the Benton Courier on Sunday, October 14, 1980. The exhibits at that time included “items depicting Saline County life from the days of the Indians through World War I and II.”³ The museum was open every Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm and other times by appointment. Dunnahoo said that there was no charge for visiting the museum.⁴ The Gann Museum is still free to visit but the exhibits have changed a bit.