The MSU Museum has a strong tradition of international research and outreach. Founded in 1857, two years after the university (then known as Michigan Agricultural College) came into existence, the MSU Museum was one of the first museums on a college campus in the Midwest and is one of the oldest university museums in the country. Its mission statement makes it clear that it is strongly "committed to understanding, interpreting, and respecting natural and cultural diversity. As Michigan's land grant university museum, this commitment to society is met through education, exhibitions, research, and the building and stewardship of collections that focus on Michigan and its relationship to the Great Lakes, and the world beyond."

Although born in the middle of the nineteenth century, the museum is not pursuing its mission in a nineteenth century manner. In fact, it approaches its mission in a vigorously future-minded twenty-first century mode-in part through virtual exhibitions on the Internet, several of which have an international focus or contain images of an international nature. In this way, the virtual exhibitions also promote international access to the MSU Museum's collections and exhibits. Exhibitions on African art and artists, Native American quilting, and Arab-Americans in Michigan all have international aspects, and clearly support the international mission of MSU.

Shown here are images from the MSU Museum virtual exhibitions of African art. We hope they will entice you into exploring the virtual exhibitions, using the following URLs:

• African Connections http://www.museum.msu.edu/museum/exhibitions/ afcon/index.html
• Ethiopia: Traditions of Creativity http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~etoc/ index2.html
• All MSU Museum virtual exhibitions can be accessed through http://www.museum.msu.edu/museum/exhibitions/index.html