Glencairn Museum was established in 1980, as a subsidiary organization of the Academy of the New Church.  It is overseen by a Museum Advisory Council, but it must ultimately answer to the Academy of the New Church Board of Trustees.  In 2009, Glencairn (along with three other nearby buildings) was granted status as part of the Bryn Athyn National Landmark District and is a member of the Bryn Athyn Historic District Committee which oversees the cooperation between the different units that make up the district.  Glencairn Museum is housed in "Glencairn," the former home of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn which was gifted to the Academy of the New Church by their descendants, along with most of the art collections contained in the building.  The existing items in the Academy Museum on the campus of the Academy Secondary Schools were moved to Glencairn and the building with newly installed galleries was opened to the public in 1981.  The original director was Martin Pryke, retired president of the Academy of the New Church.  He was succeeded by Stephen Morley.  Glencairn Museum houses an associated archives which contains (besides the operating records of Glencairn Museum) the manuscript collections of Raymond/Mildred Pitcairn and Raymond's parents John/Gertrude Pitcairn as well as the Bryn Athyn Cathedral Collection and a small Historic District research collection.

Note written by Gregory Jackson