The Friends of the Doncaster Museums
The Friends of
the Doncaster Museums
Welcome
To our website.
The Friends of the Doncaster Museums is a charitable organisation supporting Doncaster’s museums, art gallery and the City of Doncaster Archives.
We raise funds to acquire and preserve objects for these institutions, helping to build on their important work.
Our group organises educational activities, and events for its members, to stimulate interest in the arts, history and heritage within Doncaster and surrounding area.
Please Consider supporting us by becoming a member, details on joining can be found on our contact page, or donating via the links to the left, it all helps towards fulfilling our aims and is very much appricated.
Fundraiser
Portrait of William Sheardown
We are currently raising funds to conserve a mid 19th century painting by William Beetham, it is in a poor condition and cannot be displayed.
The sitter in the portrait, William Sheardown (1768 - 1849), was a local business man and publisher of the Doncaster Gazette.
If you would like to donate, even a couple of pounds would help, please visit the GoFundMe page, setup by our Chair Nathan Turnbull, link below. For more informtion about the painting please see our article.
There is a short video, supporting out fundraiser, available on YouTube
Divorce in Victorian
Doncaster
Our talk in March was presented by Nicola Fox.
To read more about this event please click on the link below:
Civic Mayor Award
The Friends of the Doncaster Museums has been recognised for its work in supporting, promoting, and enriching the culture and herritage of our community.
To read more about this award please click on the link below:
Victorian Manuscript
A volume of inquest witness statements was recently acquired by the City of Doncaster Archives, with support from The Friends of the Doncaster Museums.
To read more about this fasinating document please click on the link below:
John Hope
Lasting Memories of Doncaster County Borough Police -
The Start of a Police Career
The talk was held at DGLAM, Flying Scotsman room, on
Saturday 28th February.
For more about this event please click on the link below:
Angela Wren
My Life in Books & My Journey to Publication
Opening event of 2026, held on 31st January.
A talk by actor, director, and author Angela Wren, to read more about this event please click on the link below:
Dunhuang to Doncaster
Opening event held on 8th Novemeber 2025
Members and Trustees of The Friends of the Doncaster Museums attended the opening of this stunning exhibition, for details and photographs please click on the link below.
AGM
Held on 13th September 2025
Our Annual General meeting has now taken place, please click on the links below for more information.
Who We Are and What We Do
Raising Funds
Supporting the acquisition, preservation and display of objects for the Doncaster Museums, art gallery, and the educational activities of their staff.
For more information click here.
Talks, Socials and
Day trips
Each year our group organises a programme of activities including educational talks for our members, about the museums, their collections and the history of Doncaster.
For more information click here.
The City of Doncaster Archives
Adding and preserving items, contributing to the important work done by the City of Doncaster archives.