Bill Maurer wrote to ask whether his museum should share their laboriously
collected biographical research with another researcher who has asked for "a
copy of everything".  The latter hopes to create a publication based on some
of this material, possibly "scooping" the museum.

In the abstract, its my opinion that museums and libraries are institutions
that exist for the generation and distribution of knowledge, which should be
freely shared with anyone who cares to have it.  As a matter of concrete
experience I've found that doing so creates enormous goodwill and makes a
substantial contribution to the perceived integrity of the insitution.  And
as a museum professional in a world of permanently scant resources, I've
found that it's folly to compete with others for a piece of work--there are
so many things that need to get done that if someone else can provide the
energy to carry a project forward, you should support them and shift your
own focus to something else that is languishing for lack of attention.

I urge the keeping of open books, collections records, and access to
information in general.

Phillip R. Seitz
Curator of History
Cliveden of the National Trust
6401 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA  19144
215-848-1777

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