Lynn: I encountered a similar case recently when I was the Regional 
Museums Adviser in a NSW country centre.

In your case, I would argue that the first step should be to prepare a 
simple inventory with a minimum of description that is held both 
digitally and also in hard copy. For this task the owner should enter 
into a contract with a suitably experienced and independent person 
recommended by the museum. While the cost should be met by the owner, it 
may be possible to obtain a grant for this documentation. (Unfamiliar US 
territory for me.) In our case the owner also  tape recorded comments on 
each artefact while the list was being prepared. The list (and tape 
recording) can then be examined by the curators (assuming more than 
one), so that an assessment is made. I would avoid giving the owner any 
indication of value at this early stage.

In another case about twenty years ago, the museum curator accepted the 
task of preparing the list with a provisional valuation of artefacts (a 
copy going to the owner). The owner then promptly withdrew some 
artefacts from the collection and either sold the valuable ones or 
donated them elsewhere. Members of our committee were quite upset!

Once you have the internally assessed inventory,  you should be in a 
stronger position to make a decision or two. It is also a good idea for 
only one person to handle the delicate negotiations, although it is 
useful for a second museum representative to be present; but definitely 
not all the members of a committee.

An additional complication in Australia is legislation covering 
donations of artefacts to a museum with a valuation for tax purposes.

Desmond Kennard
Museums in the making
HILL TOP NSW 2575
Australia

Lynn Laffey wrote:

>As this list has been so helpful in the past...any ideas, thoughts or 
>recommendations to this new situation would be helpful.
>
>Our institution has been contacted about a "large collection of early 
>Americana covering every conceivable implent of farming, industry and 
>domestive life dating from the 1850's on (with a few possible objects from 
>the 1600s, 1700s and early 1800s)."  At this time I do not know just how 
>many objects we are talking about, but was told several hundred.
>
>While the current owner decides what to do with her collection, she has 
>asked for recommendations about how to start dealing with her collection in 
>preparation for it's eventual and possible donation.  It has already been 
>recommended to start with a complete computerized inventory of the 
>collection (which would be in preparation for an appraisal) with digital 
>photographs.  Just a note: The owner can not do this herself (she just 
>turned 90) and there are no family members in the area to help with this 
>task.  In addition, an oral history has also been recommended.
>
>This leads to the question...what would you suggest to do in preparation 
>for this possible donation?  Should the initial inventory be done by an 
>appraiser or an outside consultant?  
>
>Also, any recommendations for someone who does oral histories and/or 
>inventoring of collections in New Jersey would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Lynn Laffey
>Supervising Preservation Specialist
>Morris County Park Commission
>
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