I have recently begun working at a museum where the collections are a 
confusing mess.  Currently the museum assigns an accession #(2004.2) and a 
catalog #(9788). The Acc# is attached only to the Deed of Gift and each item 
that is accepted receives a catalog number.  This double numbering started a 
few years ago.  The objects are marked with the catalog number and an index 
card is created using this number. Additionally a card is created for 
subject and if the donor has previously donated the object is added to that 
card, if not, a card is created. There is also no folder created for each 
object.  The Deed of Gift is put in a folder where all of the years 
donations are kept-no particular order.  In addition, there are objects that 
have been accepted by the collections committee that have been waiting for 
several years to actually receive an accession number and be placed on 
shelves.  There are also objects that have been waiting for a determination 
since 2004.

If I want to know the information about an object I have to get the catalog 
# off the object, go to the file and get the accession number, then go to 
the yearly file and flip through until I find the Deed of Gift.  There is no 
real file where I can look at accompaning letters, condition reports, ect.

I have only recently become a curator and as such I have to have a solid 
argument for any changes I propose, I am hoping for some input. Pro's and 
Con's.

Starting now--
*Assign only an accession number  ie) 2006.10.2  year/Sequence of the 
transaction/2nd object in that transaction
*For all previousely accepted objects use the catalog number that is already 
assigned...including the ones accepted during the time when both catalog 
numbers and acc#'s were assigned.  All of these objects are already marked 
with the catalog number.
*Complete a condition report.
*Create a folder for each accession number-file Deed of Gift, Condition 
Reports, relevant provenance, ect.

Lastly, there is a fellow employee who has found it necessary to 
occasionally take objects from the shelves, without noting it...this 
concerns me because it is haphazard and as the curator I feel that only I 
and the Director should handle the objects without an OK from at least one 
of us.  I want to know, with relative ease, where everything is.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

Elaine

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