Jane (and Margaret)

I am wrestling with this issue from a slightly different angle.  I am trying
to develop policy which addresses how we determine what is a collection item
and what is a prop/dressing item, at the time of creation of an exhibit.  I
have seen many examples of the subsequent (by many years, usually)
acquisition of a former prop into a collection (but in the total absence of
policy).

Something made by the Museum (or commissioned by it) as a prop may be
clearly not a collection item [now], but what about historical or natural
objects deliberately collected as props which are identical or very similar
to items included in the museum's collection (or that of another museum0.  I
think especially of "hands - on items used (especially) in children's
activity centres.)

So I don't have the answer for you, but I would be very interested to learn
of any answers you may get from the Net.

Regards

Stuart Park
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa,
PO Box 11-566, Wellington, New Zealand.
Phone (+64) 4 - 382-6600
Fax (+64) 4 - 382-6606

Email [log in to unmask]
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From: owner-museum-l
To: Multiple recipients of list MUSEUM-L
Subject: MUSEUM PROPS / DRESSING
Date: Friday, 8 September 1995 02:52PM

If anyone has a response to the following message, I will forward it.  The
author is one of my Museum Studies students, who is conducting a short
research project into the issue.
 ---------------
Are there any museums which have a policy (formally or informally) of
saving exhibition props/ dressing after an exhibition's life-span by either
putting them into a collection, or recycling for future exhibitions?

Does anyone have any experience that they would share with me?

Jane Bovill

 ----------------
MARGARET BIRTLEY

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        Postal  Museum Studies Unit
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