>Hi everyone -
>Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US.
>
>I am writing a paper on how museums resolve the problems raised by
>collections that predate registration procedures.  This can include
>arttifacts without any number or documentation, missing objects, multiple
>numbering systems, conflicting stories about provenance, etc.  Other than
>doing a complete physical inventory (expensive and time-consuming), can
>anyone share how   some museums handle these issues?  Does anyone have
>interesting anecdotes to share on this topic?  Any lastly, any
>suggestions for reading materials, books or articles?
>
>TIA.  I look forward to a packed mailbox when I get back from turkey eating!
>
>Miriam
>[[log in to unmask]]

Each year we receive an accession number in which we include all items
found in the collection that year w/o accession numbers attached.  The FIC
accession number serves as a temporary tracking number until such time the
object's real number is discovered.  The object can sometimes be tracked by
going through the catalog card system, which is based on Chennall, and
checking descriptions.  Once the original number is found, the original
number is reapplied to the piece.  No deaccession procedure is needed
because the object is not being removed from the permanent collection but
merely being reunited with its original number.  The temporary number
assigned is never used again.