I would think that the impetus for the deaccessioning matters in answering
this question.  If the item is being removed b/c it is no longer viable or
in disrepair, that does not connote a moral decision or judgement as to the
nature of the item.  However, if the item is deaccessioned specifically
because it, by it's very nature, is considered offensive, then I would
construe that as "editing" the content of the collection.

Anne Doss

PS--I'd like to thank everyone for their responses so far; please keep them
coming!


>From: Jill Brush <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: research help
>Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 13:16:49 -0600
>
>Does deaccessioning fall into the category of "editing a collection?"
>
>Jill Brush
>Curator
>Kansas State Historical Society
>
>========================================================Important
>Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
>http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain
>detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line
>e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message
>should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
>[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
>Museum-L" (without the quotes).

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).