on 6/20/2001 1:04 PM, Christine Dwyer at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> I feel that the only solution is to refuse, but that decision may be taken
> away from me if these officials get involved.  Any suggestions?

    You get to choose!

    Legally, the donor has no standing. By signing the donor agreement, the
donor agreed to transfer ownership to the museum. Your bosses have no legal
standing to force you to return the object to the donor.

    That having been said, there is the issue of the value of the object to
the collection vs. the value of good relationships with the public and the
public perception of your institution.

    If the object is of high value to your collections, then you are
justified in insisting that it stay in the collections, whether or not it is
on display.

    If the value of the object to your collections is marginal or nil, then
you must weigh that value against the ill will generated by the door if you
refuse his or her request. You can make a case for deaccessioning the object
and returning it to the donor, without compromising your position.

    Don't worry about setting a precedent and all that. This is a single
case that will be resolved for the good of the institution.

    Michael A. Lewis

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