First off, check the State of Washington regulations on the disposal of assets of a non-profit organization.  Some years back, when I was an officer of a Wisconsin non-profit organization, I received a booklet from the Office of the Wisconsin Secretary of State which indicated that, upon dissolution, a non-profit's assets could only be distributed to other non-profits.  Unless the officers and representatives of the museum want to be liable for taxes on items disposed of without regard to the relevant State of Washington laws, this would be the first step.

Perhaps AAM, AASLH or state or regional organizations could offer some advice.  In the current economic situation with both private and public sector support being reduced, it's likely there will be more mergers and museum closings.  This might make an interesting program at an annual meeting, assuming there is enough similarity in the way the different states regulate this process.

Judy Turner
Whitefish Bay, WI


--- On Fri, 11/7/08, Rene Legler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Rene Legler <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Collections of Closing Museum
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Friday, November 7, 2008, 6:22 PM
> This is sent from the Curator of my museum, her email is
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Dear Museum-L,
> 
> Does anyone know what obligations to collections museums
> are under if they have to close? I looked in Marie
> Malaro's museum collection legal book but didn't
> find anything dealing with a museum closure. Our private
> non-profit museum plans to merge with a national monument
> visitor center when we raise the building funds. The
> original plan was for it to be a combined museum and visitor
> center but it is unknown how our collections will be handled
> as the merger takes place. We want to have a plan if part or
> all the collections are not transferred.
>         I'm trying to establish what our obligations
> are to be able to inform the transition committee. I would
> assume we would try to find homes for things with other
> museums but a lot of our stuff is so technical that may be
> difficult!
> You may contact me on or off list.
> 
> Connie Estep
> Curator
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Columbia River Exhibition
> of History, Science & Technology
> 95 Lee Boulevard
> Richland, WA  99352
> Phone:  509-943-9000
> Fax:  509-943-1770 


      

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