There are a number of very good books on this topic.   I recommend
Cataloguing From Scratch - A Manual for Cataloguing Undocumented Collections
in Small Museums by Carolien M. Stuckert (1991).   It appears to be
available from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums
(http://www.cmiregistration.com/user/org/program.jxp?id=16607&org=231).

Janice Klein
Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
[log in to unmask]
www.mitchellmuseum.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Andrew Washburn
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 11:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Collection Policies for historic homes...


Hello all!

I am writing for advice. I have recently agreed to aid
in the drafting of a collections management policy for
a small organization with a large and varied
collection. The organization is focused on preserving
the artwork and legacy of a regionally famous artist
and civil rights leader.

The collection includes everything from a modest
house, origanl artwork, ethnographic art, rare books
and documents to towers of old magazines and everyday
household items, like silverware, (non-antique and
broken) appliances, tools and clothes.

The organization is young and recently hired its first
museum professional director. Needless to say, no
coherent policy exists today.

My question is...

Are there any good precedents out there...?

Do you all know of any similar "grandma attic"
situations, where an institution had to construct a
flexible policy in order to weed out the trash,
dispose ethically of important and valuable (but not
necessarily significant to the mission) artifacts, as
well as protect the integrity of the collection?

How about usefull resources (i.e. books, papers,
etc.)?

Thanks for the input! Please feel free to email me off
the list [log in to unmask]

-Andrew

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