1/6/98

Perhaps check with your state Attorney General's office for "Abandoned
Property" legislation.  We have had similar instances; any unwanted items
are noted, not accessioned, and handed over to auction house representatives
for disposal.  Any monetary gain from the items are then cross-referenced as
originating from said objects.

Kristi Alexander
Manager of Collections & Registration
McClung Museum
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
423-974-6384

At 19:17 05/01/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Recently, someone dropped off an item at our museum (literally left it on
>the front steps). We have no idea who left it, and no documentation
>whatsoever. It is not in very good shape, either, and we do not want to add
>it to our collections. Unfortunately, as it was donated anonymously, we
>can't give it back, either.
>
>The sticky part: neither Wisconsin statutes nor our collections policy
>address unsolicited anonymous "drop-off" donations. Has anyone else ever
>run into this situation? Does anyone have a policy that covers this type of
>situation? What about if the item was something we did intend to accession?
>
>Any assistance in clarifying our options/responsibilities in this matter
>will be appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>
>Meg Ehr
>Curator
>Outagamie Museum and Houdini Historical Center
>330 E. College Ave.
>Appleton, WI  54911
>(920) 735-9370
>
>