Greetings Everyone,

In my 30 years as a curator at the Philadelphia History Museum (AKA Atwater
Kent Museum) donors of to the collections usually say one thing to me
and then ask a question, the statement is something like, "I am so happy
that this is going somewhere that it is going to be taken care of and be
seen."  The questions is, almost inevitably, "When you put this on exhibit
will there be a plaque(label) with my name on it where people can see it?"

I have insisted (through 6 directors) that, unless instructed not to by the
donor or lender, that they be acknowledged in the identification labels in
our exhibitions.  There are four reasons for this:1) it honors the
donor/lender contribution to the institution; 2) most donors and
lenders want to be acknowledged; 3) it lets people know that they can
donate to the collections or lend to exhibitions; and 4) when one of my
directors did not allow the donors to be listed on exhibit labels I had to
stand in a gallery and take it when a donor ripped me a new one because her
name was not on a label.  I took her up to meet the Director so that she
could make her feelings known to the person responsible.  That donor's name
appeared on the label the next day and donors have been acknowledged ever
since.

Donors and lenders are being very generous and their generosity needs to be
acknowledged publically and not just in a letter from the director for
their tax returns. I am quite happy to list a donation or loan as anonymous
if I am instructed to on the gift or loan forms.

Jeffrey R. Ray
Senior Curator
Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent

On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 1:54 PM, lucysperlin <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
>
> Maybe it’s outdated, but I was taught that having donor information on an
> exhibit label is of interest only to the donors and people who know them –
> for everyone else it just a distraction that dilutes the message of the
> label and clutters it visually.****
>
> ** **
>
> I suppose that’s one of those typical museum ‘balancing act’ decision -
> deciding if having such information on the label encourages important
> donations to a degree that outweighs the negative impact on our
> interpretive message.  Probably the approach that you take on recreated
> historical settings could also be used for all other exhibits as well.****
>
> ** **
>
> Cathy’s comment about security for the donors is definitely another factor
> to weigh in.****
>
> ** **
>
> Lucy Sperlin****
>
>  ****
>
> ** **
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* **Museum discussion list** [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Jackson, Martha
> *Sent:* Friday, June 28, 2013 8:53 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders****
>
> ** **
>
> A few years ago, we began adding the source of the artifact to the bottom
> of the object label, along with the accession number.  When the donor(s)
> sign(s) the Deed of Gift, he/she also checks the block seeking permission
> to use name in exhibits, publications, etc. The source includes name, city,
> state.  For example,****
>
>  ****
>
> HS.2013.1.1    Gift of Mr. & Mrs. John Doe, Anywhere, N.C.****
>
>  ****
>
> If the donor(s) did not give permission, then we list it as an anonymous
> donation.****
>
>  ****
>
> We use the same format for loans--IF we have permission of the lender.
> Otherwise we note that it was loaned anonymously.****
>
>  ****
>
> We began using this format as a way to acknowledge donors and lenders, and
> the public seems to like it.  If we are exhibiting objects in a recreated
> historical setting, we list all donors and lenders on a separate panel
> without noting which objects were given/loaned.****
>
>  ****
>
> Martha ****Battle**** Jackson, Chief Curator****
>
> ****North Carolina**** Division of State Historic Sites and Properties
> Mailing Address: 4620 **Mail** **Service** **Center**, ****Raleigh**, **NC
> **  **27699-4620****
> Street Address:  ****430 North Salisbury Street, Suite 1115**, **Raleigh**,
> **NC**  **27604****
> 919/733-7862; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515****
>
> E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the
> North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
> The views expressed by the sender may not reflect those of my agency.****
>    ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Cathy Osterman [[log in to unmask]]
> *Sent:* Friday, June 28, 2013 10:48 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders****
>
> Good morning everyone,
>
> What is your museum's policy regarding identifying object lenders on
> labels within an exhibit? Are items and objects matched up on labels or do
> you utilize a common panel to list all lenders together? I was taught not
> to match up lenders and items within the exhibit for security purposes but
> I've seen it done both ways.  Also, do you label every object as coming
> from your own collection or is it assumed?
>
> My museum is trying to write an exhibits policy and we've looked at the
> Smithsonian's policy, among others. More than a standard to follow, I am
> interested in learning why a museum would choose one way over another.
> Would anyone care to share with me your museum's exhibit philosophy?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Cathy Osterman
> Curator/ Archivist
> ****Northfield**** Historical Society
> ****Northfield**, **MN****
>  ****
>
> ** **
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>
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-- 
Jeffrey R. Ray
Senior Curator
Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
15 South 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2313
215.843.1713 voice 215.685.4837 fax

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