At this point the objects can be considered to be yours. If there is no loan
agreement, and if you are not in violation of any agreement that has been
documented, then the concept of "abandonment" comes into play. After a
certain point, if someone has not claimed their property it is considered
abandoned and as holder of the property you own it. If the descendent makes
any trouble you cold always try to collect "storage fees" for the
intervening four decades. Don't expect that you will have any problems
unless the objects are monetarily very valuable. Ask an attorney for
definitive answers in your state.
Cheers, -Nicholas
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Susannah West
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 3:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Requests to Rescind Donations
I'm so glad this topic has come up, because it is something that has been
really concerning me lately. We have several items in our collections
that were LOANED, apparently in the early 1960s, which don't have any loan
agreement documentation associated with them as far as anyone knows (or if
there was, it's gone missing). A couple of years ago, a descendant of the
original lender wanted to see these items (which ARE on display, as we have
absolutely no storage space) but wasn't able to as the museum was closed
at the time. I have since tried to contact her, but received no
response. I have a nightmare that she will show up and demand them back.
I brought up this concern to our Board of Directors, and it came as a total
surprise to them that these items were on loan rather than the property of
the Ohio Historical Society. I've queried the Ohio Historical Society, and
have gotten the advice that I should probably "let sleeping dogs lie." But
what happens when the dogs wake up?!
Susannah West
John Rankin House, Ripley, Ohio
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