How is handling by a "patron" with specialized training in a particular
art/craft worse than a "researcher" whose greatest dexterity might be
"hunt-and-peck" typing?

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 Heather-Marie Wells
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 9:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Requests for Photographs by Artists/Furniture Makers


I'm not sure about all the legal issues.  And I know that this is just my
gut reaction as a person who works in collections management, but the idea
of a patron handling an artifact gives me the willies.  I know I would
suggest that they tell the museum what measurements they would want and then
let a museum representative take the measurements.  I know I would just feel
better knowing that a more experienced/trained person is handling the
object.

Something else you might want to consider is finding some good furniture
building books that have patterns for furniture similiar to yours.  There
are a lot of books out there that deal with how to build "antique" or shaker
style furniture.  Then you could sell these in your gift shop (provided you
have one) and possibly make a little money for the museum budget.

Heather Marie Wells

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