I am surprised that no one has mentioned looking to the original loan
contract for an answer to this situation.  Generally, loan documents have
clauses that alert the lender right up front what will occur if they fail to
take possession of their artifacts at the close of the loan period.  I
recall one that I used to use that specified that "the loaned items, if not
claimed within 90 days, will be placed in storage at the lender's expense."
Seems to me that if you sign a document with this clause in it, you are on
the hook for the storage fees until you see fit to retrieve the stuff.

If your loan agreement does not have language that covers this situation, it
should.  And, if this loan originally from a staff member was not covered by
a signed loan contract, then you screwed up.  You shouldn't have any
artifacts come in through your doors that are not covered by a signed piece
of paper that explains their status within your building--temporary receipt,
gift agreement, or loan contract--everything should be covered by one of
them.

If you can get this person to talk to someone on your staff, you should let
them know what the consequences of not taking back their stuff will be.  I
agree that you should not go the abandoned property route--just try to get
it back in their hands as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Claudia J. Nicholson
Curator
Museum Collections Department
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. W.
St. Paul, MN  55102-1906
  e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
  Phone:  651-297-7442
  FAX:  651-297-2967

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