here is a story of the missing item that was most precious to the museum.

I was a student, preparing an exhibit on Fremont Indians, and my professor
(who was also the director of the museum) told me of a wonderful Fremont
figurine that was in excellent condition. It would be perfect for the
exhibit. I searched high and low, and of course, could not find it where the
records listed it should be. Because the item had been crossed off the box
list, I assumed someone had switched it's location, but failed to record the
new location in our database (or paper records). There was also a tradition
in that museum for certain professors to use collection items in class
without properly documenting the taking... so asking around for the figurine
ruffled a few feathers.

By sheer luck, I was helping one of the other student assistants in an
inventory, when she found the figurine. I believe it had been placed with
objects from another collection. The exhibit was saved (not to mention the
figurine!) and proper documentation ensued.

Carrie Wimmer
Lubbock, TX


>From: "Costigan, Justine" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Museum stories please....
>Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 11:49:48 +1000
>
>
> >       Dear list members
> >
>         (my apologies if you have received this message twice)
>
> >       I'm wondering if you can help me in my research for a story I am
> > writing for Museum Victoria's quarterly Museum magazine....
> >
> >       The story is about the way the management of museum collections
>has
> > changed and how new technologies are making the tracking, security and
> > management of priceless museum objects easier and more efficient. To
> > illustrate the story I'm looking for examples of how museum collection
> > management has failed in the past. Everyone remembers the story of the
> > priceless object unknowingly used as a doorstop in a museum
>somewhere....
> >
> >       Specific stories, no matter how old, of lost objects, newly
> > discovered objects and misplaced objects would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >       Yours Sincerely
> >
> >       Justine Costigan
> >       Editor, Museum magazine
> >       Museum Victoria, Australia's International Museum.
> > Justine Costigan
> > Editor, Museum Magazine
> > Ph: 03 8341 7784
> > Mobile: 0414 809 971
> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >
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