A good point.  Maybe 'in working condition', though, doesn't necessarily
mean that they are used on a frequent basis?

 

 

  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Janis Wilkens
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 9:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Collections Policies and Categories of Collections
Use

 

There are some classes of objects-such as musical instruments and
machinery-that a museum might want to maintain in working condition, even if
they are in the permanent collection. In order to do this, they have to be
(carefully) "used" and maintained from time to time. How much is a
Stradivarius worth if it's deteriorated to the point that it's not playable?

 

_________________________________
Janis Wilkens
Registrar
Levine Museum of the New South

  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of lucysperlin
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Collections Policies and Categories of Collections
Use

 

Sharon,

I still think it's better to not accession to the regular collection things
that will be used. If, at some time in the future, a 'support' collection
item is taken out of use and still has value in the permanent collection, it
can be moved out of 'support collection' and into permanent collection.

 

However, I do think this is a question worthy of discussion, because I
suspect many local museums and historic houses struggle with variations on
the theme.

 

I use the mission to differentiate between what we can allow use of and what
we keep in the 'support' collection.  Items that clearly need to be
protected as part of the history of our county aren't used.  However, the
slope can be slippery because we have a historic house which uses mostly
non-collection items as furnishings because it is sometimes rented and a lot
of our programmatic activities take place there.  There are some donors from
major families in the community who bring in things that they expect us to
use in the house, because they don't themselves value those items as part of
the community's history..  

 

So, even though we don't use things from the permanent collections (and
mostly we don't), donors and other volunteers keep saying 'but I (they) want
it to be used'.  The current issue is a quite special wedding dress that I
*really* want to take off display due to over-exposure to daylight,  but the
donor has reiterated once again her wish that it be seen and "enjoyed".
And, because it was never actually accessioned in an earlier period in which
things that came to the historic house weren't processed as they should have
been it is in a gray area.  Usually I can get donors to understand the need
for long term preservation, but in this case the volunteer who is in charge
of the house is the one who communicates with her.

 

I'm considering creating some sort of a form letter or other document that I
would ask the donor to sign, to acknowledge that they do not wish the item
to be preserved according to museum standards.  From earlier experience at
another museum, I'm concerned with protecting our reputation at the time in
the future when descending generations arrive on the scene (sometimes
decades later) and become upset that their family things are not in as
preserved a condition as they expected.  Has anyone ever done something like
that?

 

Lucy Sperlin

Butte County Historical Society

Oroville, California

 

 

 

  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Clothier, Sharon
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 9:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Collections Policies and Categories of Collections Use

 

Hello All,

 

Do any of your collections policies include a category for accessioned
artifacts that receive regular use? This is different from a hands-on or
educational-use category, in which the objects are understood to be
eventually expendable. This category would include things that will be
preserved but for practical reasons must also be used. 

Our museum has some large accessioned pieces that are considered permanent
collection, but are used in the galleries either by staff or visitors. One
example is a clock, another is a piano. We've just acquired a large dining
table that would also fall into this category if we decide to accession it
into the permanent collection. 

As we update our collections policy we want it to reflect the reality of how
these things are used, and include a category that recognizes this "gray
area" between permanent-collection-preservation and hands-on-use. I'd be
grateful to know how other policies have addressed this.

 

With thanks, 

 

Sharon Clothier

Curator of Decorative Arts

Oshkosh Public Museum

(920) 236-5776

 <http://www.oshkoshmuseum.org> www.oshkoshmuseum.org

 

 

 

 

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