I do not have a source to recommend but I can tell you how we have handled a 
few such situations:

1.  A 20th century silver-plate tea service of great sentimental value to 
the heirs was left to us.  It didn't fit our collection, and we politely 
declined the gift as we knew it was important to the children to have it. 
Better to decline it than create ill-will, we felt.

2. Ethnological objects which do not fit our collection, of zero sentimental 
value to the heir. We asked the executor if he would auction the items and 
donate the proceeds instead of giving them to us.  He agreed, feeling that 
the donor's wish was to support the museum.

3. A single, childless woman's estate was left in its entirely to us to 
split with a local church.  Our director worked with the church's 
representative to identify objects each institution wanted.  Everything else 
was sold in an estate sale, financial proceeds to be split.  She knew we 
would not be accessioning her every teacup and lamp; she just wanted to 
benefit her church and museum.  We only kept one item for the collection, 
but kept furnishings for our guest cottage.  I'm not really sure what the 
church kept.

My understanding is that legally, a bequest is ours to do with as we wish, 
at any time we wish, but each situation is different, we are in a small 
town, and our director exercises his discretion in the way bequests are 
handled.

I've just re-read your query, and noticed the word "antiquities."  You 
probably do want to find out something about their provenance before 
accepting them at all, never mind accessioning them.  It is possible to 
arrange for them to be auctioned for your benefit without ever technically 
owning them, which keeps you out of the line of fire if they have a sticky 
history.  (this is a questionably ethical solution, I realize)  Passing them 
along to another museum would then drop the ball in their lap, but a museum 
that collects antiquities will know the ins and outs of their legal 
obligations.

Does this help at all, or just muddy the waters??   I look forward to seeing 
other responses to this dilemma - and hearing about good resources on the 
topic.

Jill R. Chancey, Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
PO Box 1108
Laurel, MS 39441
(601) 649-6374
www.LRMA.org
[log in to unmask]



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Holly North" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 11:21 AM
Subject: Q about handling a bequeathed gift


> Our institution has been notified that a collection of antiquities has 
> been
> bequeathed to the museum.  The collection comes with no restrictions
> outlined in the will or from any other known related sources pertaining to
> its transfer.  This gift, however, does not meet the current collection
> focus nor do we have the resources to care and conserve such delicate
> materials.  We would like to transfer the gift on to another museum for
> exchange or auction the items off for collections funds.
>
> Has any other museum handled gifts as such?  Are there any legal or 
> ethical
> standards we would be violating as a result of the transfer?  Are we
> obligated to keep the collection for a set amount of time before 
> proceeding
> with the transfer?
>
> If it would be easier to point me toward a resource on the matter, I would
> appreciate the help.  Thank you all, in advance.
>
> Holly
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at 
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed 
> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail 
> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should 
> read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to 
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read 
> "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
> 

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).