>Regarding the question about why your registrar was still keeping a bound
>accession book when you already have the information on assorted sheets of
>paper that were legally binding and/or more comprehensive than the book:
>1.  Just tradition - the base of the title registrar is, I believe, that
>the registrar is the one who keeps the register.
>2.  Convenient, easy access.  The book puts, in place, the major facts
>about a string of accessions, whereas the legally binding documents
>deal with the exhibits one at a time.
>3.  This is a variation of 2 (above), but I had an assistant once who
>had her own disaster plan.  In the event of a fire, fire drill, or
>    anything that caused us to clear the building quickly, the accession
>book was what she would take with her.
>
>I don't think one should spend hours writing extensive descriptions by
>hand, but a portable, short summary of what is in the museum could
>(knock on wood) be very helpful someday.

Ditto from a former Registrar!!
HBC

****************************************
Henry B. Crawford        Curator of History
[log in to unmask]     Museum of Texas Tech University
806/742-2442           Box 43191
FAX 742-1136             Lubbock, TX  79409-3191
***** "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are dead!!" *****