Liz,

I believe that you can never have too many identifiying numbers associated with objects!  My thought is to assign the objects as you described with new accession numbers related to the year of accession (if this collection is accepted this year, then 2012.01., etc.), but somewhere in your collections management/database software, you may have a field for Old Number (or the like), and be able to retain the original tracking number.  There are many instances where old inventories/catalog records are discovered that have obviously not been updated, but information can be learned if the old numbers are captured in the database records.

Sincerely,
Alison Wright
(a 13-year collections person temporarily between museums!)


---- David Harvey <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Liz -
> 
> If these are archaeological collections I'd retain the original tracking
> numbers as it is of utmost importance that the artifacts are identifiable
> and in synch with the site and field designations and information.
> 
> Cheers!
> Dave
> 
> David Harvey
> Senior Conservator and Museum Consultant
> Los Angeles CA
> 
> On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 3:02 PM, Clevenger, Liz <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Folks – ****
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > I have a question about numbering accessions. I know there was recent
> > discussion of this on the listserv, but I’m not sure if it applies to the
> > situation I have. The back story: we have managed archaeological
> > collections from our park for the last dozen or so years, but until
> > recently have lacked approved policy and procedure to formally accession
> > the collections. In the intervening time I assigned numbers to the
> > collections in order to track them, following a standard format of 4-digit
> > year, decimal point, sequential number, e.g. 2006.01. We will be formally
> > accessioning the collections in the coming months. My question is this:
> > should the pending accessions receive new numbers when they are accessioned
> > to reflect the actual year of accession, or should I retain the original
> > tracking number? Either way the history of each collection will be
> > thoroughly documented, with an explanation of its origin and management up
> > until the point of accession. As always, I appreciate the invaluable advice
> > of folks on this listserv, and apologies for the cross-posting! ****
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > aloha****
> >
> > ~Liz****
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > Liz N. Clevenger, MA, RPA  ****
> >
> > Curator of Archaeology  ****
> >
> > (415) 561-5086 ****
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > ** **
> >
> > Presidio Archaeology Lab  |  www.presidio.gov/history/archaeology  |
> > (415) 561-ARCH info  |  (415) 561-5089 fax****
> >
> > The Presidio Trust  |  P.O. Box 29052, San Francisco, CA 94129****
> >
> > Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail****
> >
> > ** **
> >
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