I would add that donor information is of interest to scholars as well.


On Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Jeffrey Ray <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Greetings Everyone,
>
> In my 30 years as a curator at the Philadelphia History Museum (AKA
> Atwater Kent Museum) donors of to the collections usually say one thing to
> me and then ask a question, the statement is something like, "I am so happy
> that this is going somewhere that it is going to be taken care of and be
> seen."  The questions is, almost inevitably, "When you put this on exhibit
> will there be a plaque(label) with my name on it where people can see it?"
>
> I have insisted (through 6 directors) that, unless instructed not to by
> the donor or lender, that they be acknowledged in the identification labels
> in our exhibitions.  There are four reasons for this:1) it honors the
> donor/lender contribution to the institution; 2) most donors and
> lenders want to be acknowledged; 3) it lets people know that they can
> donate to the collections or lend to exhibitions; and 4) when one of my
> directors did not allow the donors to be listed on exhibit labels I had to
> stand in a gallery and take it when a donor ripped me a new one because her
> name was not on a label.  I took her up to meet the Director so that she
> could make her feelings known to the person responsible.  That donor's name
> appeared on the label the next day and donors have been acknowledged ever
> since.
>
> Donors and lenders are being very generous and their generosity needs to
> be acknowledged publically and not just in a letter from the director for
> their tax returns. I am quite happy to list a donation or loan as anonymous
> if I am instructed to on the gift or loan forms.
>
> Jeffrey R. Ray
> Senior Curator
> Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
>
> On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 1:54 PM, lucysperlin <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
>> ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
>>
>> Maybe it’s outdated, but I was taught that having donor information on an
>> exhibit label is of interest only to the donors and people who know them –
>> for everyone else it just a distraction that dilutes the message of the
>> label and clutters it visually.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> I suppose that’s one of those typical museum ‘balancing act’ decision -
>> deciding if having such information on the label encourages important
>> donations to a degree that outweighs the negative impact on our
>> interpretive message.  Probably the approach that you take on recreated
>> historical settings could also be used for all other exhibits as well.***
>> *
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Cathy’s comment about security for the donors is definitely another
>> factor to weigh in.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Lucy Sperlin****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> ** **
>>  ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* **Museum discussion list** [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> *On Behalf Of *Jackson, Martha
>> *Sent:* Friday, June 28, 2013 8:53 AM
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> A few years ago, we began adding the source of the artifact to the bottom
>> of the object label, along with the accession number.  When the donor(s)
>> sign(s) the Deed of Gift, he/she also checks the block seeking permission
>> to use name in exhibits, publications, etc. The source includes name, city,
>> state.  For example,****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> HS.2013.1.1    Gift of Mr. & Mrs. John Doe, Anywhere, N.C.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> If the donor(s) did not give permission, then we list it as an anonymous
>> donation.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> We use the same format for loans--IF we have permission of the lender.
>> Otherwise we note that it was loaned anonymously.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> We began using this format as a way to acknowledge donors and lenders,
>> and the public seems to like it.  If we are exhibiting objects in a
>> recreated historical setting, we list all donors and lenders on a separate
>> panel without noting which objects were given/loaned.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> Martha ****Battle**** Jackson, Chief Curator****
>>
>> ****North Carolina**** Division of State Historic Sites and Properties
>> Mailing Address: 4620 **Mail** **Service** **Center**, ****Raleigh**, **
>> NC**  **27699-4620****
>> Street Address:  ****430 North Salisbury Street, Suite 1115**, **Raleigh*
>> *, **NC**  **27604****
>> 919/733-7862; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515****
>>
>> E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the
>> North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
>> The views expressed by the sender may not reflect those of my agency.****
>>    ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* Cathy Osterman [[log in to unmask]]
>> *Sent:* Friday, June 28, 2013 10:48 AM
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders****
>>
>> Good morning everyone,
>>
>> What is your museum's policy regarding identifying object lenders on
>> labels within an exhibit? Are items and objects matched up on labels or do
>> you utilize a common panel to list all lenders together? I was taught not
>> to match up lenders and items within the exhibit for security purposes but
>> I've seen it done both ways.  Also, do you label every object as coming
>> from your own collection or is it assumed?
>>
>> My museum is trying to write an exhibits policy and we've looked at the
>> Smithsonian's policy, among others. More than a standard to follow, I am
>> interested in learning why a museum would choose one way over another.
>> Would anyone care to share with me your museum's exhibit philosophy?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Cathy Osterman
>> Curator/ Archivist
>> ****Northfield**** Historical Society
>> ****Northfield**, **MN****
>>  ****
>>
>> ** **
>>  ------------------------------
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Jeffrey R. Ray
> Senior Curator
> Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
> 15 South 7th Street
> Philadelphia, PA 19106-2313
> 215.843.1713 voice 215.685.4837 fax
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Keri Watson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Art History
Ithaca College
953 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

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