Many thanks to all who responded to my initial request for help (especially for
the words of encouragement, which are much appreciated).

We do have a collections policy, which covers what we collect, and conditions,
etc... (basically, we don't accept gifts, donations, etc... with strings).  We
all agreed that some basic statements about the historical value of the items
to the Society, in terms of our collections policy, presented to the estate was
a good idea (more than that, our collections policy and terms of our NYState
charter require it).

We have already sent them a copy of our policy, with the relevant sections
highlighted, an explanatory letter covering our policies, accessioning
practices, definition of our permanent collection, implications of tax
laws.......  and basic statements of historic value for each individual major
piece, and by box for the ephemera collections--these are generalized, but
cover the section(s) of our collecting  which each piece falls under.

At present, they are asking for the individual historical significance of each
individual major piece, in some detail (they are not interested in any
information on the smaller pieces) and a detailed statement of where and how
each piece will be used in our collection.  And they have told us that we
cannot have the collections of original paintings by the deceased's sister in
law (a well-know local artist), in any case, these the executors will "dispose
of separately."

We have only two part time staff  and an extremely megre budget (like most
small historical societies); we have no funds to hire a lawyer.  Does anyone
know of any agencies, funds, groups, etc.... who help out historical societies
in cases like these?

Ann Morton
Curator
Wayne County Historical Society