In a message dated 5/9/2003 2:40:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Here's my suggestion:  Take amazingly detailed photographs, make
 photos that can be enlarged to high-quality frameable copies, make
 measurements and detailed descriptions and histories of each and
 every important item in your collection, starting from the most
 precious - history-wise - on down.  This includes both physical
 objects and manuscripts and other paper materials, plus all
 documentation.  No doubt many of you do this now.

 Then, send computer files of your collection to all the important
 museums in the world.  For the sake of argument we'll say you send
 your collection file to 50 or 100 different museums in many different
 countries. >>

This is basically a good idea, although it's unclear why collection files
would need to be shared with 50 to 100 different museums: two or three might
be enough.  The problem is creating the file in the first place.  It's too
bad if the Baghdad museum's records weren't shared with another institution
or at least stored off-site, but bear in mind that they were very incomplete
anyway.  That's part of the tragedy.  Items of incomparable historical and
scientific importance were waiting to be researched, and apparently many were
not adequately catalogued, much less photographed.  This is a perennial
museum problem: finding the funds, time, and personnel to document your
collection.  Most museums--by which I mean, ahem, collecting
institutions--have a backlog, often severe.  I've always felt that something
which should be built into the exhibit process is making sure that the items
selected for exhibition are carefully photographed and catalogued,
particularly since they're the most likely to be stolen.  It's part of good
stewardship.

Back in the pre-computer days, people often said, "If you're going to steal
museum objects. take the catalog cards too."  Yes, positive redundancy is a
good idea.

David Haberstich

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