My advice would be to work with the Board to find out on what basis they
think the object is loaned from this other organization.  Is it rumor,
hearsay, personal remembrance?  Can they come up with a contact name at
that other organization, or approximate time frame, when this object
might have been lent?  Just because the Board says something doesn't
always mean it's true, if there is no documentation to back it up.

Lots of research is the key here. Try every possible avenue--even the
deceased lender's old correspondence and the putative owning
organization's records, if available.

Julia Muney Moore
Public Art Administrator
Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN
(317) 875-5500 x219   please note new extension!
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Stephanie Rohwer
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 12:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Question about Long-Term Loans

Hello everyone,

Like Dawn, who posted on Friday, I am doing an assignment for the same 
collections management class where we were given a hypothetical
situation 
that we have to decide on our best course of action.  My situation
involves 
a long-term loan with no paperwork.  The lender is known and a
descendant 
has attempted in the past to claim the object, who has since "gone
missing" 
in recent years.  To complicate the issue further, the Board of Trustees

believes the object is owned by another organization, who is loaning the

object, not this descendant.  Since there is a lack of paperwork to 
accompany the loan, one can't be sure of ownership.  My approach is
going to 
be to search for the descendant in order to make contact with him or her
and 
determine clear title.  In general, I was wondering what would be your
best 
course of action but mainly, what advice could you all offer as to how
to 
deal with the Board?

Thank you all for your help, in advance.  I posted here last semester
with a 
question for an assignment and all of your answers were extremely
helpful.  
Have a great week,

Stephanie Rohwer
student of Tufts University Museum Studies Program

_________________________________________________________________
Rates near 39yr lows!  $430K Loan for $1,399/mo - Paying Too Much?
Calculate 
new payment 
http://www.lowermybills.com/lre/index.jsp?sourceid=lmb-9632-18226&moid=7
581

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