Ultimate Ownership???

Further to Roger Smith's Global Museum posting which announces the Jewish
Heritage Council's identification of 186,000 books in formerly owned by Jews
in Austrian collections, I wonder if your collection policies acknowledge
the issue of "ultimate ownership". Surely there is a common term for
accessioned objects that were acquired legally by museums but perhaps not
morally? For example, how would your museum react to claims that an item in
your collection rightfully belongs to (or should be possessed by) someone
else?

I am fascinated by this issue, which has possible repercussions for most, if
not all, museums. Related events have been developing this week in the UK
and Greece. I would refer those interested to "The Sunday Times" article
"The temporary return of the Lewis chessmen has revived the debate on their
future" by Allan Brown (March 26, 2000). Mr. Brown discusses the recurring
debate between the British Museum and Lewis museum officials over returning
the 12th century walrus ivory chess pieces to Lewis. Likewise, the debate
over returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece continues this week as British
parliamentary committee travel to Greece to "discuss" the matter further.

It seems to me that quite a lot of "discussion" and debate has been
happening in museums in respect to the legal ownership of accessioned
objects. Does anyone else on the list have something to contribute to this
subject?

Laura Petznick, Ph.D.
Currently independent Art, Furniture and Social Historian

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