Your reply really struck home. Many of our museum's original donors are
still alive and kicking. Until this year (when I took over) we actually had
folks who would come and take their donations back to display in their homes
during the Christmas season, and then return them after the New Year. I'm
not sure who was more shocked this year - the first one who walked in with
such a request and got turned down, or me receiving the request! I refuse
for our museum to be an "upscale storage facility." 

We also have the issue of donation labels, commemorative plaques, etc. One
of the first changes I made was to the docents' script. Until this year the
script read like an antique shop tour, focusing on the furniture and
accessories rather than the VERY rich history that the artifacts are
supposed to help interpret. 

I'm planning on "compromising" by publishing a "catalog" that pictures the
room contents, brief history, donors, etc. and putting it on sale in the
gift shop. Those who "need" that information can purchase it, while the rest
of us focus on historical themes.

Becky Fitzgerald

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Kari Carlisle
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:09 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Donor credit on exhibit labels

I used to work at a museum that had a special label for donated items when
it was requested by the donor. My personal opinion (and I think AAM, but I
could be wrong) is that these labels should not be displayed. First, because
the donation should be unconditional, and second, because the label is
completely inconsequential to the museum visitor and therefore distracting.
I fought the board over this, and finally ended up compromising. I created a
single label for the hall with the names of donors listed.

Kari Carlisle
Museum Curator
Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
(435) 527-4631
[log in to unmask]

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