Hello Wesley,
I've never had a board put this requirement on a donation and as Danielle stated, they hired you as a qualified professional so let you do your job. If the Board were to require permission for display be attached to the artefact(s) I'd treat it as if the donor was placing display restrictions on the items and therefore decline the donation. Maybe use that fact if you follow such a requirement for donations.
If staff and the Board have a good working relationship and regular meetings they'll know of exhibits and generally what will be going into them beforehand anyway.
William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Wesley S. Creel
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2016 1:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Any stories about a Board of Trustees requiring staff to seek Board approval before exhibiting an artifact?
Good Afternoon All,
At the last Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting a member of the BOT shared his opinion (it was not a motion) that an original and complete KKK robe, hood, cape, etc...etc.... may be considered for being accessioned into the collection, but, with the caveat that the staff would need BOT approval prior to exhibition of the artifact. The BOT did not act on this request, but the request did cause a lively debate.....which is the basis for the following question.
My question to the members of the Museum-L is, "Does you institution’s governing body ever accession artifacts with a caveat requiring the governing body’s approval to exhibit the artifact? Example: a KKK robe and hood, which could be seen as provocative."
Please note:......I am not seeking opinions, comments, or thoughts on the subject of acquiring artifacts and specimens that may be perceived as "provocative" such as: fossils (evolution and age of the earth); flags (symbols of......) uniforms/clothing (i.e., racial hatred/genocide)....what I am looking for are actual decisions made by Boards of Trustees that have either rejected provocative specimens and artifacts to be added to the collection, and/or directed the staff to seek BOT permission prior to the use of such specimens and artifacts in exhibitions, or other educational activities.
I am looking for specific BOT actions and any background information that caused the action, impact of such a decision, any unforeseen slippery slopes, and examples of the "Law of Unintended Consequences."
Thanks,
Wesley
Wesley S. Creel
Administrator of Programs
Pink Palace Family of Museums
Memphis, TN USA
office 901.636.2370
www.memphismuseums.org
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