Susan Harless:
 
I strongly suggest your friend re-consider the acquisition of this
collection.  Does her small historical society have a collections policy?
Does this collection fit the policy?  Is it a "have to have' collection?
Why?  What exactly do they hope to gain from the curation of this
collection?   If/when she gets it - will the cost of properly curating it
outweigh the benefit she will derive from its possession?
 
I'd think long and hard about this one.  I have 25 yrs experience in a
variety of Canadian museums.  This one doesn't sound like any kind of good
deal for the historical society.  There have been cases where the museum has
taken on a loan either a long term, permanent or a 'spec' loan prior to
purchase/donation.  The museum has cared for the objects, spent time and
resources on them over a period of several years.  All the while the objects
are appreciating in value.  Then, usually with no warning at all, the owner
or their heirs arrive on the door step with packing boxes.  The museum may
be faced with competing claims from feuding heirs.  The collection is
removed from the museum, sold, and the museum doesn't even get the storage fees.
 
Personally, I'd walk.
Barbara
>Can anyone help a friend  in a small historical society out with a dilemma?
> She is getting a large uncurated collection from a failing private museum,
>without ownership.  Should she go for a long-term loan, a permanent loan or
>"stewardship" in her agreement to care for the items?  Any thoughts, except
>the obvious, which is that she would be better off owning them outright,
>which is not possible, would be helpful.  Have any of you been in this
>predicament?   PS.  There is also no endowment to help her care for them.
> She is in the worst possible position, and knows it.  Thanks in advance!
> Susan Harless  [log in to unmask]
>
>
 
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Barbara J. Winter
Department of Archaeology
Simon Fraser University
Canada  V5A 1S6
tel: (604) 291-3325
fax: (604) 291-5666
email:  [log in to unmask]
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