Elizabeth is correct.

And frankly it's my experience that very few museum people
would honest know the day to day value of any item at market.

They are not dealers.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Moore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: Pros and Cons of Private Collecting


> You're actually touching on two different issues - personal collecting
> and providing a monetary value for an object.  I work at a natural
> history museum and am an archaeologist.  My professional organizations
> as a rule discourage personal collecting (for many reasons I won't go
> into here).  As museum professionals we are forbidden to provide a
> monetary value for any object;  it was the same way when I worked at the
> Smithsonian.  There are conflict of interest issues, tax issues, etc.
> which many people on the list will go into great detail about.
> Elizabeth Moore
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Jason Aikens
> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 12:09 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Pros and Cons of Private Collecting
>
> I have a philosophical question on whether museums should encourage or
> discourage private collecting.  As the Collections Curator at the Pro
> Football Hall of Fame it is my responsibility to field questions from
> the
> public regarding the value of their memorabilia on how they can sell
> their
> memorabilia.  Often people mistakenly believe that we purchase
> memorabilia
> which we do not.  Everything we collect is through donations.
>
> Our institution wrestles with the dilemma, as a public service should we
> help people determine the value of their memorabilia?  Should we help
> them
> sell their memorabilia by pointing out reputable dealers and auction
> houses?  Or is the memorabilia market and private collecting a source of
> competition to our own acquisition efforts through donations?  Or does
> the
> memorabilia market and private collecting generate interest in football
> memorabilia in general and encourages collectors and the public to
> attend
> our museum to see highly valuable memorabilia?
>
> I'm sure many professionals can relate to this dilemma, since nearly all
> museums collect objects or works of art that not only have historical
> significance but also have monetary value in the open market.  Please
> let
> me know what your opinions are on this issue.  If this issue, as to
> whether museums should discourage or encourage private collecting, has
> been discussed in museum publications please let me know.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jason Aikens
> Collections Curator
>
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