Hello all,

First I would like to thank everyone for all of their help with some
questions about textiles that I had a couple of weeks ago.

I hope you all will be nice enough to help me out again with another
question...

There is a debate occurring between the director of my institution and
myself.  By the way, the director had previously held the position that I am
now in and had a part in what I believe to be the issue.

That said, the museum's collection contains many photographic negatives.  In
the past, print copies of those negatives had been made for use in
exhibitions or for service requests.  However, after the photographic print
was made it was then accessioned into the collection.  So, currently we have
a negative with one number and a print of that negative with another number.
  In some cases both the print and the negative were given the same number.

I personally don't think that the prints should be accessioned at all but
should be put in a reference file for future use.  However, the director
says that they are valid as collections items and that if you follow my
argument then we shouldn't accession any photographic prints at all and only
negatives.  Since, he says, in actuality all photographic prints are
essentially copies from a negative.

I understand the merits of his argument but was wondering if anybody had any
thoughts or has faced a similar situation. (I won't be offended if you take
his side!)  Also, does anyone know of any printed sources that deal with
these issues?

Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.
Laura L. Hortz
Curator of Collections
Siouxland Heritage Museums
Sioux Falls, SD
605-367-4210 ext 3021



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