It also seems to me that if the items were displayed properly, with a sign
that perhaps thanks the artist/donor and explains they are original artwork
for sale not related to the collection, they could be sold in your shop.

Perhaps I don't understand enough about your museum collection or mission,
but it seems that there is a way to make it work while simultaneously
educating the public and thanking your donor.

On 5/19/05 8:30 AM, "Candace Perry" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> What about sending them to auction?  Years ago a collection of Shaker
> furniture and other objects was donated here (we're in SE PA and though we
> do interpret a small religious group, it sure isn't Shaker) with the
> stipulation that we could sell the collection, or keep it, whatever suited
> the oprganization.  Well, the previous director was inclined to keep
> it...but when we developed the scope of collections upon my arrival we
> determined that it would serve the organization better to sell it, and
> funnel the money back into conservation.  It all turned out just fine, and
> was probably ultimately what the donor had in mind -- being a wise man who
> understood that the Shakers had no relevance to our German Protestant group.
> Candace Perry
> Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Jessica Trickett
> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 9:22 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Items donated for resale
> 
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> Recently, a patron of my organization offered to donate a collection of art
> pottery with the intention that they be sold in our museum shop and that the
> proceeds of their sale be used for collections conservation. We do sell in
> our shop modern reproductions of similar items, but the collection we have
> been offered contains original art pieces.
> 
> I, personally, am uncomfortable with this scenario, as I foresee confusion
> among the general public about the origins of these objects (I don't want
> people thinking that we plucked them out of collections storage to turn over
> a quick profit).
> 
> Has anyone else had to address this kind of situation before? Are there
> concrete ethical guidelines that shun this type of activity? I checked the
> AAM code of ethics, which has references to the disposal of collections, but
> this situation seems to fall outside the scope of their language (these
> objects will not be accessioned into our collection, and I see this as more
> of a monetary gift than a collections acquisition).
> 
> Any assistance or examples of similar situations would be appreciated.
> 
> Thank you,
> Jessica D. Trickett
> Manager of Collections and Curatorial Services
> Mahoning Valley Historical Society
> 648 Wick Avenue
> Youngstown, Ohio 44502
> 330/743-2589
> [log in to unmask]
> www.mahoninghistory.org
> 
> 
> ******* [This E-mail was scanned for viruses by DTI Online -
> www.dtionline.net] *******
> 
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
> 
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
> to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
> (without the quotes).
> 
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
> 
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
> 
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/
> . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a
> one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the
> message should read "help" (without the quotes).
> 
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).