M. A. Ehr wrote:

>Recently, someone dropped off an item at our museum (literally left it on
>the front steps). We have no idea who left it, and no documentation
>whatsoever. It is not in very good shape, either, and we do not want to add
>it to our collections. Unfortunately, as it was donated anonymously, we
>can't give it back, either.
>
If you do not want it, you can consider it litter and toss it.  If you
did want it, then you would have to look at it as abandoned property.
You state that Wisconsin does not have a law regarding "drop off"
collections--but is it possible that there is an abandoned property
statute?  I don't think that the statute needs to refer specifically to
museums.  Consult a lawyer to see what the state does with such things.
(In many states, abandoned property that is not museum-related goes to
the State Treasurer's office, on the off chance that the rightful owner
will someday claim it.  After a statute of limitations, the property is
then sold at auction to benefit the state, although sometimes it may be
given to state agencies or maybe non-profits?)

Since you don't want this thing, you are in luck, but I would recommend
that the Wisconsin museum association (whatever it is called) work on an
abandoned property statute for museums if there is not one.

Claudia Nicholson
Curator
Museum Collections Department
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. W.
St. Paul, MN  55102-1906
  Tel.:  612/297-7442
  FAX: 612/297-2967
  E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
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