The New York Times has this article, which I read because AASLH tweeted a link (I think it was AASLH). http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/sports/baseball/donors-seeking-to-monetize-memorabilia-put-museums-on-guard.html?pagewanted=all It might help you explain why you have to have your paperwork in order.

Amy Killpatrick Fox | Museum Educator
Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums | Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Commonwealth Keystone Building, Plaza Level
400 North St. | Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717.772.1967 | Fax: 717.783.1073
www.PATrailsofHistory.com
Trailheads blog: http://patrailheads.blogspot.com

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kimberly Brown
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 12:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Deeds of Gifts

I have a question.  How many of you send out Deed of Gifts to donors?  I just received my fourth letter in 2 years from a donor, absolutely offended for having received a Deed of Gift, told me how everyone else just said thank you, did not expect him to sign anything.  Was offended that we asked him to sign it and told me that he would no longer be sending me anything from this point forward.  Is this common?  I have re-written our thank you letters 3 times trying to tweak the wording so that donors know we are not "laying intellectual claim" to their work, we just don't want them asking for the book, document, etc., back after however many years when they decided they want it back.  Are we doing something wrong?

Thank you for any comments,

Kimberly R. Brown
Director of Special Collections and Archives
Historical Society of Berks County

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