And don't forget to put the historic clothing on people for a fashion
show! I remember one museum where the board treated it like their private
clubhouse, until a museum professional made changes.

With what you describe, you never know what rare treasures you have, and
sometimes the significance of a common object is who owned it originally.

What about designating a study collection, include repros for visitors to
handle? Those types of items could be loaned out for parades and such as
well as be a basis for school programs. The contrast might help with the
understanding of preservation -- some things to use, some to preserve.

Despite the Smithsonian nickname of America's Attic, objects are more
precious than old cast-offs. Would you put your own living room couch on a
parade float? Then you definitely would not do so with an antique! Items
that make it into a museum are not what you send to the thrift shop.

Anyway, these are just some ideas of how to frame the argument. Best of luck!

-Carol


> On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 11:19 AM, Rachael Ward <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello All!
>>
>> I am currently the director of a small historical society and museum
>> where I am the first museum professional to be employed for their site.
>> In a nut shell, there are no archival records of any sort, no
>> collections room, collections policy, no provenance for a majority of
>> the artifacts - essentially I’m starting from the ground up. Which,
>> as trying as it is at times, isn’t why I’m writing to you all.
>>
>> The board of directors and I view the treatment of artifacts in
>> drastically different manner. In the most recent scenario (and trust me
>> when I say there are MANY scenarios), they came to me asking if they
>> could use some of the artifacts (props as they termed them), on a float
>> for local township parades. I explained that the artifacts could be
>> harmed or stolen by exposing them to all the manner of variables a
>> parade brings (rain, falling off a wagon and breaking, someone snatching
>> the artifact when they weren’t looking), but they did not see the harm
>> in this and continued to press the subject. I then tried to bring up
>> other institutions and professional standards in the field of museums
>> and let them know that it, quite frankly, is not acceptable, again not
>> changing their minds. They ultimately have the final say and so I have
>> expressed to them that I would respect their decisions regarding
>> artifact usage outside the confines of museum, as is their right as the
>> board.
>>
>> My question for you all is this: How do I convey to them that what they
>> are choosing to do is harmful to the artifacts other than what I have
>> already done? They claim to want to increase their professional standing
>> in the museum community, but are unwilling to listen to my professional
>> advice. I have had my fair share of ‘interesting’ situations
>> regarding, shall we say, eccentric boards in my career, but this takes
>> the cake. I’m at a loss on how to help them understand the ways of our
>> field. Any advice on how you may have handled a similar situation would
>> be greatly appreciated. I want to see this institution succeed, but
>> right now that is looking rather bleak.
>>
>> --
>> *Rachael Ward*

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