No one has mentioned the IRS in this discussion.  If the original donor took
any type of tax deduction for the donation, the institution is obligated to
inform the IRS about the return of the item.  Just mentioning that aspect is
usually enough to dissuade family members from seeking a return of an item,
especially if they were planning to sell it and keep the profit.

Also, if the donor/lender is  dead, how do you know the family member
claiming the item is the person who should get it?  If you return the item
to the wrong family member, how will you deal with the other members who
show up on your doorstep demanding to know why you gave it that person and
not them?  You can diffuse the saturation be asking the family member to
prove the donor/lender would have wanted them to have the item or requiring
that the person have the permission of other family members to take
possession of the item.

I've had this happen to me a few times (involving small items) and I always
require the person to send a formal, written request to the Board.  Usually
there is no follow up, but if there is, it is the board's decision not yours
as a curator.  If you have the paperwork to back up your recommendations,
you are in a stronger position to retain the item.  If it's the original
lender/donor and the paperwork is incomplete or none existent, the Board
needs to make the final decision.


Wanda Edwards
Curator of Collections and Library/Archives
Orange County Regional History Center
65 East Central Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32801
www.thehistorycenter.org

Phone: 407-836-8587
Fax:     407-836-8550

These are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the policies
or opinions of the institution or county.

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