Our curators purchase items for our collection.  Which are brought in on
a Receipt of Delivery, with the original reciept attached.  We use this
documentation to assign an accession number. The curator is then
reimbursed.  

As you explained in your case, it appears the employee happened upon
these items for free. Well I think when they took possession of the item
it was thiers and now they want to give it to the museum. Therefore,
technically I would consider the item a donation. If this person did not
work for your museum and brought in the bank promotional item would you
not have them sign a deed of gift and consider it a donation?  Why not
the same from staff?  

This is tricky and I will be interested to see what others post on this
topic. Either way, when you are long gone from your current position at
this museum you want the registrar/collections manager 50 years from now
to be able to track the object with a number and know where it came
from.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Erika Brown
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 3:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Objects collected by staff members


I am running into a situation I have not encountered before.  Our museum
staff infrequently collects items for the collection.  One example being
a promotional item being given away at a local bank.  I am not sure how
to classify these items and what documentation I need to satisfy clear
and legal title to the items.  They are not truly a donation or a
purchase, so the Deed of Gift or Purchase paperwork is not available. 
Right now they are listed in PastPerfect as "Collected by Staff" and
have no paperwork other than an accession report.

My questions:
Does you museum collect objects for the collection?  
If so, what type of acquisition is it listed as?  
What documentation do you include / require when accessioning?   


Thanks!
Erika


BTW, I have enjoyed the "You know you are a M.P. when..." thread!

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