Those on this museum's staff who are concerned should make clear to their
director, in writing, all of the considerations mentioned on this list.
There are circumstances by which this arrangement would actually work and be
acceptable to all concerned.  But first the proper authority (in this case,
probably the board) must deaccession the objects as unneeded duplicates.
Once that is out of the way, the ethical questions are generally resolved.
Ah, you say, she has struck a "sweetheart" deal to get those objects.  In
that respect, this arrangement doesn't pass the smell test and could be
perceived as a conflict of interest.  However, she has, in effect, made an
offer to buy and it has been accepted.

A similar situation arose.  The person wanting the objects had to go through
the stress of appearing before the collections committee three times:  once,
with the committee alone; second, with the committee and the museum's
attorney; and third, with the committee to execute the paperwork with
co-signers being the committee itself.  This person was on the museum's
board.  The objects were of nominal value.  The donors of these objects had
previously agreed that this board member could have them, if the museum
approved.  Approval was given -- but in as legalistic and time-consuming a
way as possible.

Ross Weeks Jr.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Stout" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 11:21 AM
Subject: Another ethics question


> Suppose, hypothetically, that there was a director at a hypothetical
small,
> up-and-coming museum who had just hired a person to enter collections
> information into our, ahem, THEIR new PastPerfect database.
>
> Suppose that new person was being paid about two thirds the going rate for
> such a position, but that she had negotiated a deal into her contract that
> allows her to be paid with items from the museum's collection, in addition
> to her paycheck. For example, let's suppose she collects military
uniforms,
> and that the museum has many duplicates in its uniform collection.
>

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