Thanks to everyone who responded -- I really appreciate the good advice. After I explained the binding nature of the contract, the IRS issue, and the fact that we really value having the piece in our collection, the donor has backed down, and is going to "think about it." It is my hope that he will decide the piece is in good hands and the issue is not worth pursuing. Christine M. Dwyer Stanly County Museum & Historic Preservation Commission 245 East Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 USA Tel: 704/ 986-3777 Fax: 704/ 986-3778 ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).