Your reply really struck home. Many of our museum's original donors are still alive and kicking. Until this year (when I took over) we actually had folks who would come and take their donations back to display in their homes during the Christmas season, and then return them after the New Year. I'm not sure who was more shocked this year - the first one who walked in with such a request and got turned down, or me receiving the request! I refuse for our museum to be an "upscale storage facility." We also have the issue of donation labels, commemorative plaques, etc. One of the first changes I made was to the docents' script. Until this year the script read like an antique shop tour, focusing on the furniture and accessories rather than the VERY rich history that the artifacts are supposed to help interpret. I'm planning on "compromising" by publishing a "catalog" that pictures the room contents, brief history, donors, etc. and putting it on sale in the gift shop. Those who "need" that information can purchase it, while the rest of us focus on historical themes. Becky Fitzgerald -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kari Carlisle Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:09 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Donor credit on exhibit labels I used to work at a museum that had a special label for donated items when it was requested by the donor. My personal opinion (and I think AAM, but I could be wrong) is that these labels should not be displayed. First, because the donation should be unconditional, and second, because the label is completely inconsequential to the museum visitor and therefore distracting. I fought the board over this, and finally ended up compromising. I created a single label for the hall with the names of donors listed. Kari Carlisle Museum Curator Fremont Indian State Park and Museum (435) 527-4631 [log in to unmask] ========================================================= 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). ========================================================= 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).