We operate on the assumption that we would never lose ALL of the collection (it helps that we have off-site storage, but even so, the chances of losing it all is unlikely). No museum can afford to insure replacement value for every artifact. Nor can we afford to appraise everything. We do have appraisals of our highest end artifacts, but let’s face it: for a history museum the highest value lies in the intangible provenance.
Laurie LaBar
Chief Curator of History and Decorative Arts
Maine State Museum
83 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
(207) 287-6606
Fax: (207) 287-6633
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aderman, Ella
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 10:32 AM
We recently had this discussion with our board. Unless you have an inventory with accompanying appraised values for your collection, how would an insurance company know what it is you lost and/or how much it was worth? Unless you have very valuable individual items, a lot of small historical societies can not afford that kind of insurance. General property/building liability, absolutely.
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of REYNOLDS, Trevor
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 4:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] appraisal?
If the collection is insured then it would probably make sense to have an insurance valuation. If not I wouldn't think it was worth the effort.
Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar, English Heritage
37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP tel: 01904 601905
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of William Freil
Sent: 09 June 2010 21:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: appraisal?
Hi gang,
I'm the new Collections Manager at a small historical society in Western PA. The collection has never been catalogued until now, but I have some volunteers asking me if we have should get an appraisal done on the collection? It doesn't seem to make much sense to have it done yet. What is the best course of action? How would you handle telling the volunteer and/or the appraiser (who is also a volunteer)?
Sincerely,
William A. Freil
Collections Manager
Greene County Historical Society
416 Rolling Meadows Road
Waynesburg, PA 15320
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