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Hi, 

 

Proper us of funds raised by sale of collections material should be defined
in documents such as your Collections Policy and, most of all, your
institutional Code of Ethics.

 

The Museum I direct just received its first AAM accreditation early this
year. The fate of proceeds arising from the sales of de-accessioned
collection items was exhaustively discussed and refined in the presentation
of our collections policy to the accreditation committee.

 

In the long run, the museum’s ability to secure new collection items (and
financial gifts) may be jeopardized by controversial de-accessions.

 

Cheers,

 

José

________________________________________________________
José H. Leal, Ph.D., Director  
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor, The Nautilus            
 <http://www.shellmuseum.org/> www.shellmuseum.org

                                                
3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL 33957 USA
(239)395-2233
fax (239)395-6706

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

 

 

 

  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Brian Rayca
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 10:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] controversial deaccession/loss of object

 

Candace,

 

I certainly wasn't offended. I didn't mean to put you on the defensive
either.  Deaccessions are always looked at closely.  The concerns of the
greater community should be addressed.  Usually these kind of issues arise
when the institution hasn't done a good job of explaining the deaccession
process to the public and incorrect assumptions are made.  That certainly
may be the case with this auction as well.

 

I look at the minor controversy the Detroit Art Institute raised when it was
deaccessioning and aucitoning off a flag from the Battle of the Little Big
Horn.  That seemed to have been handled a bit better by DIA and it still
caused a stir.

 

Others have brought up good points as far as what an appropriate use of the
money would be.  I certainly am not against the auction merely because it's
selling off deaccessioned material.  That happens all the time.  The debate
now is where it should be:  What is the proper use of the funds raised by
the deaccessioning.

 

Reading the catalog over again, I would question the nature of the exhibits
and what the Historical Society is planning.  There really isn't a lot of
information in a little blurb written by the auction house for thier
catalog.  We may very well be getting an incomplete picture of what is
planned.

 

I used to live and work in Burlington County and had a realtionship with the
Historical Society.  I think they are genuine in thier attempts to refocus
thier collection and exhibitions.  I don't see this auction as evidence of
anyhting other than that.

 

Brian Rayca

 



 

On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 8:55 AM, Candace Perry <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

All right.  I was simply posting because I have heard much concern from
individuals in our greater community. Therefore it is “controversial.”
Incidentally, I don’t think exhibitions are generally considered appropriate
use of deaccession funds, and I do not think that the historical society is
looking to improve their collection. Perhaps the mindset has changed.

Pardon me for offending you.  

Candace Perry

 

 

  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Brian Rayca
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 7:54 AM 


To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] controversial deaccession/loss of object

 

I don't see whuy this would be controversial in any way?  Unlike more
controversial deaccessions where the money was used on operating expenses,
there doesn't seem to be anything underhanded in what is shown in the
catalog.  I agree with Carl.  So long as the hisotrical Society is doing
this ubove board and for improvements to the collection, and or exhibitions
why would it be considered controversial?

 

Brian Rayca

On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 8:30 PM, Cass Karl <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I'm not sure what's so suspicious about the deaccession of these items.  I
would assume that the change in the museum's mission was well thought out
and in response to what the constituency of the museum wants.  I also think
it's fairly obvious that these items (although lovely and valuable) no
longer fit the mission of the institution where they are held, and as such,
deaccession is a valid option.  I would also assume that the museum has
ensured that they have clear title to the objects, and that the community
that supports the museum will not object to their sale (it is a relatively
public auction, after all).  I would also assume that the museum needs the
money that will be generated by this auction (for the aforementioned
"interactive exhibits" I assume), or they wouldn't be doing it.

I know that's a lot of assumptions, but I don't see any reason to think the
worst based on just this blurb from the auction catalog.  Maybe there's more
to the story that I am missing...

 

The missing sampler, especially right before the auction, *is* a bit odd.
I'll give you that. 

On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 1:45 PM, Deb Fuller <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 12:51 PM, Candace Perry
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> The Burlington County Historical Society in Burlington, NJ is
deaccessioning significant objects in their collection via an upcoming
auction at Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Here is a link to the auction:
>
> http://issuu.com/freemansauction/docs/1387
>
> Please go to page 57 in the catalog.  Take special note of the text about
the reasoning behind the deaccession.

Minor clarification - if you type in page 57 at the top of the screen
to jump to the page, the actual page number in the catalog is 54.

Interactive exhibits, eh? Hurm.

Deb Fuller

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