Maybe it's outdated, but I was taught that having donor information on an exhibit label is of interest only to the donors and people who know them - for everyone else it just a distraction that dilutes the message of the label and clutters it visually. I suppose that's one of those typical museum 'balancing act' decision - deciding if having such information on the label encourages important donations to a degree that outweighs the negative impact on our interpretive message. Probably the approach that you take on recreated historical settings could also be used for all other exhibits as well. Cathy's comment about security for the donors is definitely another factor to weigh in. Lucy Sperlin _____ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jackson, Martha Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 8:53 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders A few years ago, we began adding the source of the artifact to the bottom of the object label, along with the accession number. When the donor(s) sign(s) the Deed of Gift, he/she also checks the block seeking permission to use name in exhibits, publications, etc. The source includes name, city, state. For example, HS.2013.1.1 Gift of Mr. & Mrs. John Doe, Anywhere, N.C. If the donor(s) did not give permission, then we list it as an anonymous donation. We use the same format for loans--IF we have permission of the lender. Otherwise we note that it was loaned anonymously. We began using this format as a way to acknowledge donors and lenders, and the public seems to like it. If we are exhibiting objects in a recreated historical setting, we list all donors and lenders on a separate panel without noting which objects were given/loaned. Martha Battle Jackson, Chief Curator North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties Mailing Address: 4620 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4620 Street Address: 430 North Salisbury Street, Suite 1115, Raleigh, NC 27604 919/733-7862; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515 E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. The views expressed by the sender may not reflect those of my agency. _____ From: Cathy Osterman [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 10:48 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Identifying Lenders Good morning everyone, What is your museum's policy regarding identifying object lenders on labels within an exhibit? Are items and objects matched up on labels or do you utilize a common panel to list all lenders together? I was taught not to match up lenders and items within the exhibit for security purposes but I've seen it done both ways. Also, do you label every object as coming from your own collection or is it assumed? My museum is trying to write an exhibits policy and we've looked at the Smithsonian's policy, among others. More than a standard to follow, I am interested in learning why a museum would choose one way over another. Would anyone care to share with me your museum's exhibit philosophy? Thanks! Cathy Osterman Curator/ Archivist Northfield Historical Society Northfield, MN _____ To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L <http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1> &A=1 _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6415 - Release Date: 06/16/13 Internal Virus Database is out of date. _____ To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L <http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1> &A=1 ========================================================= 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).