Try taking them to talk with museum professionals from institutions with policies already in place. Nothing huge, but a small or mid-sized museum with good
professional practices.
Julie Maio Kemper
Senior Curator
Learning-Centered Experiences Administrator
Kentucky Historical Society
Thomas D. Clark Kentucky History Center
100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-1792 x4482
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of topladave .
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2016 1:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Board Members and Artifacts
Rachael,
It sounds like a pretty untenable situation. If they are not listening, and cannot understand what a museum is, and separate their personal use of the collections for "events", then there are few options you
have because ethical lines have already been crossed. You can try seeing if they'll let you choose the safest objects to use in this way (preferably something that belonged to one of their relatives). You can also stipulate that each artifact has to be personally
signed out to leave the museum and they are personally liable and responsible for it should it be damaged, lost, or stolen.
But if this board sees collections objects as "props" it's probably a battle that was lost long ago.
Cheers!
Dave
David Harvey
Senior Conservator & Museum Consultant
Los Angeles CA USA
On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 10:19 AM, Rachael Ward <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello All!
I am currently the director of a small historical society and museum where I am the first museum professional to be employed for their site. In a nut shell, there are no archival records of any sort, no collections room, collections policy,
no provenance for a majority of the artifacts - essentially I’m starting from the ground up. Which, as trying as it is at times, isn’t why I’m writing to you all.
The board of directors and I view the treatment of artifacts in drastically different manner. In the most recent scenario (and trust me when I say there are MANY scenarios), they came to me asking if they could use some of the artifacts
(props as they termed them), on a float for local township parades. I explained that the artifacts could be harmed or stolen by exposing them to all the manner of variables a parade brings (rain, falling off a wagon and breaking, someone snatching the artifact
when they weren’t looking), but they did not see the harm in this and continued to press the subject. I then tried to bring up other institutions and professional standards in the field of museums and let them know that it, quite frankly, is not acceptable,
again not changing their minds. They ultimately have the final say and so I have expressed to them that I would respect their decisions regarding artifact usage outside the confines of museum, as is their right as the board.
My question for you all is this: How do I convey to them that what they are choosing to do is harmful to the artifacts other than what I have already done? They claim to want to increase their professional standing in the museum community,
but are unwilling to listen to my professional advice. I have had my fair share of ‘interesting’ situations regarding, shall we say, eccentric boards in my career, but this takes the cake. I’m at a loss on how to help them understand the ways of our field.
Any advice on how you may have handled a similar situation would be greatly appreciated. I want to see this institution succeed, but right now that is looking rather bleak.
--
Rachael Ward
"History is no longer a spotlight. We are turning up the stagelights to show the entire cast.”
-David McCullough
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