As a conservator I have talks filled with images of damage from everything from dust, fingerprints, water, oxidation, overcleaning, dents, cracks, smashed to pieces, pests, rot, fungi, and more. I have always found that using examples from Antiques Roadshow where condition and damage and awful restorations have ruined the monetary value of antiques and art. Most non-museum people "get" that. Cheers! Dave David Harvey Senior Conservator and Museum Consultant Los Angeles CA USA www.cityofangelsconservation.weebly.com On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 11:07 AM, Glen Ellyn Historical Society < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > I really like Amy's idea of presenting real life examples of artifacts > that have been damaged/destroyed. Makes the consequence more concrete then > just tell them what could happen. > > Diane Hall > Program and Office Assistant > Glen Ellyn Historical Society > 800 North Main Street > Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 > Phone: 630-469-1867 > [log in to unmask] > www.GlenEllynHistory.org <http://www.glenellynhistory.org/> > > On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 12:53 PM, Fox, Amy <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> How about showing them the story about the valuable Gibson (or Martin?) >> guitar that was loaned to a film production recently and ended up >> destroyed? Just as an illustration of what can happen when artifacts are >> treated as props. >> >> >> >> *Amy Killpatrick Fox* | Museum Educator >> >> Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums | Pennsylvania Historical and Museum >> Commission >> >> Commonwealth Keystone Building, Plaza Level >> >> 400 North St. | Harrisburg, PA 17120 >> >> Phone: 717.772.1967 | Fax: 717.783.1073 >> >> www.PATrailsofHistory.com >> >> Trailheads blog: http://patrailheads.blogspot.com >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On >> Behalf Of *Michael Rebman >> *Sent:* Friday, July 08, 2016 1:45 PM >> *To:* [log in to unmask] >> *Subject:* Re: [MUSEUM-L] Board Members and Artifacts >> >> >> >> Rachael, >> >> Is this a non-profit board that answers to nobody else? Or is it a board >> that answers to a municipality or county government? If the former, you >> could hopefully educate them or find an outsider who can explain best >> standards and practices. If the latter, you could ask the municipal or >> county government for a new board, since the board is not allowing you to >> do your job and is posing a direct threat to the safety of the artifacts >> held in public trust. >> >> >> Michael R. >> >> >> >> On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 11:19 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* >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >> > > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&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] . 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