NO, NO, NO, people. Please do not reply to this off-list. I, for one, would be very interested in seeing where this discussion leads and would also like to hear about OTHER credit line problems/solutions. If I'm the ONLY other person who wants to follow this thread, I would respectfully (and graciously) ask that Mr. Barryte summarize his responses and post them to me. Thank you Jennifer Schansberg Consultant US Holocaust Memorial Museum [log in to unmask] The Stanford University Museum of Art has been reviewing its practices and its language regarding credit lines and/or donor acknowledgements on objects. We are seeking guidance, alternative, and food for thought regarding appropriate and ethical phrasing in the following circumstances: When a living donor signs a deed of gift, or when a benefactor arranges promised bequest, we agree on the proper language for the credit line, e.g. Gift of A. Donor, in honor of Blah, Blah, so that is settled. But what do you do with the credit line when that object is deaccessioned. At SUMA, we use all funds realized to acquire art, and we also make a conscientious effort to use the funds in an area related to the original gift, thus African for African art. Our question arises from a desire to precisely identify the new acquisition with maximum delicacy . We cannot accurate identify the new acquisition as "Gift of A. Donor," nor do we really want a public credit line reading, "Museum purchase with funds realized from deaccessioning a gift from A. Donor." Such an acknowledgment might well be off-putting to potential benefactors. We have observed in some museums the phrase, "Gift of A. Donor, by exchange" but we prefer to reserved the "by exchange" notice for objects in fact acquired by exchange with other institutions (a practice we recommend to museums engaged in deaccessioning). Also, this still falsely implies that the object on display was given by A. Donor. One possiblity we have generated is: "Museum purchase through the generosity of A. Donor." In conclusion, I would welcome examples of credit lines used in other institutions that both properly identify objects and also offer mimimum offense. Thank you very much for your advice and good consul. Please respond off-list unless you believe this is an issue of general concern. Bernard Barryte Stanford University Museum of Art [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]