>Back to my question. I have great respect for the >integrity which a custodial institution must have if it is >to maintain public confidence. >Indeed I consider that the chair I would like to acquire is >not "owned" by the institution, but is being "held in >trust" by the institution for my benefit as a member of the >public and that this is presumably what my distant relative >hoped would continue to be its fate when the donation was >made. >So is there any ethical way for me to approach the >institution? This is a question we're often asked. You should simply, first, ask the museum what the chair's status is. If this chair were in our museum, we'd check the records. We could hardly give it "back" to you, since you never had it in the first place. That semantic difference aside, we'd see if the piece was recorded as a "loan," "purchase," or "donation." If it was a loan, and you could document your position as the inheritor via court records, we could, and likely would, release it to you. If it was recorded as a purchase or donation, and still met the requirements of our mission and collections strategy, we would have to turn you down. In this instance the piece would not be "held in trust" for you, but for the museum's constituents. "Owned" is likely a legal term in this matter. But ask them, that's always a good place to start. Good luck. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C. L. Dill, Museum Director State Historical Society of North Dakota 612 East Boulevard Bismarck ND 58505-0830 P: (701)328-2666 F: (701)328-3710 E: [log in to unmask] Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -