I say we give these guys a break until John gets back, up and running weeding this stuff off for us. As all you out there have suggested, the delete key is the best weapon. It's a lot quicker too and you don't have to type an entire message to all of us. I do it because I type fast; and for those stodgies who like proper spelling, I try to get that done too. O On Fri, 22 Jan 1999 12:00:12 +1000 "Millward, Peter" <[log in to unmask]> writes: >can someone please advise me if there is a filter I can apply to stop >getting all the emails from people who wish to sign off the list and >who it >seems have been unable to locate the VERY SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS they >received >when they joined. >Peter Millward >Manager Education & Visitor Services >Melbourne Museum >9651 8162 > >> ---------- >> From: Matam P. Murthy[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >> Reply To: Museum discussion list >> Sent: Friday, 22 January 1999 10:57 AM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: joint ownership of aboriginal artefacts >> >> signoff museum-l >> >> I want to get off of this list, someone please tell me how. >> >> Thanks >> >> YuhangAt 09:51 PM 1/21/99 -0000, you wrote: >> >I have wondered for some time if there isn't room for another, >> intermediate, >> >category of ownership. Given that museums exist to hold objects for >ever >> & >> >thus remove them in some ways from the material(ist) world, it >ought to >> be >> >possible for us to use anotherform of intellectual >categorisation.... >> > >> >What I imagine is something that maintains the legal ownership of >an >> object >> >in the museum but also allows for a form of intellectual/moral >ownership >> of >> >the object by representatives of the originating group - much in >the way >> as >> >you could own a painting but the artist still retain copyright over >the >> >image. >> > >> >In this way the 'home' culture could be acknowledged in any >literature >> and >> >advise on the interpretation and care of the artefacts. The object >would >> >then be jointly managed by the museum who wants to store it for >ever and >> >interpret it to the public and originating culture who may wish to >see it >> >treated respectfully and in accordance with their own values and >> practices. >> > >> >Obviously there might be problems if the two were in contradiction >(which >> >reminds me of the Japanese business man who bought some Van Gogh >flowers >> and >> >said he wanted them cremated with him.... but that's another >story!) - >> but >> >could it not be a useful principle to inform practice? >> > >> > >> > >> >> "...The question of how, when, and where the indigenous >> >> objects were obtained creates a mine-field of both >> >> legal and moral dimensions..." >> >> >> >> That was well said, and I agree completely. The matter >> >> DOES require serious consideration from a variety >> >> perspectives. I don't think there is a simple answer >> >> applicable to all cases, except perhaps that museum >> >> folk should/must afford indigenous people's claims the >> >> right to serious examination and consideration in such >> >> matters. My knee-jerk reaction to your original post >> >> was in response to the implication that original owners >> >> were always still "rightful" owners. >> >> >> >> Even the car analogy, presuming that you sold it to me >> >> outright and with no liens or other encumbrances, >> >> doesn't always work. In ND if a person under 21 years >> >> of age sells something, he/she can state they didn't >> >> understand the matter and re-claim the sold item (and >> >> return the purchase price) until they ARE 21. We found >> >> that out the hard way when we accepted an artifact >> >> donation from a 16 year old. She later changed her >> >> mind and the lawyers held that we had to return the >> >> item even though we'd gotten the teenager's mother to >> >> countersign the deed of gift. We no longer accept >> >> donations from people under 21. >> >> >> >> Good luck. >> >> >> >> Chris Dill >> >> >> >>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> >>C. L. Dill, Museum Director >> >>State Historical Society of North Dakota >> >>612 East Boulevard >> >>Bismarck ND 58505-0830 USA >> >>P: (701)328-2666 >> >>F: (701)328-3710 >> >>E: [log in to unmask] >> >>Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/ >> >>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> >> >> > >> > >> > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]