I see no problem or conflict of interest in a corporation donating its
archives or a portion thereof, including its own TV commercials, to a
library, archives, or museum.  Consumer culture, advertising, and the growth
of corporations are legitimate subjects for scholarship and historical study,
and public institutions need examples and evidence to facilitate the study.
There is no question that corporations exploit their generosity for PR
purposes, and any public institution needs to be savvy about that.  Nor is
there any problem, in my opinion, in the corporation donating funds for
fellowships and similar activities to facilitate the study of the material
they've donated, as long as the institution is free to administer such awards
independently.  The Coca-Cola fellowship, for example, should be available to
scholars and students who might be critical of the company and its products.

But this is a tricky and potentially volatile situation, open to all kinds of
abuse.  An institution really needs to keep its head on straight when dealing
with the corporate world.  Receptions, exhibitions, and other events
connected with a corporate donor's gift should not themselves be permitted to
serve as advertising and promotional opportunities.  When such abuses occur,
that's when the recipient is selling out.  Corporate logos in exhibitions
(except when the logo is itself the subject of exhibition), giveaways of the
sponsor's products, and similar advertising gimmicks should be overruled by
any responsible public institution.  I'd be in favor of legislation
preventing tax-exempt organizations from allowing themselves to be so
exploited by corporate sponsors and donors, with a specific list of illegal
practices.  Simple credit lines--without corporate logos--and non-gushy press
releases identifying corporate donors, but without advertising their
products, should be adequate.  When one institution goes overboard in this
area, that increases the pressure on other institutions.

I'm especially offended when a corporate donor uses the occasion of an
exhibition opening or press event to hand out product samples to attendees.
I attended such an exhibit reception about ten days ago, and thought it was
in extremely poor taste--even though the exhibition had no connection with
the sponsor's products.  Or perhaps I should say it was especially egregious
BECAUSE there was no logical connection between the products and the
exhibition.

It's a question of taste, whether the donor is Coca-Cola or a manufacturer of
non-ingestible products.  But it goes beyond taste--it's a question of
responsibility.

While I'm at it, let me suggest that big corporations aren't the only
problem.  Sometimes private donors of megabucks have far too much influence.
A museum or other public institution which lets big private donors dictate
policy and programs is also selling out.  It's one thing to let a donor
finance a program you didn't know you needed until he came up with the idea
and the cash, but it's quite another to let a donor in effect buy his way
onto your board or your staff and actively "advise" you how to spend his
money after he's given it to you.

David Haberstich

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