I have to say this makes me feel less guilty about interrupting other 
collection workers' days with "hey we have someone who wants to donate such 
and such but it doesn't fall into our mission statement; would your 
organization be interested?"

Every museum I've worked at I've always, always contact the organization 
that might be interested and wait for them to reply.  It's common courtesy 
and the way I would want to be treated. Then ownership details were worked 
out, sometimes the donor asked for the forms to be sent to them through us 
because they know us.  Sometimes the donor says I just want to sign forms 
from you so then we take ownership, do all the paper work to donate to 
another organization and sign the donor forms they send us.

There was one time the donor asked if she could send the item herself.  She 
was just tickled pink to think that a museum she never heard of was 
interested in her belongs.  I asked her if she would mind to bring it to us 
so we could help pack it correctly, make sure documentation was included, 
and it was cleaned.  When I explained why all these things were important 
she was fascinated at learning about museum practices that most of the 
public aren't aware of.  And she decided to volunteer for us!!!

In any case everywhere I've worked has always tried to make sure that things 
are clean and packed correctly AND that the organization wants the item and 
is expecting the item.

>From: Deb Arenz <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Don't Bug Me?
>Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 15:14:09 -0600
>
>We have had at least two unsolicited "donations" from other museums in the
>last year.  Both from larger organizations.  One item arrived with no
>notification prior and NO documentation at all.  Not even a friendly note.
>It was just an artifact in a box.  The only way I knew where it was from 
>was
>from the mailing label.  Surprisingly to us, it was a a state historical
>society.
>
>It is almost as bad as those folks who leave their dirty mattresses outside
>of Goodwill at 4am.
>
>*************************
>Deborah B. Arenz
>Senior Museum Curator
>Nebraska State Historical Society
>PO Box 82554
>Lincoln, NE 68522
>402-471-4759
>www.nebraskahistory.org
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of Jennifer Lane
>Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 3:03 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Don't Bug Me?
>
>
>It seems to me that it's an unaccredited museum that just needs a little
>guidance in getting the whole thing straightened out. Just by the way it
>was handled and the casual nature of the mailing, it makes me wonder if
>there might not be a bigger legal issue behind it... Such as improper
>deaccessioning.
>
>
>Jennifer M. Lane
>Marketing and Events Manager
>Wilmington Music School
>p (302) 762-1132 x18
>f (302) 762-3422
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>Behalf Of John Gavin
>Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 3:56 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Don't Bug Me?
>
>OOPS, Sorry if I gave the impression that I would send anything but a
>polite, educational letter. The museum is a county museum and the
>curator probably sent the package in good faith (textile artifacts by
>the way).
>There are nine staff members and a good web site soooo......
>
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