You're actually touching on two different issues - personal collecting
and providing a monetary value for an object.  I work at a natural
history museum and am an archaeologist.  My professional organizations
as a rule discourage personal collecting (for many reasons I won't go
into here).  As museum professionals we are forbidden to provide a
monetary value for any object;  it was the same way when I worked at the
Smithsonian.  There are conflict of interest issues, tax issues, etc.
which many people on the list will go into great detail about.
Elizabeth Moore

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jason Aikens
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 12:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Pros and Cons of Private Collecting

I have a philosophical question on whether museums should encourage or
discourage private collecting.  As the Collections Curator at the Pro
Football Hall of Fame it is my responsibility to field questions from
the
public regarding the value of their memorabilia on how they can sell
their
memorabilia.  Often people mistakenly believe that we purchase
memorabilia
which we do not.  Everything we collect is through donations.

Our institution wrestles with the dilemma, as a public service should we
help people determine the value of their memorabilia?  Should we help
them
sell their memorabilia by pointing out reputable dealers and auction
houses?  Or is the memorabilia market and private collecting a source of
competition to our own acquisition efforts through donations?  Or does
the
memorabilia market and private collecting generate interest in football
memorabilia in general and encourages collectors and the public to
attend
our museum to see highly valuable memorabilia?

I'm sure many professionals can relate to this dilemma, since nearly all
museums collect objects or works of art that not only have historical
significance but also have monetary value in the open market.  Please
let
me know what your opinions are on this issue.  If this issue, as to
whether museums should discourage or encourage private collecting, has
been discussed in museum publications please let me know.

Thanks

Jason Aikens
Collections Curator

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should
read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).