I work at a museum where the correct museum practices were not used up 
until a few years ago. Objects were taken in with little or no 
documentation. I have been working on doing what I can with what little 
information we have. A situation has come up where an old 'donor' would 
like his object back. The object in question does have documentation! I 
have a letter from the donor's law partner which states that there was a 
phone conversation about the object and that the donor intends to donate 
it.
I have told our director that we should not give the object back because 
we don't know if he ever took a tax deduction and that it is poor 
ethics. Do we have a legal foot to stand on?

Thanks-

Lauren Drury
Collections Manager
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
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