Steven R. Smith wrote:
 
>In Robbin Murphy's posting re: the New York Historical Society it said that
>everything but the art collections were being transferred to NYU.  What will
>happen to them?  How was this decision made?
 
According to the article much of the art collection is expected to be
sold later this year to help raise money for the society. NYU will take
charge of the books, prints, architecural drawings, historical photographs
and advertising ephemera collection.
 
The N-YHS board was expected to vote on the NYU proposal yesterday morning
but so far I've heard nothing of the result.
 
As for whether NYU is a villain or savior: keep in mind that NYU has
a reputation for acting without the consent of the community they effect
(affect?). The local politicos are teed-off because the city and state
promised the Society money predicated on the promise that major
questions about the Society's future would be discussed with
community representatives. They don't like to hear about these things
in the paper.
 
Also keep in mind that this is New York and we tend to start with
hysterics and work back from there to something logical. My guess
is that they are fishing for an angel to save the art collection
as a whole.
 
Robbin Murphy
NYU/Museum Studies
[log in to unmask]