I am a Board member of a small historical museum in Capitola, California.
I have a question obout photographs in our collection.

Many of our photograph collections have hazy parentage: our museum
director has, for example, gone to other area museums and photographed
pictures that we would like to have in our collection.  I assume that
this is not unusual.  And we have a large number of donated photographs.
Who took what original picture is not known for many of these.

The museum also has some groups of photographs where we do know the
photographer or the donor.  For example, a series of photos of the
local Rispin Mansion.

The Museum Coordinator was recently contacted by someone who wants
to publish the Rispin Mansion photographs on a Web site.  I am
assuming that it will be necessary to get some kind of permission
clearance before this can happen.

Can any of you share information or experience with similar
situations, or direct me to written materials that will spell
out guidelines to follow?

Thanks so much for whatever help you can provide

Topsy N. Smalley
Secretary, Capitola Historical Museum
Capitola, CA  9501