[NHCOLL-L:332] Accession Question

[Jane MacKnight]

I am planning to establish a New Acquisitions Committee to review all
proposed acquisitions prior to accepting/accessioning.  While this is
standard practice in history, art and other non-science museums, the natural
history curators here claim that it is not standard practice in natural
history museums.  There are strong feelings that the curator is the only
person qualified to make the decision.  I agree that the curator should make
the recommendation based on knowledge of the collection, scientific basis
etc.  However, other staff are more knowledgeable about space priorities,
finances, legal and permit issues, needs of education and exhibit programs,
political issues etc.  I'd like to know what procedures other natural
history museums employ to accept new acquisitions.  If you use a committee
how does it work, who participates etc?  Please respond off list.  Thanks in
advance.

Jane


Jane MacKnight
Registrar and Director of Collections
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45203
Tel: 513/287-7092
Fax: 513/287-7095
Email: jmacknight at cincymuseum.org