[NHCOLL-L:5064] RE: Non-NH Collections

[Jean-Marc Gagnon]

Karen,

 

For objects that are derived from actual natural history collection objects (i.e., reproductions such as photos, molds and casts, digital scans), we treat them as ancillary collections that can be used for display, exhibits, loans. They certainly have an inherent value, being to some degree a copy of the originals. They are stored in a collection environment appropriate for the medium and the electronic object record for the original object should link to these "reproductions".

 

As far as other objects offered for donation that are not actual natural history objects, the decision to acquire them should be based on a formal institutional decision to develop and maintain a separate collection of such objects. At the CMN, we have a Nature Art Collection, for paintings, carvings, photos and other representations of the natural world. The decision to accept an object, however, is still based on a standard acquisition process, with an assessment of the value of that object.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Jean-Marc

 

Jean-Marc Gagnon, Ph.D.

President of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (www.spnhc.org <http://www.spnhc.org/> ) 

Lead Organizer of the 2010 SPNHC & CBA-ABC Joint Conference (www.spnhc-cba2010.org <http://www.spnhc-cba2010.org/> ) 

 

Chief Collection Manager / Gestionnaire en chef des collections

Invertebrate Collections / Collections des invertébrés

Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature

P.O. Box 3443, Stn "D" / C.P. 3443, Succ. D

Ottawa, ON Canada K1P 6P4

T: 613-364-4066 / F: 613-364-4027

E/C: jmgagnon at mus-nature.ca <mailto:jmgagnon at mus-nature.ca> 

http://www.nature.ca <http://www.nature.ca/> 

 

P Thanks for thinking of the environment before printing! /

           Merci de penser à l'environnement avant d'imprimer! 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Morton
Sent: 4 novembre 2010 14:08
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5063] Non-NH Collections

 

Dear List,

 

We have been faced with the question of what to do with donated items that are related to natural history but do not fit in our natural history collections (such as bronzes, paintings, etc.).  We are curious as to how other museums treat these pieces.  If the item is derived from scientific study, do you treat it differently than something that is not?  What if it is a pop-culture item that retains some exhibit and educational value?  Do you catalog them as part of your scientific collections?  Do you catalog them as part of an art collection?

 

Please send responses to kmorton at natureandscience.org.  

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

KAREN MORTON

Collections Manager | Museum of Nature & Science

p 972.201.0595 | kmorton at natureandscience.org

 

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