[NHCOLL-L:247] Q re fossil ownership claims

[Sally Shelton]

I received the following query from a colleague, and this
seems like the logical group to pass it on to.
Well-documented accounts are needed (there are lots of
rumors and other oral history floating around). Please reply
to me off-list. I will anonymize cases as much as possible
as long as I may refer my colleague to you if he needs to
check facts privately.  Thanks!

Sally Shelton
Collections Officer
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution


 I recently was asked by a news reporter if I had received
any requests from a fossil donor to have the fossil returned
to him/her and that such a
request might have been driven by the post-Sue [T. rex]
auction increased commercialization of fossils.

 I may have heard anecdotal stories like the above, but
wonder if anyone
actually knows of such an occurrence.