Approved July 2012
National Law Enforcement Museum
of the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Collections Management Policy
Submitted for the Approval of the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Board of Directors
July 2012
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Table of Contents
Contents
I.
Page
Introduction
A. Statement of Purpose…………………………………………….
B. Museum Mission Statement……………………………………..
C. Delegation of Authority………………………………………….
D. Scope and Nature of the Collections……………………………..
i. Description of the Collection…………………………….
ii. Types of Media Collected………………………………..
iii. Collecting Plan…………………………………………...
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Acquisitions
A. Authority to Collect………………………………………………
B. Criteria for Acquisitions………………………………………….
C. Terms of Acquisition……………………………………………..
i. Acquisition by Gift, Exchange/Transfer, or Bequest…….
ii. Acquisition by Purchase………………………………….
iii. Acquisition through Abandonment………………………
iv. Acquisition through “Found in Collection”………………
D. Transfer of Legal Title……………………………………………
v. Internal Revenue Service Requirements………………….
vi. Acknowledgment…………………………………………
vii. Appraisals…………………………………………………
E. Ethics of Collecting……………………………………………….
viii. Stolen Collections……………………………………….
ix. Illicitly Exported Collections……………………………..
x. Repatriation of Illicitly Exported Collections…………….
xi. Forgeries and Falsified Documents……………………….
xii. Staff, Council, and Board Personal Collections…………..
F. Accessioning Procedures………………………………………….
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III. Deaccessions
A. Deaccessioning Criteria………………………………………...
B. Deaccessioning Guidelines…………………………………….
C. Deaccessioning Approval………………………………………
D. Disposition of Deaccessioned Collections…………………. ….
E. Approved Methods of Disposition………………………….......
F. Procedures for Permanent Removal of Deaccessions…………..
G. Procedures for Internal Transfers of Deaccessions……………..
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IV. Loans of Collections To and From the Museum
A. Overview of Guidelines………………………………………….
i. Condition Reports………………………………………..
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II.
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ii. Insurance…………………………………………………
iii. Approval to Loan or Borrow Collections………………..
iv. Monitoring Loans………………………………………..
v. Courier Policy……………………………………………
Outgoing Loans of Collections…………………………………..
Incoming Loans of Collections…………………………………..
Objects Temporarily in the Custody of the Museum…………….
Personal Collections……………………………………………...
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Care of Collections
A. Museum Collections Environment………………………………
B. Pest Control……………………………………………………...
C. Object Handling…………………………………………………
D. Conservation…………………………………………………….
E. Insurance and Risk Management………………………………..
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B.
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VI. Collections Control and Access
A. Access to the Collections…………………………………………
i. Access to Collections Objects……………………………
ii. Institutional Access to Collections……………………….
iii. Intellectual Access to Collections………………………..
iv. Access via Exhibitions and Programs……………………
v. Access to Collections by Appointment………………….
vi. Access to Collections in Storage…………………………
vii. Access to Collections Through Loans Program………….
viii. Release of Collection Information……………………….
ix. Access Procedures………………………………………..
B. Collection Photography…………………………………………..
i. Photography, Duplication, and Reproduction
of Collection Materials……………………………………
ii. Photography of Loaned or Limited-Use Materials………..
iii. Use Fees…………………………………………………..
iv. Copyright…………………………………………………
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C. Collections Inventory…………………………………………….
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D. Documentation of Loans and Acquisitions……………………….
i. Acquisition and Loan Records……………………………
ii. Forms……………………………………………………..
iii. Emergency Procedures……………………………………
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VII. Collections Staff Responsibilities
A. Curators…………………………………………………………... 37
B. Registrar………………………………………………………….. 37
C. Conservator………………………………………………………. 38
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VIII. Code of Ethics Regarding Collections……………………………………… 40
IX. Review of Collections Management Policy and Public Disclosure…………
A. Policy Review and Revision………………………………………
B. Exceptions and Waivers…………………………………………..
C. Compliance………………………………………………………..
D. Public Disclosure………………………………………………….
X.
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Definitions…………………………………………………………………... 42
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I. INTRODUCTION
The National Law Enforcement Museum (Museum) was established by an act of
Congress in 2000 as the nation’s most comprehensive museum honoring the duty and
sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. The material culture of law
enforcement that forms the basis of the collection of the Museum tells the stories,
experiences, and histories of all law enforcement. The majority of the objects in the
Museum’s collection have been donated by organizations, agencies, or individuals
who are directly involved with law enforcement or in the interpretation of law
enforcement in broader society. Those objects often are imbued with emotion,
personal meaning, and historical importance. When materials relate directly to fallen
officers, it is imperative that the Museum and its staff are mindful of their relationship
to those officers, as well as the survivors, and in all dealings demonstrate sensitivity
and respect as well as an awareness of the significance of these artifacts.
A. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this document is to set forth guidelines for a Collections
Management Policy, which defines all activities related to the stewardship of the
collection, as well as the procedures for ensuring excellence in the collection’s
continuing growth and development.
The realization of these policies shall be the responsibility of the professional staff
of the Museum as delegated by the Board of Directors of the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (Fund) overseen by the Museum
Leadership Council (MLC). At all levels, the highest ethical practices and
professional standards, which have been defined by the larger museum
community, shall prevail, and all collection activities shall be guided by
appropriate legal interpretation of international treaties, Federal statutes, and laws
of the District of Columbia. The Fund supports and follows the American
Association of Museums (AAM) Code of Ethics for museum professionals.
The policies and procedures set forth in this document shall be guided by several
basic principles; chief among them is that the activities related to the maintenance
and development of the collection stand in support of the mission of the Museum.
Further, the policy is directed by a respect for the past and the history that the
Museum portrays, a desire to responsibly enhance the collection, and the active
pursuit of opportunities to build, improve, and appropriately utilize the collection.
It is understood that the procedures outlined in the ensuing pages will be revised
as appropriate, and in accordance with the procedures set forth below, to serve the
needs of the collection and the Museum.
B. Museum Mission Statement
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The mission of the National Law Enforcement Museum is to tell the story of
American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research, and education.
The Museum dynamically engages the broadest possible audience in this story in
an effort to build mutual respect and foster cooperation between the public and
the law enforcement profession. By doing so, the Museum contributes to a safer
society and serves to uphold the democratic ideals of the U.S. Constitution.
C. Delegation of Authority
The Museum Leadership Council (MLC), a Committee of the NLEOMF Board of
Directors, is, among other things, responsible to the Board for the oversight of the
collections and collection-related activities of the Museum. This oversight
Council consists of Board and non-Board members and is charged, among other
responsibilities, with reviewing, modifying, and approving the collections policies
proposed by the staff. The Council, through the policies, defines the scope of what
is to be collected, sets the standards for care, conservation, and loan of objects,
and approves the accessioning and deaccessioning of collection materials. The
MLC meets at least twice annually, with subcommittees convening from time to
time to facilitate the oversight of the Museum. For any action of the Council, a
quorum (one-third of the Council) must be present and a majority vote by the
quorum (no less than three) is required. In instances where a judgment must be
rendered prior to the next meeting, an emergency meeting will be called giving
members at least five (5) calendar days notice before the meeting. At the
discretion of the chairperson, committee members may participate in a meeting by
telephone or video conference, as provided in the bylaws of the Board of
Directors.
On a day-to-day basis, the authority to act, in keeping with the established and
approved policies, is vested in the Collections staff as delegated through the
Executive Director from the Board of Directors.
D. Scope and Nature of the Collections
Central to the mission of the Museum is the program to collect, preserve, and
make available to the public the historical record of law enforcement of the
original 13 colonies and the United States of America. The curatorial staff plays a
key role in implementing this program with responsibilities for different aspects
of the collection that supports the Museum’s wide-ranging efforts in the areas of
research, exhibition, and education.
The Museum intends to become one of the largest and most comprehensive law
enforcement museums in the United States and to be a significant resource for the
study of law enforcement history, safety, and significance in the United States.
The Museum’s collections support its goals in large part through exhibition and
educational programs. Collections also provide resources for scholars and general
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researchers. The following precepts are thus expected to inform the development
and growth of the Museum collection.
a. To ensure its preservation, the Museum’s collection will be extensive enough to
allow for the regular rotation of objects on exhibition.
b. The collections must be broad enough to tell as many law enforcement stories as
possible, thus satisfying the many components making up the American law
enforcement community.
c. The Museum recognizes the need to serve as a repository for evidence in noted
criminal investigations. Many of these cases demonstrated important processes,
and procedures, and advances in law enforcement and much of this material has
been destroyed, in large part because of the lack of a suitable repositories. The
Museum intends to selectively collect these kinds of materials.
d. The collection must support the law enforcement related interests of
constituencies, stakeholders, and audiences that go beyond the law enforcement
community. Such groups may include, but are not limited to, the general public,
school children, and scholars. The Museum recognizes that each audience has
different needs, learning styles, and expectations.
e. The Museum recognizes that those who work in law enforcement may provide the
best witness to the work accomplished. As a result, the Museum will collect, as
well as create, oral histories of law enforcement practitioners. Oral histories are
not restricted to law enforcement practitioners, but could also extend to witnesses,
victims, and criminals.
f. The Museum may collect original works of art. With the exception of the
Memorial Collection, however, it will not collect original works of art created
following a law enforcement officer’s death. Other memorial artwork may be
collected under exceptional circumstances.
i. Description of the Collection.
The Museum’s collection is represented by a broad range of subject areas
including, but not limited to:
Law enforcement safety
Important historic law enforcement events, crimes, and figures, from the
17th century through the present. The Museum focuses on the law
enforcement officer, not the criminal, but will acquire objects related to
particular crimes and criminals that provide insights into the roles played
and challenges faced by law enforcement officers over time.
Tools and equipment used by law enforcement officers
Rare and unusual items that provide insight into a particular aspect of law
enforcement work or a law enforcement event
Training of law enforcement officers
Investigative and crime-solving methodologies
Technological and scientific advances in crime investigation
History of corrections, jails, and prisons
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Media and entertainment industry portrayals of law enforcement
Fictional detectives and law enforcement officers
History of law enforcement, including law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement ethics
Laws, rules, regulations, and reforms in law enforcement, specifically in
the United States of America, but with an acknowledgement to select
historic European precedents on which American law enforcement is
based.
ii. Types of Media Collected
The Museum collects material culture that tells the contemporary and
historical stories of law enforcement, its portrayal in media and by the
entertainment industry. The Museum will work cooperatively with other law
enforcement museums and collecting institutions in an effort to avoid
competition and redundancy in collection areas whenever possible. The focus
of the Museum’s collecting efforts, therefore, is on original materials that tell
the story of law enforcement in the United States of America. Those types of
materials include, but are not limited to:
Art—drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, artistic posters, and other
creative works
Audio and video interviews (oral histories)
Books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and transcripts
Film, video, and audio recordings
Musical recordings and scores
Photographs, photo albums, transparencies, and negatives
Textiles—uniforms, costumes, clothing, patches, armbands, flags, and
banners
Textual records—agency documents, legal proceedings, institutional
records, personal papers, diaries, memoirs, and correspondence
Three-dimensional objects—personal effects, furnishings, architectural
fragments, ritual objects, badges, jewelry, numismatics, models,
machinery, tools, equipment, and tools of the trade
Works on paper—books, magazines, pamphlets, broadsides,
announcements, advertisements, posters, and maps
iii. Collecting Plan
The Museum’s collection has and will continue to grow as a result of
solicited and unsolicited donations from private individuals, institutions,
specific Museum projects and programs, and purchases. Targeted efforts
will be aimed at collecting from individuals within certain lawenforcement communities and “police” collectors who own materials that
should be reflected in the Museum’s holdings. Other relevant materials,
including digital or microform materials, may be acquired by the research
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center, but these materials may not be included as part of the historical
collections of the Museum. A healthy combination of original and
reference materials will, therefore, provide law enforcement professionals,
scholars, students, curators, writers, artists, and the general public with
appropriate and relevant materials.
It is anticipated that, with the opening of the museum, researchers will
arrive at the Museum to pursue law enforcement research and study. The
research center will undertake microfilming projects in various local,
regional, and national archives and institutions so that appropriate
materials can be on hand for intensive scholarly research.
The centerpiece of the Museum is the Core Exhibition (CE), a 16,000
square foot presentation which contains several thousand objects,
documents, photographs, works of art, films, and videos. Many of the
materials presented in the CE cannot sustain the effects of long-term
installation and must be rotated with identical or similar artifacts to ensure
a seamless continuity in the story presented, and, at the same time, to
ensure the safety of the artifacts. A significant aspect of the Museum’s
collecting effort, therefore, is devoted to finding and acquiring suitable
replacements for objects in the CE.
The Museum maintains, as part of its accessioned collections, the
Memorial Collection, which includes objects collected from the Fund’s
Memorial Wall primarily during annual Police Week commemorations.
Further, in addition to objects acquired for CE and collection purposes, the
Museum maintains separate collections such as the Fund Archives, which
includes institutional documents and objects; and the Education Resource
Collection, comprised of objects identified for use in Museum educational
programming activities.
The Museum maintains a special exhibitions schedule for changing inhouse and, eventually, traveling exhibitions. When surveys of the current
holdings the Museum suggest gaps in collecting, staff will pursue
acquisitions within those subject areas. It is acknowledged that special
exhibitions will draw upon the resources of the Museum, as well as
identify and borrow materials held in private collections and other
institutions. As a result of the identification and location of relevant
materials, which are then borrowed for exhibition purposes, the Museum’s
staff will actively pursue donations from exhibition lenders when
appropriate.
Collecting efforts respond to and take advantage of various activities that
involve the Museum, survivors of fallen officers, other law enforcement
associations, interest groups, and the scholarly community. Conferences,
meetings, reunions, and other special programs present significant
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opportunities to identify potential acquisitions. Museum staff will
establish a visible presence at such events and provide occasions for
potential donors to become involved with the Museum, learn of its
programs, and develop the confidence to donate collections. These
opportunities also identify other potential donors and/or areas for
collecting that are pursued as staff time and funds are available and
priorities are identified.
While the parameters of the Museum’s collecting mandate are wide and
document a broad historical period, collecting efforts must reflect
institutional needs and priorities, and must be responsive to opportunities
for growth and development of various aspects of the collection. On a
periodic basis, the Museum will assess its needs in terms of collecting, and
will create a collecting plan that will allow for the accomplishment of
established goals. This plan will continue to be reviewed and revised, as
appropriate, every 5 years.
II. ACQUISITIONS
A. Authority to Collect
The acquisition of materials is fundamental to the mission of the Museum in
fulfilling its mandate to be the premier national institution for the documentation,
study, and interpretation of law enforcement history. Due to the value of these
materials, the Museum makes every effort to build its collection through
donations. Subject to the provisions of this policy, the authority to collect
materials for the Museum’s collection is vested in the Museum Leadership
Council and delegated to the Executive Director. The continued development and
enhancement of the collection is the primary responsibility of the Museum’s
curatorial staff with the curatorial staff recommending materials for acquisition
consideration to the Executive Director within their areas of specialization.
B. Criteria for Acquisitions
All potential acquisitions shall be evaluated according to the following criteria.
Interpretive value and exhibition potential: The item must fit one of the
collecting areas listed above and fill current needs in the core exhibition or a
planned changing exhibition, or the item must fit one of the collecting areas and
will add to future generation’s understanding of current issues in law
enforcement. OR
Significance, uniqueness, or research potential: The item must fit one of the
collecting areas listed above and must offer insights into an aspect of law
enforcement that would be of interest to scholars and researchers or not otherwise
be available and accessible.
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The Museum’s ability to care for object: The Museum must be able to care for
the item adequately and permanently, including storing, protecting, preserving,
documenting, and accounting for the item under conditions that ensure its
availability for Museum use and are in keeping with professionally accepted
standards.
Provenance: Adequate provenance must be established to the satisfaction of the
Executive Director. If adequate provenance is not established, exceptions can be
made and the Executive Director may accept the object for the collection only if a
written explanation is included in the object record.
Title: Clear title must be established and be able to be transferred to the Museum,
with no restrictions as to use or future disposition.
Copyright: Copyright ownership must be determined for any materials acquired
prior to their use.
The Museum will not accept for, or accession into, its collections, unless under
special circumstances, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the following:
Items or artworks created after an event to memorialize that event
Items that glorify the criminal and do not provide insights into law enforcement
Items that present a clear danger to people and/or property
Natural history, food, liquids, and living collections
Human remains
Items that are associated with funerary objects requested for repatriation by a
known lineal descendant of the Native American or of the tribe that is culturally
affiliated with said remains or objects. The Museum adheres to the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Items that would represent a violation of international treaty or agreement or the
laws of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, and Maryland
Items in poor condition or for which extensive conservation or restoration work
will be needed, unless their uniqueness or interpretive or research value of
exhibition potential outweighs the cost of providing adequate care
Items that unnecessarily duplicate other works in the collection
Items with conditions or restrictions as to use or future disposition, except in
extraordinary circumstances
Items for the purpose of sale or exchange, although the Museum may accept
materials not to be accessioned for the specific purpose of sale, with proceeds of
the sale being restricted to collection acquisition or direct care of the collection
C. Terms of Acquisition
Materials may be acquired by means of gift, purchase, bequest, exchange,
transfer, or abandonment. The Museum is not obligated to accept any item or
collection that is not appropriate for its collection.
No materials will be knowingly or willingly accepted or acquired that were
collected in contravention of any applicable federal, state, or local laws. No object
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will be acquired if it is suspected or known to have been stolen from a museum,
collector, dealer, or specific site. The Museum will not accept objects where there
is reasonable cause to believe that the circumstances of their collection involved
needless destruction of historic sites, structures, habitats, districts, and objects, or
is in violation of applicable U.S. importation laws.
No unauthorized staff, or any member of the MLC or any Board of Directors or
MLC committee may obligate the Museum to accept any material.
The acquisition of all materials will be unrestricted unless any proposed
restrictions are reviewed by the Executive Director and approved by the MLC.
No commitment will be made as to exhibition, interpretation, or placement of the
object.
The Museum does not accept materials that limit its ability to accomplish its
institutional mission or that could jeopardize its reputation. It is a basic principle
that, for the collection, the Museum will accession for long-term use and
preservation the objects it acquires. However, no guarantee will be made that any
acquisition will be retained in perpetuity. In such instances where the Museum
agrees to retain an acquisition in perpetuity, the Executive Director and MLC will
review and recommend action with regards to the approval of the agreement.
i. Acquisition by Gift, Exchange/Transfer, or Bequest
The policies, procedures, and considerations for all proposed donations
will be the same as set forth above.
The acceptance of gifts or bequests will be left to the discretion of MLC,
who make recommendations to the Executive Director. Under the
following circumstances, however, the proposed gift or bequest must be
reviewed by the Executive Director, with recommendations to the MLC
and approval by that body: an offer is made with restrictions or conditions
that require an institutional consideration; the size or condition would
require a request for additional resources for storage or significant
conservation; or a gift is offered by a member of the staff, MLC, or other
parties that falls outside the stated collecting mandate.
In such instances, the Executive Director or designee will make a
recommendation to the MLC who will consider the proposal for
presentation and final determination by the MLC at its next meeting.
All donations are considered outright, unconditional gifts to be used at the
discretion of the Museum without restrictions, except in those instances
where the Museum has expressly accepted a donation subject to
conditions. Such conditions must be clearly stated in the instrument of
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conveyance (e.g., deed of gift, letter of agreement, use and copyright
agreements, etc.). A complete record of all such conditions shall be
maintained in the Museum’s permanent accession record of the item, with
a notation prominently affixed to the paper file and a note made in the
electronic file.
The Museum, on occasion, may accept donations of objects for which the
donor has retained the copyright. In such instances, this will be stated in
the deed of gift. Even in such instances, however, the Museum is to strive
to attain free and unlimited use of the donated materials for institutional
activities.
When collections offered for donation are not accepted, the Museum may
suggest appropriate repositories for the donation, as long as the
recommendation or referral does not discredit or demean the Museum.
It is important to avoid any personal or organizational conflict of interest
situations, or even the appearance of any conflict of interest.
Consequently, in an instance where a Board of Directors member, MLC
member, other Board committee member, or any organization in which the
member is an officer, has a direct financial interest in the acquisition by
gift of materials for the collection, the following procedure shall be
followed: the individual with the direct financial interest must, upon
realization of such an interest, immediately disclose this fact to the Chair
of the MLC and the Executive Director. The individual must then recuse
him- or herself from any further participation in the transaction. The Chair
of the MLC will present the matter for review and approval by the MLC
prior to the completion of the transaction.
ii. Acquisition by Purchase
The policies, procedures, and considerations for all proposed purchases will
be the same as those set forth above. In addition, the following factors must be
considered:
• Must the object or collection be purchased or might it or a similar object
be obtained by loan, gift, or bequest?
• Is the price fair and reasonable?
• Does the purchase appear merited when compared to other requests?
During each year’s budget planning process, the Executive Director, in
consultation with curatorial staff, will present the Museum’s proposal for that
year’s artifact acquisition scope and budget to the Programs Committee and
the MLC. The MLC will then recommend budget authority to the full
NLEOMF Board for approval, as part of that fiscal year’s budget. Once
approved by the Board, the Executive Director will be given the authority to
decide what artifacts should be acquired, within the budget scope, up to
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$10,000. The Executive Director shall report to the MLC on any major
acquisitions that are made.
For purchases over $10,000, the Executive Director will make a
recommendation to the NLEOMF Chairman, who must approve the
recommendation before the artifact can be purchased. For any purchases that
materially exceed the budget authority for the year, the Executive Director, in
consultation with the NLEOMF Chairman, will seek approval for the purchase
from the MLC and the full NLEOMF Board.
The purchase agreement or invoice must include the vendor’s name and
contact information, and must list exactly what is being purchased, the
purchase price, and terms of payment. The Museum will make every effort to
acquire all copyright as legally permissible at the time of purchase. A signed
purchase order or approved invoice, signed by an authorized Museum
employee, will serve as the legal instrument of transference.
It is important to avoid any personal or organizational conflict of interest
situations, or even the appearance of any conflict of interest. Consequently, in
an instance where a Board of Directors member, MLC member, other
committee member, or any organization in which the member is an officer,
has a direct financial interest in the acquisition by purchase of materials for
the collection, the following procedure shall be followed: the individual with
the direct financial interest must, upon realization of such an interest,
immediately disclose this fact to the Chair of the MLC and the Executive
Director. The individual must then recuse him- or herself from any further
participation in the transaction. The Chair of MLC will present the matter for
review and approval by the Fund Executive Committee prior to the
completion of the transaction.
iii. Acquisition through Abandonment
For the purposes of this policy, “abandoned” items are objects, documents,
and photographs that come into the possession of the Museum without an
identifiable owner. In general, such items are presumed to have been
donated to the Museum. Items left at the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial during National Police Week are presumed to have
been donated to the Museum. If the items are not collected, they will be
respectfully disposed of.
At times other than Police Week, items left at the National Law
Enforcement Memorial without any identification of the owner or any
statement regarding the owner’s intent are also presumed to have been
donated to the Museum. The Museum may accession abandoned items,
but is under no obligation to do so. If the items are not wanted for the
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collection, they may be transferred, sold, or otherwise respectfully
disposed of.
iv. Acquisition through “Found in Collection”
Title is presumed due to the possession of items that have been in the
custody of the Museum for at least five (5) years, are not documented as
loans, and for which the Museum cannot prove ownership. Documented
good-faith efforts must be made to locate and contact the donor or the
donor’s heirs of such items, if they are known. The accession record will
reflect all efforts to find the donor or heirs and note that the item was
found in the collection.
D. Transfer of Legal Title
The Museum’s deed of gift is required for all gifts and must be signed and dated
by the legal owner(s) or authorized agent(s) and countersigned by an authorized
representative of the Museum.
Exceptions to the deed of gift requirement may be allowed upon review and
approval by the Executive Director and the Fund’s legal counsel.
A letter from the originating institution is required for all transfers and must be
signed by an authorized staff member of that institution.
For bequests, all release or receipt of object documents must be forwarded to the
Registrar for processing, after consultation and signature of the Museum’s legal
counsel.
A purchase order or invoice approved and signed by the Executive Director or
designee is required for all purchases.
v. Internal Revenue Service Requirements
Any Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form 8283 for non-cash charitable
donations will be signed on behalf of the Museum by the Executive
Director or designee.
vi. Acknowledgment
All donations will be acknowledged with a letter of appreciation from the
Fund’s CEO accompanied by a countersigned copy of the deed of gift.
vii. Appraisals
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Under no circumstances will Museum staff provide an appraisal of objects
or reveal the value assigned to an object by the Museum. Requests for
exceptions to this prohibition must be submitted to the Fund’s Counsel.
The Museum will not pay for an appraisal or reimburse a donor for
appraisal costs, unless it is determined by the Executive Director and
recommended to the CEO to be in the best interests of the Museum to do
so. Such matters will be presented to the MLC for review and approval in
advance of making such a commitment.
Museum staff will provide several names of appraisal associations and
will make every effort to provide access to the materials, if already in the
Museum’s custody, to independent and/or IRS appraisers. An appraisal is
not a requisite for acceptance of a donation. However, if a donor has
obtained an appraisal from an independent appraiser, the Museum will
request copies of the appraisal for its permanent records.
All objects are acquired through the conveyance of title from the owner of
the materials to the National Law Enforcement Museum of the National
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
E. Ethics of Collecting
The National Law Enforcement Museum is grounded in the tradition of public
service and holds its collection and information as a benefit for those it was
established to serve. In its collecting activities, the Museum holds it of paramount
importance to follow ethical modes of conduct as stipulated by the museum and
scholarly communities, and to adhere to all applicable local and federal laws of
the United States. Ethical or legal questions regarding the acquisition of a
collection most often arise in the cases of stolen, improperly collected, or illicitly
exported objects.
viii.
Stolen Collections
The Museum will not purchase or accept as a gift or loan any object
known or suspected to have been stolen from a museum, collector, dealer,
or specific site. When the legal status of an item is in question, it is the
responsibility of the Museum to attempt to establish its provenance. In
these circumstances, the Museum must make all reasonable inquiries of
the appropriate institutions and/or government agencies, both foreign and
domestic, to determine if the Museum can obtain clear and unrestricted
title if a purchase or gift is contemplated, or that a proposed lender has
clear title at the time the loan is undertaken.
When an item offered to the Museum for purchase, gift, or loan is stolen
property, all pertinent facts must be reported to the Executive Director at
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the earliest opportunity, who will then notify the Museum Leadership
Council, legal counsel, and the appropriate authorities.
ix. Illicitly Exported Collections
The Museum will not acquire any item illegally obtained, removed, or
imported, including stolen or endangered items, and will endeavor to abide
by the guidelines provided by the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the
Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The Museum will not acquire collections that it suspects were exported in
violation of the laws of their countries of origin. The Museum will
consider as valid the laws in place in the countries of origin at the time of
the documented appearance of the object in the United States. When
questions arise, the Museum will consult the appropriate foreign authority
as to the proper course of action.
If there is significant reason to believe that an object was exported in
violation of local law, the country of origin will be informed of the
potential acquisition and asked to provide relevant information. In this
situation, potential vendors and donors must be informed of this policy.
The Museum also will abstain from purchasing or otherwise acquiring
objects that it knows or suspects are in any way in contravention of
treaties and international conventions to which the United States is a
signatory.
x. Repatriation of Illicitly Exported Collections
If the Museum acquires an object that is part of a cultural patrimony in a
manner that is inconsistent with this policy, it will seek to make equitable
arrangements for the return to the country of origin if it is legally free to
do so.
xi. Forgeries and Falsified Documents
The Museum acknowledges that fakes and forgeries of various law
enforcement items exist. When such materials are offered to the Museum
as the actual historical object, the owner/source will be notified
immediately of any inauthenticity. Any items that are determined to be
fakes or forgeries may be accessioned into the collection as a fake or
forgery as such information furthers scholarly understanding and aids
other researchers in identifying such materials. In all instances, such fakes
or forgeries will be cataloged, identified as a fakes or forgeries, as
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appropriate, in all records, and used for reference or for authentication of
future acquisitions.
There may be circumstances regarding the authenticity or accuracy of
certain collection materials that might result in the materials remaining a
part of the permanent collections. Such situations will be considered on a
case-by-case basis.
xii. Staff, Council, and Board Personal Collections
If a member of the MLC or the Fund Board of Directors, or staff members
own and/or wish to sell items that fall within the Museum’s collecting
areas that are over $500 in fair market value or have significance to the
law enforcement community whatever their market value, then they must
offer the Museum the right of first refusal to buy the item at fair market
value. If the Museum decides not to purchase the item, the Fund Board of
Directors member, member of the MLC, or staff member may then sell the
item. At all times such transactions must be transparent and part of the
Museum’s public record.
Dealing in law enforcement items by members of the MLC, Fund Board
of Directors, or staff members is expressly forbidden. Dealing is defined
as extended and prolonged buying and selling of items, activity publicly
promoted as “buy-sell,” activity so extensive or frequent that it warrants a
dealer tax number, or a shop, address, or bank account dedicated to the
buying and selling activity.
F. Accessioning Procedures
Accessioning is the formal process used to permanently accept and record an item
as a collection object. The Museum’s Registrar will be notified of an incoming
collection or of the receipt of an incoming collection, and will follow established
accessioning procedures as defined by the Museum’s Policies and Procedures for
Accessioning (add as appendix)
The Registrar will make the necessary transportation arrangements for the safe
and secure shipment of the collection to Museum storage if the object is not
currently on Museum premises. In certain instances, and in consultation with the
Registrar, it may be necessary for a Museum staff member to make the
appropriate arrangements for shipment.
Customarily, upon the arrival of a donation, a receipt is issued, pending a final
determination by Museum staff as to whether or not to retain the collection and a
receipt file is created. The donor and Registrar each keep the appropriate copy of
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the receipt. Depending on the circumstances, it may prove necessary and
appropriate to issue a deed of gift immediately, bypassing the receipt. When a
collection is received by the Registrar, it is recorded with a brief description in the
hard copy receipt folder, and is numbered using a sequential receipt number
(RXXX).
The Registrar unpacks the collection and completes an initial condition report
with sketches or photography as needed, identifies the collection with the receipt
number, and assigns a temporary storage location. All appropriate registration
files, manual and electronic, are updated with this information.
If the collection is to be acquired based upon the recommendation of a Museum
staff member, with the approval of the Executive Director, the Registrar issues a
letter to the donor acknowledging receipt of the collection and includes a deed of
gift for the donor’s signature. If the collection is not acquired, the Registrar
notifies the donor that the collection will be returned. Every reasonable effort will
be made to respond to the donor as expeditiously as possible.
Upon receipt of a signed deed of gift, the deed of gift is countersigned by the
Executive Director or Designee and a copy, with an acknowledgment letter from
the Fund CEO, is sent to the donor.
Once a deed of gift or approved purchase document is received by the Registrar,
the collection is assigned an accession number by the Registrar or designee. The
accession number is a sequential number that indicates the year, and the order the
collection was accessioned in that year. The permanent accession number is
recorded in the Collection Management database, and is temporarily affixed to the
collections object, with permanent tagging assigned to a conservator. An
accession file is created to house the official record of the acquisition. All
registration files, both electronic and paper, are updated with the Museum
accession number. All accessions are reported to the Fund’s Development
Department on a quarterly basis.
The deed of gift is retained in the accession files along with any other relevant
documentation, which include, but are not limited to:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Copy of accession record
Catalog worksheet
Deed of gift
All correspondence relating to the accession
Object condition report
Any other information, including memos, receipts, photographs, and research
materials
7) A copy of the completed catalog record
III. DEACCESSIONS
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Deaccessioning is the formal process used to permanently remove an object from the
Museum’s collection.
It is a basic principle that objects in the Museum’s collection should be retained
permanently. Deviations from this basic principle should occur only on an extraordinary
basis. However, the Museum recognizes that its collection may occasionally be refined
and strengthened by the wise and judicious removal of previously accessioned materials
from the collection. In all instances where a deaccession is considered, it is imperative
that the uniqueness of the Museum and its collection be considered.
A. Deaccessioning Criteria
Material may be considered for deaccessioning for one or more of the following
reasons:
It no longer falls within the collecting scope of the Museum.
It has deteriorated to a point rendering it useless for exhibition or study.
It has been determined to be inauthentic.
Maintenance and storage are beyond the Museum’s reasonable capacities or
are determined not to be commensurate with the artifact’s importance to the
collection.
It is discovered that the artifact was stolen or was illegally exported from its
country of origin.
It contains hazardous elements or material making disposal necessary for the
safety of the staff and/or the remainder of the collection.
Excessive duplication of artifacts that transcends the needs of the institution.
The item is part of human remains or associated funerary objects requested for
repatriation by a known lineal descendant of the Native American or of the
tribe that is culturally affiliated with said remains or objects.
Materials that are appropriate for donor files, research files, or institutional
archives.
B. Deaccessioning Guidelines
All deaccessions must comply with the following guidelines:
The Museum will not deaccession any item that has been a formal,
accessioned part of the collection for less than two years, unless it presents a
clear danger to people or property or falls within one of critical deaccession
guidelines as stated above.
The Museum has clear and unrestricted title.
No legal restrictions exist prohibiting or restricting the deaccessioning.
All applicable federal property management regulations and procedures will
be followed.
Any relevant religious sensibilities will be considered.
Accession files must be as complete as possible and must contain appropriate
visual documentation of the materials. These files shall be maintained by the
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Registrar as part of the permanent record and relevant information pertaining
to the deaccession shall be retained in the accession files. The signed original
form for recommendation for deaccessioning will be retained in the permanent
accession file of the Registrar.
It is important to avoid any personal or organizational conflict of interest
situations, or even the appearance of any conflict of interest. Consequently, in
an instance where any organizations or individuals affiliated with the Fund
Board or MCL and committees or their agents whose association with the
Museum might offer the member personal gain or advantage regarding
deaccessioned material, shall be prohibited from acquiring, directly or
indirectly, material deaccessioned by the Museum, or otherwise benefiting
from its sale, trade, or destruction. When such a situation arises, the following
procedure shall be followed: the individual with the direct financial interest
must, upon realization of such an interest, immediately disclose this fact to the
Executive Director and the Chair of the MLC. The individual must then
recuse him- or herself from any further participation in the transaction. The
Chair of the MLC will present the matter for review and approval by the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors prior to the completion of the
transaction.
Deaccessioned artifacts may not be sold in NLEOM retail outlets.
The MLC, following recommendation from the Executive Director, will
determine if the Museum’s name or donor credit will be associated with the
sale, trade, or donation of any collection.
Before deaccessioned items are considered for sale, they should first be
offered for internal education department use. Following that, items should be
offered to appropriate educational institutions.
If the method of disposal involves another institution, that institution will be
required to enter into an agreement that indicates how the Museum and/or
original donor must be credited in conjunction with the use of the
deaccessioned object; that the recipient institution must notify the Museum in
the event that the object is to be permanently removed from that institution;
and that the Museum will have a right of first refusal to reacquire the
object(s).
Any object that is recommended for sale or exchange must be appraised by at
least two reputable appraisers prior to the decision to deaccession.
Although the original donor no longer holds any legal control over items in
the Museum’s collection, the Museum may notify the donor or heir(s) of its
intention to dispose of such items, but is under no obligation to do so.
Proceeds from the sale of deaccesioned items shall be used only for future
acquisitions for the collection and direct collection care.
If the value of the deaccesioned item does not make it a candidate for singular
and immediate sale or exchange, it may be held until a quantity of such items
can be accrued for sale or trade collectively.
C. Deaccessioning Approval
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Items in the Museum collection will be deaccessioned only upon recommendation
of the Executive Director and approval by the Fund CEO with approval of the
MLC. The MLC will report all transactions to the Board.
D. Disposition of Deaccessioned Collections
Objects permanently removed from the collection are to be disposed of in
accordance with the following principles:
The process should be straight-forward, and transparent.
The manner of disposition chosen must comply with all applicable laws, rules,
regulations, and be in the best interests of the Museum, the public it serves,
the public trust it represents in owning the collection, and the scholarly and
scientific communities it represents.
The manner of disposal will be considered individually for each transaction.
Primary consideration will be given to transferring the object to another
division within the Museum, and then through donation, exchange, or sale to
another tax-exempt public institution whose mission is law enforcement
education wherein it may serve a valid purpose in research, education, or
exhibitions.
If an object has been determined to be inauthentic, care must be taken in
considering disposal to ensure that the object does not resurface and deceive
others.
E. Approved Methods of Disposition
The following constitute acceptable methods of disposing of a deaccessioned
object, except as may be otherwise required by federal law or regulation:
Transfer to another division within the Museum where the object can be
utilized for educational purposes.
Donation to a peer museum or cultural institution that intends to make the
object generally accessible to the public, with the Museum retaining the right
of first refusal if the recipient institution disposes of the object.
Exchange with another museum or cultural institution for an object to be
accessioned into the collection.
Return to the donor if known and living, with notification concerning possible
tax ramifications.
Sale to another museum or cultural institution, or, when appropriate, by public
auction. Financial compensation received from the sale of collection artifacts
shall be used exclusively for the purchase of materials for the Museum’s
collection and direct collection care. The original donor’s name will be
connected to any resources realized from the sale as appropriate. The sale of
Museum objects is highly discouraged and should be considered only when
the other alternatives are not available.
Witnessed and documented destruction when the artifact has deteriorated
beyond its useful life or when it presents a hazard to Museum staff or other
collection objects. This method will be used only as a method of last resort.
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F. Procedures for Permanent Removal of Deaccessions
When a deaccession that will remove an object from the Museum collection is
proposed, the following procedures will be used:
Any such deaccession will be presented by the recommending curator to the
Executive Director with all relevant documentation and comprehensive
recorded discussion of the reasons for such proposed deaccession.
The Executive Director or designee will present the proposed deaccession to
the Museum’s legal counsel for review and approval
Following legal review, the proposed deacession is then presented to the
Executive Director for review and recommendation to the MLC.
The presentation will include all known information about the object
including provenance; the history and/or circumstances surrounding its
acquisition; any conditions or restrictions of the acquisition, exhibition, and/or
publication history; relevance to the collection; information about related
and/or parallel objects in the collection; and justification for the deaccession.
The presentation also will include a proposal for disposition.
Following approval to proceed, the MLC will consider a proposal and will
make a final recommendation to the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors for approval. Only if such approval is given can the deaccession
proceed. The MLC and Executive Director will be notified of action taken by
the Executive Committee of the Board.
G. Procedures for Internal Transfers of Deaccessions
When a deaccession is proposed that will remove an object from the permanent
collection by transfer to donor or research files, or institutional archives, the
following procedures will be used:
Any such deaccession will be presented by the recommending curator to the
Executive Director with all relevant documentation and comprehensive
recorded discussion of the reasons for such proposed deaccession.
The Executive Director or designee will provide a list of the proposals with
explanation and justification for the deaccession to the MLC at regular
intervals throughout the year. The Council members will respond with their
approval or disapproval of the actions sought within seven (7) days to the
Executive Director. Failure to respond will constitute approval and a majority
decision will govern.
The Executive Director’s signature on the deaccession form accompanied by a
record of the responses from the requisite number of Council members will
indicate completion of the deaccession process. The Executive Director will
notify the MCL and appropriate staff of any action taken.
IV. LOANS OF COLLECTIONS TO AND FROM THE MUSEUM
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A. Overview of Guidelines
The Museum may borrow items from other institutions or individuals for the
purposes of education, exhibition, or research. In addition, the Museum lends
collection objects as a means to encourage and develop a greater understanding
and appreciation of law enforcement and law-enforcement-related artifacts. The
Museum participates in a loan program that increases public accessibility to
objects and takes into consideration the Museum’s educational, research, and
exhibition needs, as well as the long-term preservation of the objects.
The protection of collection objects and the integrity of the Museum’s exhibitions
are foremost in the consideration of outgoing loan requests. Such loan requests
will be evaluated by the Executive Director, with recommendations from the
curatorial staff, and based on their historical, ethnographic, and scholarly
importance to the Museum and the public.
In order to enhance its collection and exhibitions, the Museum takes into its
premises and custody loans for display in the various exhibitions, research, or
review. The Museum also brings materials into it premises for the purpose of
acquisition consideration. The Museum provides borrowed objects with the same
care provided to comparable property in its own collections. Objects shall not be
lent to individuals for personal use.
Loans for display in the various exhibitions or research will be governed by a
written agreement between the Museum and the borrower specifying a period of
time for the loan, as well as articulating the conditions, rights, and responsibilities
for both institutions. The written agreement must be executed prior to shipment or
receipt of objects. Loans for the purpose of acquisition consideration or review
will be governed by a written receipt. The receipt will be executed following
receipt of the objects.
All exhibition or research loans will be reported on a periodic basis to the Fund
CEO, and the MLC.
i. Condition Reports
Written loan condition reports, supported by photographic documentation
as necessary, shall be made for all loans entering or leaving the Museum.
ii.
Insurance
Outgoing loans are to be insured by the borrower unless otherwise stated.
Waiver of insurance coverage for outgoing loans is subject to review and
approval by the Director of Museum Programs or designee in consultation
with the Collections Manager/Registrar or designee. Incoming loans shall
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Approved July 2012
be insured by the Museum unless the lender waives its requirement or
requests use of its own insurance coverage.
iii.
Approval to Loan or Borrow Collections
All loan agreements must receive final review, approval, and signature of
the Executive Director or designee.
iv.
Monitoring Loans
Loans shall be monitored by the Registrar for compliance with the terms
of the loan. The appropriate Curator will work with the Registrar to
identify any relevant activity pending or required. Loans of more than one
year should be reviewed by the Curator and Registrar at specified intervals
to determine their future status.
v.
Courier Policy
The Museum will evaluate all information provided by the Curator,
Conservator, and Registrar in determining the need for a couriered
shipment. The Executive Director will make the final determination. The
Museum endorses and follows the professional “Code of Practice for
Couriering Museum Objects” prepared by the American Association of
Museums, which will serve as the basis for courier policy and procedure.
A courier must be a museum professional who represents the Museum and
is expected to act in the best interests of the shipment and of the Museum
at all times.
B. Outgoing Loans of Collections
An in-house, staff-level loans committee comprised of the Executive Director,
curators, Registrar, and conservator reviews requests for incoming and outgoing
loans.
Outgoing loans may be made to other museums and institutions engaged in
nonprofit, educational, and scholarly pursuits. On occasion, non-museum entities,
such as communal organizations, or government agencies or officials, may
borrow artifacts for exhibition purposes, provided that these entities satisfy all
loan requirements.
Certain collection objects should not leave the Museum, except under
extraordinary circumstances, because of their physical condition, rarity, or great
importance to the Museum. Restrictions may be placed on inherently fragile or
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Approved July 2012
unstable media or on materials for which loan restrictions were accepted at the
time of donation. Because the risk to the objects increases during handling,
transit, and exhibition, the decision to lend objects will be carefully considered.
The following considerations will be reviewed by the loans committee as part of
the process to determine whether or not the loan request will be approved:
• The proposed use of the borrowed material is consistent with the Museum’s
mission.
• A request for loan should be made nine months in advance of the loan period
in order to effectively negotiate, plan, and expedite loans.
• The overall condition of the objects: whether the object is too fragile to travel,
whether it is subject to damage from environmental conditions, and whether
its size or weight might present shipping problems or potential risk.
• The security and facility aspects of the borrowing institution as they might
affect the safety, preservation, condition, or adequate display of the objects. A
current and complete AAM standard facilities report must be submitted in
advance by the potential borrower for evaluation by the in-house Loans
Committee.
• The nature and purpose of the borrowing organization and the proposed
project: whether for scholarly interpretation, of a cultural nature, promotional,
commercial, or other purpose.
• The value or rarity of the object.
• The current exhibition schedule of the Museum and any needs for the
requested material during the proposed loan period. A report of outgoing loans
will be presented to the Chair of the MLC on an ongoing basis.
C. Incoming Loans of Collections
The following will be considered by the Museum prior to accepting an incoming
loan:
Availability of exhibition or appropriate storage space.
• The condition of the object and its ability to withstand transportation,
environmental fluctuations, handling, and exhibition.
• Any lender restrictions.
• Associated costs such as insurance, conservation, installation, storage,
packing, crating, transportation, courier expenses, or any other related costs.
• Any uncertainties regarding provenance, ownership, or copyright.
• The possibility that the loan may give rise to commercial exploitation or in
any way bring discredit to or demean the Museum.
• Incoming loans are governed by the conditions set forth in the Museum’s loan
agreement. Any modifications made to any of the conditions in the Museum’s
loan agreement must be set forth in writing and approved by the curator, after
consultation with the Registrar, the Museum’s legal counsel, and, in
exceptional instances, the Executive Director or designee. In the event that the
lender requires that its own loan agreement be used, the Museum will comply
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•
•
•
•
•
•
once the terms set forth have been reviewed and approved by the Museum’s
designee.
The Museum will insure at its own expense all borrowed loans at their fair
market value, as determined by the lender. If the lender and the Museum
disagree on a fair value, the loan may not be accepted.
The Museum will not accept any loan for an indefinite or permanent period.
Except for the loan to the Museum of partial or promised gifts, and except for
specific loans sought by the Museum, the Museum will not provide storage
for lenders’ objects.
If ownership of an object on loan to the Museum is contested, the Museum
reserves the right to withhold the return of the object until legal ownership is
determined.
It is the responsibility of the lender or the lender’s agent to notify the Museum
promptly in writing if there is any change in ownership of the object (whether
through inter vivos transfer or death) or if there is a change in the identity or
address of the lender. The Museum assumes no responsibility to search for a
lender who cannot be reached at the address-of-record.
If an object remains in the custody of the Museum, and after pursuing all
possible means for the return of the object, the lender cannot be found, or the
lender refuses to accept the return of the object, the Museum, in accordance
with applicable law and federal regulations, shall deem the object abandoned
and the object will become the property of the Museum.
Except as otherwise prohibited by law or federal regulation, unwanted objects
may be returned to the sender, transmitted to another Museum division, or
destroyed with witnesses present and with documentation of the destruction.
D. Objects Temporarily in the Custody of the Museum
In order to meet the goal of complete accountability for objects in Museum’s
custody, the Registrar shall provide a receipt for any objects left temporarily for
acquisition consideration, identification, examination, or photography. The
purpose, circumstances, and expected duration of stay (not to exceed 90 days)
shall be recorded on the Museum’s receipt. All such objects coming into the
custody of the Museum shall be receipted within five (5) days of their arrival.
Owners shall release the Museum of liability for the objects by promptly signing
the Museum’s receipt. Objects in the temporary custody of the Museum ordinarily
shall not be insured. Owners shall have the option to request insurance. If
insurance is requested, then a loan agreement will be completed by the Museum.
The Registrar shall monitor these objects in the same manner as incoming loans.
E. Personal Collections
Members of the staff, or others associated with the NLEOMF and the Museum
may not bring objects from their personal collections into the Museum for storage
or any other purpose that might prove financially beneficial for them. In cases
where objects owned by staff, Board members, or others associated with the
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Museum may be appropriate for exhibition purposes, these should be reviewed by
the Executive Director and a recommendation made to the MLC as to
appropriateness. All such loans will be governed by the Museum’s loan policy.
Personal collections should not be intermingled with Museum collection.
Any items from the Museum’s holdings that are used in NLEOM and Museum
office spaces must be clearly labeled as Museum Collections. If personal items
could be mistaken for one in the Museum’s collection, the owner must provide a
signed statement to the Registrar, prior to the arrival of the object on site, freeing
the Museum from any liability for the works. Only objects borrowed for
legitimate Museum purposes will be insured by the Museum.
V. CARE OF COLLECTIONS
It is the responsibility of the Museum’s staff to provide the proper environments and
maintain the highest standards of handling, installation, and security to preserve the
collection and the collection records in their care. Every employee and Board member is
entrusted with the preservation of the collection and should be guided by an absolute
respect for the integrity of the collection, to include the conservation of the collection in
order to maintain or improve its condition.
The Museum also recognizes the importance and interdependent nature of objects and
related documentation as crucial to the increase in and dissemination of knowledge about
the collection. Therefore, the records and other documentary materials that support the
collection are considered equally important and require the same degree of care and
consideration.
The Museum will accept and carry out all legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities
required to provide the highest level of care and documentation for all collections
acquired, borrowed, and placed in the Museum. The Museum will support and promote
the goals for collections care as stated in the AAM and American Association for State
and Local History’s Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Awareness of
responsibilities for collections care will be incorporated into all Museum activities. The
Museum will provide information and training opportunities for all Museum staff on the
proper care of collections.
The goal, purpose, priority, or product of any Museum activity will not take priority over
the care and safety of any collection. All activities involving collections will incorporate
and maintain the policies and procedures adopted for care and preservation. All
documentation associated with the collection or created by use or related activity will be
kept current and complete and must be properly labeled and linked to the appropriate
collection or related activity.
A. Museum Collections Environment
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Stable light, temperature, and humidity levels based on professional standards that
are appropriate to the particular needs of the items and records of the collection
shall be maintained at all times. Preventative and protective measures shall be
taken and proper materials shall be used to minimize and limit damaging effects
of the environment.
The NLEOMF maintains a healthful, safe environment for its employees and
patrons. To promote this goal, smoking is not permitted in NLEOMF offices,
storage facilities, or public/staff areas inside any NLEOMF facility.
Care must be taken not to introduce vermin or pests into Museum storage or
exhibition spaces. Food and beverages shall not be allowed in any areas where
collections being exhibited, reviewed, or stored.
With the exception of assistance or emergency animals, live animals shall not be
permitted in the Museum Collections or exhibition spaces.
B. Pest Control
The Museum will initiate and practice an integrated pest management program to
protect collections from infestations. Regular housekeeping and monitoring of
collections are essential components of the pest management program. Chemical
alternatives will be employed only as the last choice in the treatment of
infestations.
C. Object Handling
To ensure the safety of the collection, only trained, authorized staff may handle
objects and object records, and authorized staff must maintain an awareness of
current requirements and standards for the proper care of collections. Knowledge
of basic handling guidelines for specific materials and object types is required of
anyone given access to collections. All collections are to be properly supported
and housed while in storage, on exhibit, or in transit using the best techniques and
materials possible. All suspected hazardous materials will be labeled, stored,
handled, and transported by trained, authorized staff or appropriate experts. When
needed, experts in hazardous materials will be consulted to determine appropriate
care and storage.
D. Conservation
Permission will be obtained from the curator or legal owner prior to any conservation.
Collections will be conserved only by those with appropriate skill and supervision
authorized to perform the specific treatment. The purpose, anticipated benefits, and
potential risks of any proposed conservation shall be identified and documented to
ensure the integrity and preservation of the collection. Priorities for conservation shall
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be established by the Executive Director and curatorial staff. All treatments shall be
documented in writing and photographically.
E. Insurance and Risk Management
The Museum will maintain an independent fine-arts insurance policy that covers the
Museum’s collection items up to an aggregate value. The insurance will be assigned
first to incoming loans, second to Museum loans not covered by borrower’s
insurance, and last to collections items on Museum premises. Particular items with
substantial appraised value may be individually insured upon the recommendation of
the Executive Director.
The Registrar will manage the insurance procedures and ensure that loan agreements
and certificates of insurance are on file in compliance with insurance requirements.
The collection is insured in transit and off-site under the Museum’s fine-arts policy.
Incoming loans shall be insured by the Museum unless the lender waives this
requirement or requests use of the lender’s insurance coverage. Outgoing loans must
be insured by the borrower unless otherwise negotiated. Waiver of insurance
coverage for outgoing loans is subject to review and approval by the Executive
Director, or designee, in consultation with the Registrar.
All significant damage to or loss of collections must be reported immediately to the
Registrar, followed by a written report. The Registrar will then notify the Executive
Director, the conservator, and all appropriate staff. Substantial damage or loss is
reported by Executive Director to the Fund CEO, legal counsel, the MLC, and Fund’s
Executive Committee. The Registrar shall initiate all insurance claims with the
insurance underwriter, and shall advise appropriate staff including the Executive
Director and the conservator. The Registrar shall maintain all related insurance
records and provide appropriate reports. A periodic assessment will be conducted to
evaluate the insurance coverage to ensure its accuracy for the value of the collection.
VI. COLLECTIONS CONTROL AND ACCESS
A. Access to the Collections
As a public institution whose stated mission is to advance and disseminate
knowledge about law enforcement, the Museum accepts as a guiding principle the
responsibility and opportunity to provide the public with access to the collection
in its trust on a nondiscriminatory basis. Access to the collection is encouraged
through exhibitions, reference collections, publications, the Museum’s Web site,
media sources, and other Museum programming. Resource limitations, security,
privacy, intellectual property restrictions, and collections-care requirements
constrain physical access to the collection. The Museum shall provide access to
the collection and collection records consistent with staff availability and the
security and preservation of the objects and records.
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i.
Access to Collections Objects
The Registrar has primary responsibility for maintaining the collection
storage areas and location records. Access will be provided to the
collection and collection records consistent with staff availability, liability
considerations, and the security and preservation of the collection and
collection records.
Museum collections on exhibition and in storage are accessible by
appointment for legitimate research and study. Coordination of access is
controlled by the Registrar. As the Museum is a public trust and its
collections are part of that public trust, all efforts will be made to provide
access to collections as long as the collections are not placed at risk.
Donor restrictions will be taken into account when appropriate.
Requests by outside researchers for access must be made to Museum
curatorial staff and an appointment must be scheduled. Outside researchers
must always be accompanied by Museum staff and access will be denied if
the item is deemed too fragile for study or examination or if the purpose of
the study is not determined to be appropriate or in the best interests of the
Museum.
ii.
Institutional Access to Collections
The Museum strives to provide public access to its collection through
exhibitions, programming, loans, publications, and a research library. The
Museum’s facilities and programming are open to the public and in
compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and
security procedures regarding public access to its facilities. Every effort is
made to accommodate patrons with special needs.
iii.
Intellectual Access to Collections
The Museum is meticulous in ensuring scholarly objectivity when
providing information about it collections. It also is accurate in its
attestations regarding the authenticity of collection materials. Institutional
practices ensure that exhibitions, publications, and public information are
presented honestly and objectively. The stated origin or attribution of an
item reflects thorough investigation and is promptly changed in the event
of accurate challenge. Exhibitions, publications, and programs are
approached objectively and without prejudice.
iv.
Access via Exhibitions and Programs
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Materials in the Museum’s permanent collection are directly accessible to
the public through exhibitions and associated programs. Exhibitions are
mounted in climate-controlled, secure locations within the Museum and at
other approved sites. Exhibition materials are visible and interpreted, but
protected, with access controlled through the use of guards and secured
barriers that include locked display cases and railed and/or alarmed
display platforms. Exhibitions are designed to be self-guided. Due to
conservation and preservation concerns, materials from the permanent
collection may not be placed on permanent display. Length of time on
view is determined for each artifact and is dependent upon such
considerations as condition, medium, construction, historic significance,
and impact on the exhibition. Conservators, in consultation with staff,
make recommendations regarding length of exhibition of objects.
v.
Access to Collections by Appointment
Access to collections is available consistent with staff availability and the
security and preservation of the objects and records. In time, trained staff
will be available to serve the reference needs of staff, scholars, and patrons
in the Museum, as well as respond to respond to reference requests from
outside researchers. Authorized scholars, researchers, and others may
examine original archival collection materials under controlled conditions
with staff supervision when the materials are not available in a
reprographic format.
vi.
Access to Collections in Storage
The Museum’s collections not currently on exhibition or on loan to
outside institutions are stored in climate-controlled, high-security storage
facilities. Routine access to these facilities is limited to collections and
curatorial staff. With appropriate notification and approval, other staff,
interns, volunteers, and visitors may gain access to restricted areas and
collections when accompanied by authorized staff.
Requests for access to the collections not on public display shall be
coordinated by the curatorial staff through the Registrar and, in the case of
access requests from the media, by the Museum’s Communications staff
through the Registrar. The public and media shall have access to
collections only by appointment and only when accompanied by an
authorized member of the staff.
vii.
Access to Collections Through Loans Program
The Museum strives to make portions of the collection available through
loans to qualified borrowers who are able to meet the loan criteria
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established to ensure the safety, security, and appropriate use of the
collection. (See Loans)
viii.
Release of Collection Information
The Museum makes available, under controlled conditions, information
about its permanent collection. The Registrar is responsible for providing
information regarding acquisitions, deaccessions, and loans. The
Executive Director must approve the release of privileged information
regarding collection donors, lenders or vendors. Information that is not
restricted will be made available to legitimate researchers with the
approval of the relevant curatorial or collections staff. Curatorial staff is
responsible for providing provenance and research information about
collection materials.
ix.
Access Procedures
Procedures regulating access to the Museum’s collection and related
information are developed by the Registrar in consultation with the curator
and are approved by the Executive Director.
B. Collection Photography
An effort shall be made to photograph each object in the collections for purposes
of identification, condition, study, security, and reference. Record photographs are
taken of artifacts as part of the accession process. These photographs are intended
for use in the public catalog as well as internal use. Personal or scholarly research
photography is not permitted by outside individuals.
For publication purposes, qualified museum artifact photographers must be used.
These photographers will be selected from a list maintained by the Registrar.
Press photography is permitted for general collections photography purposes, but
photographers must be supervised by Museum staff.
All incoming loans are photographed immediately upon their arrival, and
outgoing loans are photographed prior to their packing and shipment.
i.
Photography, Duplication, and Reproduction of Collection
Materials
The Museum makes its collection available to be photographed,
duplicated, or reproduced under the supervision and management of
collections or curatorial staff. The primary purposes of such surrogates are
to facilitate access to the collections, to safeguard the originals and limit
handling, and to document the Museum’s holdings. Photographs of
collection artifacts without use restrictions are available via the Registrar
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and may be reproduced and made available at the request of a researcher
for a fee.
The Museum reserves the right to refuse to provide photographic or other
reprographic copies of collection materials. To the extent it may be
entitled to do so, the Museum may deny permission for certain
reproductions if the attribution or other information about the material is
in question; if the donor, source, or lender restrictions do not permit it; or
if the circumstances of use demean, alter, or otherwise misrepresent the
artifact and/or bring discredit to the Museum.
The Museum prohibits photography by the public of materials on
exhibition or in storage. Special permission to photograph may be granted
to authorized individuals through written request of the Executive Director
or designee.
Photography (including motion picture) or videotaping of materials on
exhibition or in storage will be permitted only by special permission and
arrangement, with the consent of the Executive Director, and after
assurance from a collections staff member that such activity will not prove
harmful to the materials. Once permission has been granted, all
photography by the media must be supervised by the communications and
a collections or curatorial staff member.
ii.
Photography of Loaned or Limited-Use Materials
Contracts or agreements that regulate the photography or dissemination
and/or distribution of materials on loan or otherwise in the custody of the
Museum will be strictly observed.
iii.
Use Fees
The Museum reserves the right to charge a use fee when granting
permission to reproduce collection objects in books, journals, newspapers,
catalogues, magazines, scholarly publications, commercial and general
publications, websites, films, or other print or electronic media. The
Museum is to be fully credited when its collections are reproduced.
Commercial reproduction of any collection item requires the approval of
the Executive Director. A use fee will be charged for such use unless the
reproduction is commissioned by the Museum. The Fund CEO shall have
the authority to license the manufacture and sale of reproductions and
shall work with the Executive Director to ensure the accuracy and
appropriateness of such items, the manner in which they are marketed and
advertised, and the conditions under which they are sold. Photographs,
prints, posters, postcards, and other publications illustrating images of
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collection items and exhibitions may be made available to the public for
sale. Such sale confers no copyright or right to reproduce. Any
reproduction of Museum collections must be clearly identified as such and
credited to the National Law Enforcement Museum.
iv.
Copyright
The Museum complies with federal copyright law. The Museum will seek
to acquire copyright for all objects when title is transferred. All transfers
and licenses of the rights of copyright provided to the Museum by the
author of such a work of art may be terminated by the author in
accordance with conditions provided by federal law.
In any instance in which the Museum believes that the right to reproduce
an object may be held by another person or organization, any potential
user shall be notified in writing that the Museum undertakes no
responsibility for determining the nature of such rights or for obtaining
whatever permission may be necessary to reproduce the object.
Printed, manuscript, and photographic items in the Museum collection
may be reproduced as provided under the fair use provision of the United
States copyright law. The Museum may refuse to permit the copying of
any collection item if such reproduction would violate copyright law,
violate the donor agreement, or pose a threat to the physical integrity and
preservation of the item.
C. Collections Inventory
A collections inventory is the identification and/or quantification of the physical
collection, as well as a review of the attendant documentation. The Registrar shall
establish and maintain a current inventory of its collections. By the end of each
odd numbered year, a spot check inventory of 10% of the collection will be
completed. Record photography or other visual documentation of the collection is
conducted as part of the inventory process. Archival holdings may be inventoried
in response to a particular collections-management issue, a rehousing project, or a
curatorial need. Safeguards are in place to ensure the accuracy of location
information and the safety of the materials. The collection registration records,
both manual and electronic, are reconciled with the information obtained through
the initial inventory.
The Museum’s inventory of its collection shall be maintained through routine
additions to and updating of manual and electronic records. The Registrar shall
see that the relocation of objects is recorded, according to established procedures,
following object movement.
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Loaned objects shall be fully inventoried at the time of loan renewal and/or loan
termination.
D. Documentation of Loans and Acquisitions
The maintenance of accurate records on the acquisition, identification, location,
and disposition of collection and loan materials is a major responsibility of the
Museum and is carried out by the appropriate professional. All primary records
are safeguarded from hazards such as fire, water, smoke damage, or loss.
The various electronic databases and other records that support the documentation
of the collection are maintained by the Registrar and are backed up on tape by
Information Technology staff nightly; backup tapes are stored onsite at the
NLEOMF facility, and are kept for two months. All data and all applications on
the entire Museum computer databases are backed up monthly on tape and the
tapes are stored offsite, and kept for one year.
Separate backup procedures are implemented for the Voyager collections
database, and is managed by Ex Libris Group, the vendor for that program. The
Museum’s Voyager database is backed up nightly, with tapes being sent to offsite
storage and kept for one month.
i.
Acquisition and Loan Records
The Registrar maintains the loan and original accession records that
establish the legal status for all materials. These records must include all
relevant memoranda, correspondence, invoices and payment documents,
deeds of gift, transfer of rights documents, packing, shipping and customs
documents, photographs, acquisition inventories, appraisals, tax
documents, loan agreements, receipts, and any other documentation
relevant to the acquisition or loan transaction.
In addition, for donations, such information includes provenance, other
historical information, and copies of all relevant documentation pertaining
to the transaction. In the event that a loan becomes a donation, the
Registrar ensures that copies of relevant loan documentation are included
in the accession file.
ii.
Forms
Forms have been established for the various procedural steps related to
acquisitions, accessions, and loan transactions. These forms are
maintained and updated as appropriate by the Registrar. Additional forms
may be created as needed and others may cease to be utilized as the
procedures demand.
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iii.
Emergency Procedures
The Museum will prepare a manual of emergency procedures for the
protection and evacuation of personnel, visitors, and collection in the
event of an emergency. These procedures will be distributed to all
Museum personnel and appropriate training and testing is conducted so
that, in the event it becomes necessary, the procedures can be activated
effectively.
The emergency plan will include: when to activate it; authority and
delegation in emergency situations; emergency telephone numbers;
external assistance information; and procedures for response to fire, flood,
bomb threat, theft, earthquake, medical emergency, demonstrations or
disorders, accident and illness, building and or utility damage, and
community-wide disasters. The plan includes floor plans of the Museum
and storage facilities, locations of in-house supplies and equipment, and
procedures for collection salvage.
It is the responsibility of the curatorial and collections staff to establish
collection priorities in the event of an emergency or disaster. Such a
priority list may be required in any material recovery effort.
Personal health and safety will always take priority over the collection.
VII.
COLLECTIONS STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Curators
Curators are responsible for the judicious acquisition and refinement of
collections that are consistent with the stated collecting policy of the Museum, for
the thorough documentation of the acquired collections, and for providing
reference services and intellectual access to the materials. Rotation of like objects
in the Core Exhibition (CE) is overseen by the Executive Director or designee, in
coordination with a conservator and Registrar.
B. Registrar
The Registrar is responsible for the following functions and tasks related to
collections care: space management, transportation, preservation and
rehabilitation, rehousing, security, documentation, and access.
The Registrar is the single control point for recording object movement into and
out of all Museum facilities and will be responsible administering and
safeguarding the permanent collection records and other documentary materials
that support the collections and are considered equally important and require the
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same degree of care and consideration; assigning accession and loan identification
numbers; working with conservators to ensure safe handling and storage of the
collection; working with curators to ensure accurate documentation of the
collection; maintaining and providing access to the Museum’s collection storage
facilities; and working with conservators and security staff to ensure safe handling
for packing and transportation of collections.
The Registrar shall implement preservation care and environmental management
programs consulting with qualified conservators as needed. Such activities shall
include artifact condition surveys, proper artifact housing, integrated pest
management, and environmental monitoring of collection storage areas.
Installation of objects in special exhibitions is overseen by the Curator, Registrar,
and conservator. The Registrar and conservator will work with staff as well as
outside contractors to ensure the safety of the collection during installation.
Where outside contractors are involved, the Museum’s staff, as noted above, will
have ultimate authority and responsibility.
C. Conservator
The conservator, in consultation with the Registrar and Executive Director, is
responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, and completing a program
for the treatment, care, housing, environment, preservation, and related activities
to ensure the physical integrity of the collections and to maintain them in a stable
and usable condition.
Conservation is essential to the stewardship of the Museum’s collection and
responds directly to the mission of the institution to advance knowledge of and
preserve the history of law enforcement. It is often the preexisting wear, damage
or modification evident on an artifact in the Museum’s collection or care that
provides critical information regarding its history, context, or importance.
Therefore, an overriding philosophy dictates that many artifacts may be stabilized,
but rarely are they given aesthetic treatment. The formation and expansion of the
collection carries with it an intention and an obligation to preserve and conserve
the Museum’s holdings and, therefore, the preservation of the collection is the
responsibility of all Museum staff.
In general, a contract conservator is responsible for making recommendations and
providing guidelines for the housing, handling, methods of storage, and treatment
of artifacts for exhibition, loan, and reproduction. The conservator advises
curators and exhibition designers regarding handling and installation for artifacts
on exhibition as well as maintaining the appropriate exhibition environment. The
conservator provides environmental guidelines and recommendations for the
collections on exhibition, in storage, and on loan; monitors those environments;
and works cooperatively with the Registrar and facilities management staff to
ensure a proper environment for the collection.
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The conservator is responsible for the preservation and conservation treatment of
artifacts in the permanent collection and on loan to the institution. The following
principles guide the conservation programs at the Museum.
• Conservation and preservation of objects under the care of the Museum
adhere to the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice as adopted by the
American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in August
1994.
• The Museum recognizes that preventative conservation of the collection is the
most effective means of conserving the cultural material under its care.
Preventative conservation techniques for the collection as a whole will
generally be put in place before treatment of individual items.
• Preservation concerns are equal for all artifacts whether on display, in storage,
or on loan.
• The Museum recognizes that the preservation of the collection requires the
interrelationship of staff, collection, and buildings housing the Museum’s
collection.
• The Museum will monitor and assess the impact of its activities on the
preservation of the collection.
• Resources will be applied efficiently and effectively to the preservation of the
collection through the conservator.
• The emphasis of interventive conservation treatment will be on structural
integration— rather than aesthetic compensation—based on an informed
respect for the history, unique character, and significance of the artifact.
• Results of materials research and analyses are guided by full disclosure and
technical objectivity rather than political, philosophical, or financial
objectives.
• The Museum recognizes the imperative for staff to have ongoing technical
training to provide exposure to and knowledge of the latest research and
techniques.
The conservator will fulfill the following functions:
• Provide recommendation and guidelines to staff for the preservation and
conservation of the Museum’s collection.
• Provide specialist advice and service to Museum staff for the preventative
conservation of the collection.
• Carry out or recommend contract conservators for conservation treatments on
collection materials using technical analyses for the determination of suitable
treatment, safe materials for mounting, or display environments, to better
understand the mechanisms of deterioration and to develop new treatment
techniques.
• Ensure that only trained personnel perform conservation and conservationrelated tasks whether independently or under the direct supervision of a
conservator.
• Examine and document the physical condition of the collection and maintain
conservation records.
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•
•
•
Provide expertise for the development, maintenance, and implementation of a
Museum emergency response plan.
Carry out research into materials and techniques of conservation, materials,
and techniques used in the production of cultural materials in the collection,
environmental conditions, and other matters affecting the conservation and
preservation of the collection.
Provide technical expertise to Museum projects and interests on-site and at
other institutions.
The conservator primarily is responsible for recommending to the staff the
following collection-related programs:
• Preservation care. Activities in this program are geared to minimizing
chemical and physical deterioration and damage, and to assessing the need for
further treatment. Activities include condition surveys, re-housing and
holdings maintenance projects, duplication and reformatting, and advising on
and monitoring appropriate short- and long-term storage.
• Exhibitions. On the request of collections staff, the conservator provides
guidelines for the safe exhibition of artifacts and ensures that artifacts
scheduled for exhibition are in stable condition. Artifacts are monitored while
on display. Rotations for artifacts in exhibitions are treated and prepared
according to lists and schedules provided by the curators. The conservator
works with design and production on case design and materials, mounting
techniques, and environmental parameters to ensure safety of the objects and
timely installation.
• Outgoing loans. On the request of collections staff, the conservator assesses
artifacts considered for loan and provides exhibition guidelines for appropriate
handling and display. Outgoing loans are reviewed and recommendations are
provided regarding suitability for loan. As appropriate, conservators provide
packing recommendations for transit.
• Laboratory examination and treatment. On the request of collections staff,
artifacts are examined and treated by a conservator specialized in the
conservation of the component materials. Treatment protocols are developed
after full examination and in collaboration with appropriate curatorial staff in
order to arrive at an informed choice for suitable treatment.
VIII. CODE OF ETHICS REGARDING COLLECTIONS
The Museum adheres to the Code of Ethics adopted by the American Association of
Museums and the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of The American Institute
for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Further, professional curatorial and
collections staff shall adhere to the standards of practice of their respective professions
and professional associations.
IX. REVIEW OF COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE
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A. Policy Review and Revision
This document will be formally reviewed every five (5) years by the curatorial and
collections staff. The procedures will continue to be revised regarding the day-to-day
activities to reinforce the policy’s effectiveness. Suggested revisions may be
submitted at any time to the Registrar who will bring them to the attention of the
Executive Director for discussion. Such procedural changes can be effected following
appropriate staff discussions and the approval of the Executive Director. The
Executive Director will report these procedural changes and/or decision-making
authority changes to the Museum Leadership Council, which will report them to the
Board of Directors for final approval.
B. Exceptions and Waivers
Unusual circumstances may dictate that exceptions and waivers be made to the
policies and procedures stated in this document. Any such exceptions and waivers
must be approved in advance by the Board’s Executive Committee after consultation
with the Fund CEO, the Museum Leadership Council and the Executive Director.
Any exceptions and waivers will be reported to the MLC. The Registrar will keep a
written record of such exceptions and waivers and they will be reviewed when the
policy is reviewed in its entirety.
C. Compliance
The Executive Director is responsible for monitoring compliance with the policies
and procedures outlined in this document. Acts of noncompliance will be handled on
a case-by-case basis.
D. Public Disclosure
The Museum’s Collections Management Policy, when accepted by the MLC and
adopted by the NLEOMF Board, will be made available to all Board and MLC
members, appropriate staff members, and upon request, to donors, appropriate
government officials, and others. Following the establishment of the Museum’s
Board of Trustees, the responsibility of approving updates to this document will rest
with that body.
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X. DEFINITIONS
Accessioning: Formal process used to accept legally and to record an artifact as a
collection item, involves the creation of an immediate, brief, and permanent record
utilizing a control number or unique identifier for objects added to the collection from the
same source at the same time, for which the institution accepts custody, right, or title.
Cataloguing: Creation of a full record of information about an artifact or collections
item, cross-referenced to other records and files, including the process of identifying and
documenting these objects in detail.
Collections: Groups of objects and their associated information, collected with purpose
and maintained in order, managed in the public trust for the purpose of documentation,
research, and education.
Collections (management) policy: A written document, approved by the governing
authority, that specifies the museum’s policies concerning all collections-related issues,
including accessioning, documentation, storage, and disposition.
Collections plan: A plan that guides the content of the collections and leads staff in a
coordinated and uniform direction over time to refine and expand the value of the
collections in a determined way.
Deaccessionng: The process of legally removing accessioned objects from the
museum’s collection. Deacessioning per se does not affect the museum’s ownership of
an object but it does mean that the museum no longer holds the object in the public trust.
Disaster preparedness plan: Written policies and procedures intended to prevent or
minimize damage to collections, archival materials, or organizational records resulting
from disasters.
Disposal: The process of physically removing a deaccessioned item from the collection.
Integrated Pest Management: The coordinated use of pest and environmental
information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest
damage by the most economical means with the least possible hazard to people, property
and the environment.
Mission: Articulates the fundamental reasons why the museum exists and is used to
guide the museum’s operations
Provenance: Proof of chain of ownership and authenticity
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Risk management: A program of risk control that includes analyzing the probability of
risk to museum collections, facilities, visitors, and staff as well as planning and
implementing appropriate preventive measures and response methods.
Title: The possession of rights of ownership in personal property. Separate rights of
possession include copyright interests, trademark rights, and any specific interest that the
previous owner may have reserved.
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