Dear Paulette,
Fortunately, we didn't have to address numbering as all our WPA works were logged and given loan numbers when they came in. In our collections database, all records are assigned legal status "long term loan" and linked to a single loans in record. We have yet to standardize the credit lines, but at least they all contain WPA. It would seem that if your records had these three common denominators, then the numbering might not be such an issue. Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Margaret
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Margaret Kendrick
Documentation Specialist
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-03-2015 10:01 AM
From: Sharon Shaffer
Subject: WPA artworks inventory and numbering issues
This doesn't really address your question, but I wanted to share a great resource that you might find interesting - WPA Museum Extension Project 1935-1943. The book was written by James A. Findlay and Lillian Perricone at the Bienes Museum of the Modern Book.
Enjoy!
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Sharon Shaffer PhD
Principal, Education Consultant
Ruckersville VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-02-2015 02:08 PM
From: Paulette Hennum
Subject: WPA artworks inventory and numbering issues
We are working with General Services Administration's Fine Arts Program to identify and document WPA artworks in our collections. We have hundreds of pieces, in multiple locations, and accession numbers have been assigned to them all. We are considering drafting a Master Loan Agreement and attaching lists of specific groups of pieces as they are identified. Has your institution been involved with the WPA inventory? How did you deal with the various numbering issues? Thanks!
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Paulette Hennum
Museum Curator III
Cultural Resources Division
California State Parks
Sacramento CA
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