Open Forum

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.

6. Deaccession Policy

Deaccessioning is the process of permanently removing from the collections  accessioned museum holdings. The disposal of objects from the SMM's collections for any reason has ethical, legal, and financial consequences which must be considered by the Director, the Collections Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The deaccessioning of objects should be considered on an individual basis in a cautious and scrupulous manner.

·         Criteria for removal of objects from the Collection

Any or all of the criteria below will be sufficient for an object to be considered for deaccession.

a.       The object is no longer relevant and useful to the purposes and activities of the SMM.

b.      The SMM is not able to preserve the object properly.

c.       The object has deteriorated beyond usefulness for exhibition or study.

d.      The object is duplicated in the collection with one of better quality, condition or provenance.

·         Procedure for the removal of objects from the Collection

Unaccesssioned material of minimal value may be disposed of by the Director in consultation with the Collections Committee.

Before any object is considered for deaccesssioning, a title and ownership search shall be conducted to verify that the SMM is legally free to do so.

Material found in the collection which, in the opinion of the Director/curator, constitutes a potential hazard to the building, personnel or collections will be disposed of immediately by the best available means, in consultation with the Director of Campus Safety.

Accessioned material of value (and unaccessioned material of possible interest and value) to be removed from the collection shall be recommended for deaccessioning to the Collections Committee by the Director/Curator. If a simple majority of the Collections Committee approves the deaccession, the director shall implement.

It is crucial that thorough documentation be maintained at each step of the deaccession process. Recommendations for deaccessioning should be recorded in writing, specifying the source and provenance of the material or object, the reason for deaccessioning, the estimated market value and the recommended means of disposal[Z1] .

·         Restrictions

No donated object shall be deaccessioned for any reason until two years after the date of its acquisition.

Expressed or specific restrictions imposed by the donor, and agreed to by SMM, NFA and/or NFA Foundation may not be violated by the object's disposal. If it can clearly be shown that adherence to such restriction(s) is impossible or substantially detrimental to the SMM, legal advice will be sought[Z2] .

If a donated object is slated for deaccessioning, particularly an object with restrictions, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the donor or his or her legal representative to inform them of the SMM's intention to deaccession.

·         Methods of Disposal

The Collections Committee will approve the methods of disposal of museum objects and confirm the disposition of proceeds follows stated museum policy. The Board should also consider the full range of factors affecting the public interest.

Objects may be disposed of by sale, exchange or trade, transfer to another institution, or destruction, after the donor has been offered a right of first refusal. If an object has seriously deteriorated or has been deemed through thorough scholarship to be a reproduction of limited monetary value, it may also be considered for "hands-on" use within the museum or another educational organization. An effort to offer items to other non-profit institutions for gifts, exchange or sale should be pursued if such items warrant preservation by an institution other than the SMM.

Such items whose ownership is not transferred to another non-profit institution shall be disposed of preferably by public auction. Reasons for sale by any other means must be justified in writing and approved by the Board of Trustees. The sale will be conducted by an auction house. Selection of an auction house will be made by the Director.

Other means of sale may be used when the Collections Committee, due to overriding considerations, finds some other method preferable to public auction. Objects may be deaccessioned through transfer free of payment by the above referenced methods only to other museums or public or educational institutions.

There shall be no trades or private sales made by any members of the Board of Trustees, Collections Committee, Volunteers, or staff. No staff, volunteer or Board member shall knowingly acquire by gift, exchange or purchase any item deaccessioned from the collections of the SMM.

·         Use of funds raised from the sale of museum objects

All monies obtained from the sale of deaccessioned objects will be allocated for the purposes of acquisitions or conservation of the existing collections. Such funds should not be applied to the operational expenses of the SMM.