Open Forum

 View Only
  • 1.  Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-24-2020 07:05 PM
    Hi everyone, 

    I was wondering what you would suggest using as the credit line for a "found in collection" object that has been accessioned into the collection. I work for a small museums and this is our first time accessioning a found in collection object. 

    Thank you!

    ------------------------------
    Jessica Bocinski
    Registrar
    Chapman University Art Collections
    Orange CA
    ------------------------------
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-25-2020 09:59 AM
    At the National Museum of the Marine Corps, we just put "Found in Collection" (where you would normally have a donor's name) and then the accession number.  As far as I know, we haven't had anyone (visitors) ask about the credit line.   Just treat the object and credit the same that you would as if it came from a known source. 

    Cheers!
    Carrie 


    ------------------------------
    Carrie Bowers
    Museum Specialist
    National Museum of the Marine Corps
    Triangle VA
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 3.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-25-2020 01:12 PM
    Our acronym is SMCHA so we use "SMCHA Collection" for all FICs and anonymous donations.

    Dana Neitzel, Curator
    San Mateo County Historical Association
    2200 Broadway
    Redwood City, CA 94063
    650-299-0104



    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 4.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-25-2020 05:52 PM

    Thanks everyone!

     

    Jessica Bocinski

     

    Registrar, Escalette Collection of Art

    Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

    Chapman University

    1 University Drive, Orange CA 92866

    (714)-628-2835

     

    CURRENT EXHIBITION

    Creativity After Combat

     

     




    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 5.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-26-2020 07:50 AM
    I would use found in collection as "source" but not credit.  We have a great number of such objects and sometimes, we can even establish, beyond reasonable doubt, the source.

    ------------------------------
    Vivian Zoë
    Executive Director
    Slater Memorial Museum
    Norwich CT
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 6.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-27-2020 09:32 PM
    We don't accession FIC objects.  We assign them temporary tracking numbers instead.  We have been auditing our records for the past three years - nearly finished - and it was amazing how many objects that were classified FIC now have a source and can be converted to an accession number.  We audited our donor files, exhibit files, archives record keeping files, finding aids, reference materials, newsletters, loan files, log books and the accession records themselves.  We found over 700 unrecorded donors/donations, identifying dozens of artifact sources.  We are only 38 years old but have over 100,000 objects and 600+ archival collections running 200+ linear feet.  Some paperwork determined they were not given for the permanent collection but as equipment, so were classified as such.  In some cases FIC were actually loans.  To me it is safer to assign a temporary number, which is much easier to "upgrade" later.

    ------------------------------
    Jane Woltereck
    Registrar
    Baltimore Museum of Industry
    Baltimore MD
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 7.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-30-2020 09:35 AM
    Jane -  Yes, I agree 100% on the FIC tracking! <sending virtual high five> When we are inventorying collections or come across untagged objects in storage, they are tagged as FICs for tracking purposes until research can determine whether they are truly accessioned (but their tag fell off) or we have no substantial documentation to determine its origin. If we think the object fits the collection rationale and will benefit the collection, we will accession it as an FIC.  In the few cases that we discover clear documentation that the FIC was accessioned (and our second accessioning created a double accession) then we draft a memo and "undo" the FIC accession. 

    In my original post, I answered under the assumption that the FIC object was being put on display, therefore how do you credit such an object on a label.  I have some FICs that have lingered for almost a decade because I cannot dedicate enough time to research to them.  But I am also surprised at how many tagged FICs were found to be accessioned, I love putting disassociated collections back together, it's a very satisfying part of my job. In our database, I make a note of what their FIC tracking number was and detail the research into how their true accession number was discovered. 

    I've wanted to make a presentation about some of the massive collections I've put back together but I can't figure out how to make it interesting for folks even in the museum field!  =)

    ------------------------------
    Carrie Bowers
    Museum Specialist
    National Museum of the Marine Corps
    Triangle VA
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 8.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-30-2020 01:10 PM
    We are not accessioning our FICs but PastPerfect doesn't really have a way of tracking without them being 'accessioned.'  I've created an FIC 'accession' record for each year items are found and assign FICs to that accession number.  The record clearly states that the items are not accessioned but Found in Collection.  Id numbers include FIC and the date in the number [FICC.2020mar30.1].  FIC objects are fully cataloged in PastPerfect so I can find items in searches in PastPerfect.  This helps me solve mysteries and also be aware of what I have in the collection for exhibits.  When putting items on exhibit, I don't want to display the long FIC number so, instead, I put SMCHA Collection.  I also use this credit line for anonymous donations and SMCHA purchases.

    ------------------------------
    Dana Neitzel
    Curator
    San Mateo County Historical Association
    Redwood City CA
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 9.  RE: Credit Lines for Accessioned FIC's?

    Posted 03-30-2020 01:24 PM

    Thank you all for your suggestions! This is such a tricky topic... The objects that I am referring to are objects that have already been tagged with temporary FIC numbers and - after doing a complete inventory of the collection and all of our registration records - we are unable to find any documentation but would still like to accession them into the collection. In most cases we have an idea of where the object came from, there just isn't any documentation to prove it (our early collections staff didn't put much effort into creating a paper trail). Also, just thought I'd mention that our collection is comprised of contemporary artwork by local artists so issues of provenance are less problematic.  

     

    Jessica Bocinski

     

    Registrar, Escalette Collection of Art

    Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

    Chapman University

    1 University Drive, Orange CA 92866

    (714)-628-2835

     

    CURRENT EXHIBITION

    Creativity After Combat

     

     




    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more