Approved by the Academic Affairs subcommittee
of the Bryn Mawr College Board of Trustees, March 5, 2000
Additions made by the Collections Committee, December 18, 2006
Bryn Mawr College
Collections
Management
Policy
Updated December 18, 2006
Revised December 10, 1999
Table of Contents
Brief History of the College’s Collections
p. 3
Overview of the Collections
p. 3
Mission
p. 3
Code of Ethics*
p. 3
Collections Scope
p. 4
Collecting Plan
p. 4
Collections Committee
p. 5
Acquisition
p. 5
Accessions
p. 6
Documentation, Handling and Care*
p. 6
p. 7
Scientific Testing Policy*
Access
Loans
p.10
Incoming
Outgoing*
p.10
p.11
Deaccession
p.11
Disposal
p.12
Appendices
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Codes of Ethics*
UNESCO Convention
Cultural Property Implementation Act (Public Law 97-446)
NAGPRA (Public Law 101-601).
Rights and Reproduction Form & Invoice
Incoming Loan Form & Outgoing Loan Form*
Making a Gift in Kind to Bryn Mawr College
*updates made December 18, 2006
page 2 Collections Management Policy
Brief history of the College’s Collections
From the earliest years of the College, M. Carey Thomas, as Dean and President, and Mary Garrett, a
Director and Benefactress of the College, began assembling a myriad of objects as educational and
decorative resources for the College. They collected fine furniture, paintings, prints, and objects of diverse
world cultures for the Deanery. Thomas and Garrett also provided documentary photographs, prints and
plaster casts, which were displayed in the old Chapel, the hallways of Taylor Hall, the Thomas Library, and
used in the art curriculum.
These items were supplemented by an assemblage of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities collected
by the first faculty in Art and Archaeology in the early 20th century. By the 1940's, major gifts of prints,
drawings, and paintings had been received from Prof. Emeritus Howard L. Gray, Roy R. Neuberger and
various faculty and alumnae. The Ella Riegel Memorial Collection for Mediterranean archaeology was
established circa 1940, and the ethnographic collections were established by Frederica de Laguna in the
1950's. Over the last five decades, faculty, alumnae, students, and friends of the College have continued
to give generously. Today the College's Collections number over 60,000 objects that support programs in
a number of departments.
Overview of Collections
The College's Collections are housed primarily in Thomas and Dalton Hall and can be seen throughout the
campus environment. The Collections provide teaching aids for a variety of disciplines in the Bi-College
community, such as History of Art, Fine Arts, Growth and Structure of Cities, Anthropology, Archaeology,
Classics, Geology, History, English, and Modern Languages, and are a resource for research by faculty,
students and other qualified scholars. Items are occasionally loaned to regional, national and international
exhibitions.
Mission Statement
The College’s Collections are intended to enhance the educational mission of Bryn Mawr
College and to preserve its material heritage.
The College’s Collections will collect and preserve fine art, ethnographic and
archaeological artifacts, and objects pertinent to the history of Bryn Mawr College for the
purposes of instruction, research and exhibition.
Code of Ethics
Bryn Mawr College will collect in accordance with established museum and institutional codes of ethics.
(See Appendix)
College’s Collections staff and Committee members are expected to uphold professional standards by
striving to implement the Collections’ mission. Specifically, no individual may use his or her position for
personal gain or to benefit another, in contravention of the mission and the values of Bryn Mawr College
community and professional code of ethics.
The College’s Collections staff shall not purchase objects for the Collections from members of the
Collections Committee or other staff members. Staff, committee members and consulting faculty may not
take advantage of privileged information to compete with Collections for acquisitions.
No Collections staff member may offer formal written appraisals for objects that are under consideration
for acquisition.
page 3 Collections Management Policy
Collecting Scope
The College collects in the following categories:

Fine Art :
Prints
Drawings
Paintings
Sculpture (including reproductions)

Photography (including vintage postcard photography)

Decorative & Applied Arts: Furniture, Instruments, and Architectural elements that are significant
to the history of the College

Ethnographic Objects (African, Pacific, Oceanic, the Americas)

Archaeological Objects (emphasis on the Mediterranean, Old World Europe, the Americas)

Geological Objects: Minerals, Rocks, Paleontology
Limitations. The College does not collect in the following categories:
†Indicates items targeted for the divestment program
Jewelry
Costumes
Arms and Armor
Memorabilia
Numismatics
Stamps
†Honorary Medals
†“Collectibles”
†Postcards
†Decorative & Applied Arts unrelated to the College’s history
N.B. If a donor wishes to donate an object outside the scope of this policy statement and if an object is
appropriate for another collection, Collections staff will strive to refer a donor to a more appropriate
educational institution or museum.
Collecting Plan
Within the context of Bryn Mawr College’s Collections, to collect means to accession new material that
conforms to the following objectives:





Collect within bounds of the Collections Mission.
Collect within the six categories defined under “Collections Scope.”
Collect only what can be properly conserved, secured, and stored.
Collect only objects that are in a condition suitable for teaching and research.
Objects in unsatisfactory condition will be accessioned only if they are of intrinsic value to the
College’s instructional mission or to the College’s history, and therefore worthy of restoration.
In the future, “collecting” may take on a more active connotation as we work to refine particular collections.
page 4 Collections Management Policy
Collections Committee
Decisions that affect Collections and Collections policy are the responsibility of the Collections Committee.
The President of Bryn Mawr College appoints members of the Collections Committee and selects a chair
for the Committee. Members will serve renewable three-year terms. Faculty nominations will be
suggested by the Anthropology, Archaeology, Geology, Classics and History of Art Departments. The
current committee consists of one board member, three faculty members with expertise in museum
management or who benefit directly from use of the collection, a representative of the Alumnae
Association, a representative of Resources, an alumnae in the museum field, and the Collections staff.
The Committee will report Collections policy changes to the full board at their regularly scheduled
meetings or in an annual report. Final decisions on policy changes and major changes to Collections will
rest with the Board of Trustees of Bryn Mawr College.
The committee works by consensus for proposed accessions while deaccessions will require unanimous
approval. Formal minutes of these meetings are part of the curatorial record.
Outside advice or expertise may be called upon for consultation, but such persons do not have standing in
committee decisions.
Acquisitions
All acquisitions will heed cultural property, burial, copyright, and other pertinent laws and policies—
international and domestic. In particular, Bryn Mawr College will collect in compliance with the UNESCO
Convention on Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of
Cultural Property of November 1970; the Cultural Property Implementation Act (Public Law 97-446) of
January 1983; and The Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA, Public
Law 101-601). (See Appendix)
All objects proposed for acquisition will be considered: a) in light of the laws in place in their country of
origin in 1970 and, b) the time of their documented appearance in the United States. Questions
surrounding the legality of importation will be referred to the appropriate country of origin’s Department of
Antiquities for acceptable conduct regarding the object(s).
Definitions:
Acquisition means the acceptance of an object or group of objects that may or may not be
accessioned. The College’s Collections acquires objects for two purposes: to accession as part of
the College’s Collections or for sale at auction in order to raise funds for the Collections. (See tax
ramifications for non-accessioned gifts below.)
Accessioning is the formal process by which objects are accepted and recorded as property of the
College’s Collections.
A collection object is an object that has formally become part of the College’s Collections.
The Resources Office will accept all other gifts, not intended for the benefit of the College’s Collections,
for use at the College. (See Appendix: “Making a Gift-In-Kind to Bryn Mawr College”)
All acquisitions for the College’s Collections must be accompanied by clear title that has been presented
by the donor or seller or her/his authorized agent. Title to an object is established by Deed of Gift, receipts
and other documentation. Upon acquiring an object, the Registrar of the College’s Collections shall
produce a Deed of Gift for the donor’s signature as a receipt.
page 5 Collections Management Policy
Statement on Appraisals and Tax Credits
Bryn Mawr College collections staff may not give appraisals for any reason. Appraisals for gifts or
bequests must be made by an independent person or agency, as required by regulations of the Internal
Revenue Service. The donor is responsible for the cost of the appraisal.
The College’s Collections will not hold any objects for any length of time solely for a donor to attain tax
status for his/her gift. (See Appendix: “Making a Gift-In-Kind to Bryn Mawr College”)
Accessions
The College will accession objects within the scope of the collecting plan. The decision to accept an
object into the College’s Collections will be made by recommendation of the Curator and approval of the
Collections Committee.
As a rule, Bryn Mawr College only accepts unrestricted gifts. In the event that the Collections Committee
decides to accept a restricted gift, Bryn Mawr College shall manage that gift accordingly and will only seek
court relief when circumstance clearly makes adherence to the restrictions impractical. Acceptance of a
restricted gift must have the unanimous approval of the Collections Committee.
Types of Accessions:
Gift—From one or more individuals or an institution; may be “anonymous”
Bequest—Directly willed to the College’s Collections or Bryn Mawr College at large
Transfer—Transferred from an academic department within the College
Purchase—Purchased for the College’s Collections with College funds
Exchange—Acquired in exchange with another educational institution
Documentation, Handling and Care




For each new accession, an accession file and a donor file will be created. All documentation,
including correspondence concerning the object and its acquisition will be held in the object files.
Each object will be recorded following standardized format, which includes: description,
measurements, materials, condition, history of conservation if known, provenance and provenience,
and a photograph.
Each object will be assigned an accession number.
Maintenance of records will be provided by the Registrar in consultation with the Curator.
Collections care and control will be provided by the Registrar of the College’s Collections in consultation
with the Curator of the College’s Collections. The College’s Collections records will have originals of all
documentation pertaining to collection objects. The Registrar of the College’s Collections will accept
copies of documentation only when the articles are already accessioned into a recognized archive, such
as the College’s Archives. Archival material relating exclusively to Collection objects currently held in
other offices must be transferred to the College’s Collections and filed in the object files. The Registrar
will provide copies of the materials to those other offices.
Schedule for inventory will be set by the Registrar of the College’s Collections in consultation with the
Curator. After a base inventory is completed, a verification inventory will be conducted for each collection
every three to five years.
Preservation Standards: The College’s Collections is working to achieve professional standards of
preservation. Standards for storage and conservation will be established and a schedule will be set for
environmental improvements in order to meet minimal professional standards of preservation. In general,
the Collections staff will work towards secure, climate controlled and monitored environments (i.e.
hygrothermographs in each space) complete with fire alarm systems, security systems, an integrated pest
management program and staff to manage the objects. (See also “Scientific Testing” below.)
page 6 Collections Management Policy
Security will be provided in accordance with accepted museum practices whenever possible. Collection
storage spaces, including storage cabinets, will be kept locked at all times when not attended by
Collections staff. Exhibition cases must be kept in secure environments, locked at all times, and
monitored regularly. The main storage areas of art and archaeology collections are controlled by an
electronic security system, installed in 2005. The security system, maintained by the Curator and
Registrar of the College Collections, reports the BMC Public Safety office.
Objects “Found in Collection” (FIC’s)
“Found in Collection” refers to objects which have been found at the College and deposited in Collections
without any identification or objects without any identification found in storage with accessioned objects.
An object found in the Collection will be accessioned and processed if: a) it is clear that the object
belongs with the other objects in the collection or b) it is surmised that the object once was part of
Collections or intended for Collections and the object fits within the current parameters for accessioning.
Conditions of Object Use: The Curator, the Registrar and other trained staff will handle the Collections.
Researchers, faculty and students will be permitted to handle objects under controlled circumstances,
when instructed on proper care, and only when the objects are in stable condition. (See also “Scientific
Testing” below.)
Rights and Reproductions: Requests for reproduction of objects and images from the College’s
Collections and the right to reproduce those images must be made in writing to the Registrar of the
College’s Collections. Fees may be charged for commercial purposes.
Permission for rights and reproduction for advertising, promotional materials, commercial product or
for television/films/filmstrips or multi-media formats will be given on a case by case basis according to
use, quantity, and distribution.
BMC faculty, staff, and students are exempt from rights and reproduction fees for non-commercial
use.
The College’s Collections staff will provide photographic services or will contract an outside
photographer on a work-for-hire basis. All photographs of Collection objects are the property of Bryn
Mawr College. Permission to photograph Collection objects will be given to individuals for research
(non-publishable) photography and in special instances when the College might not be able to provide
this service with its own staff. In such instances, photography is to be supervised by College’s
Collections staff. Objects/works of art may only be handled by the College Collections staff. Any
damage or loss to the objects themselves, the buildings, facilities, personnel, visitors, and/or
equipment, that is caused or attributable to the photography project or filming, is the responsibility of
the applicant, who will be required by separate agreement to indemnify the College.
Details on fees and terms of the College’s Collections Rights and Reproduction Policy can be found
on the Rights and Reproduction Form. (Appendix: Rights and Reproduction Form)
Scientific Testing of objects in the College’s Collections
The following policy and procedures for scientific testing are designed to address interests of scientific
research on accessioned objects in the College’s Collections. The Art and Archaeology Collections of
Bryn Mawr College includes collections in Archaeology, Ethnographic Art, Decorative Art, Applied Art,
Fine Art, and Photographic Art. The Geology Collections include the Rocks, Mineral, and Paleontology
specimens.
In accordance with its mission to educate, the College encourages the use of its collections for
research in all fields and with a wide variety of research methods. The Art and Archaeology Collection
allows established scientific testing of artifacts in its collections. All requests for testing, whether
destructive or non-destructive, and all scientific examination other than visual or using standard
microscopy, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
page 7 Collections Management Policy
Requests to perform scientific testing procedures on Art and Archaeology Collection objects owned by
the College may be initiated by BMC professors, students, Collections staff members or by outside
scholars or scientists. Permission for testing of Art and Archaeology Collection objects must be
obtained in writing before any tests are undertaken. The Art and Archaeology Collections Staff
monitors these requests to ensure that proper scientific use is made of the collections and to ensure
that the results of all tests are systematically recorded.
Current standard tests include, but are not limited to: radiography, CAT scans, PIXE (Particle induced
x-ray emission), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarized light
microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, seal impressions, molds using latex or silicone rubber.
CRITERIA for Scientific Testing Requests
A) Objects to be sampled will not normally be damaged in ways that
(1) prevent additional sampling and destructive testing,
(2) prevent additional non-destructive study and analysis,
If procedures are planned that will damage an artifact such that one of the above conditions is not
met, then the matter will be referred to the Collections Committee for deliberation.
Documentation pertinent to the laboratory procedures and the purpose and goal of the project will be
sent to the committee along with the request. (See attached proposal form.) The request will also be
accompanied by information regarding the use or approval of these procedures in the discipline
(journal reports, professional association reports, etc.). If procedures planned will not damage an
artifact (as described above), then the request will by handled by the Collections staff and a professor
in the department normally dealing with the collection from which the object to be tested originates. (A
department of origin would be either Geology, Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, Anthropology,
or History of Art.)
B) Objects will not be studied which are in contravention of the 1973 UNESCO accord and the 1984
United States Cultural Property Implementation Act or the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act of 1990, or any other pertinent legislation or applicable code of ethics. (See the BMC
Collections Management Policy Appendices.)
POINTS OF CONSIDERATION FOR SCIENTIFIC TESTING REQUESTS

In the case of Geological specimens, destructive testing is allowed for research purposes when
the sample is not unique, rare or a “major” sample in the collection.

Objects will be handled according to both standard museum protocols as well as those set by
analytical laboratories;

The research proposal is sound;

The analytical methods proposed should yield the intended results, and are the least intrusive
analytical means of obtaining those results;

The proposed analyst is qualified to perform the work;

The amount of sample and number of specimens requested is necessary to obtain accurate
results;

Each specimen can be safely sampled or cast without damage or defacement or the preclusion of
future study or analysis, or decrease the potential of future testing (See exception for Geological
Specimens above);

The degree to which any proposed destructive sampling affects the specimen is minimal;
page 8 Collections Management Policy

The testing will not substantively affect the ability of the object to be displayed or used for
instructional purposes (See exception for Geological Specimens above);

The samples will be returned (if applicable) so they can be retained for future use.
PROCEDURES for Scientific Testing Requests
In cases of review of procedures that will damage an artifact, the Collections Committee members
that must weigh in on the decision to perform scientific tests are: (1) an expert in the field of study, (2)
a BMC professor from the area of study (either Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology,
Anthropology, Classics, Geology, or the History of Art Department, (3) the Curator, and (4) the
Collection Manager/Registrar of the Art and Archaeology Collections.
Application for scientific testing must be in writing, addressed to the Curator or Registrar of the Art and
Archaeology Collection. The Collections Staff reserves the right to refer any request to the Collections
Committee for approval. Except in special, urgent circumstances, one month should be allowed for
the staff and/or the committee to consult and reach a decision.
Requests should contain the following information:

Date of sampling request.

Reason for analysis. A brief description of the project (include materials, culture, other pertinent
information); the procedures to be used and the justification for the testing.

Requester’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address; the status and institutional affiliation
of the requestor, If the applicant is a student, the name and address of his/her supervisor must
be included.

Proposal or a statement describing the proposed research methodology and expected analytical
results;

Type of analysis to be performed (destructive or nondestructive to the objects);

Sample size or weight;

A list of the objects, with BMC accession numbers and description. Field numbers should also be
given, where known.

Location where the analysis will be performed; the name, address, phone number, fax number
and e-mail address of the responsible person at the facility where the testing will be done.

Date when the sample(s) will be returned (if applicable);

If an object must be loaned for testing, the name, address, phone number and fax or e-mail
address of the person who will be the borrower of record must be provided and a loan form
processed. Loans must conform to all current loan policies and procedures.

A statement of intent to publish, if relevant. If publication place and date are known, these should
be included. Permission to publish is granted only on receipt of this information; a request may be
submitted at a later date.
The proposal will be submitted first to the Curator or Registrar of the Art and Archaeology Collections.
A written recommendation for approval or rejection from the Curator or Registrar must be obtained. In
the cases to be approved by the Collections Committee, the proposal will be distributed to the
Committee by the Collections Staff.
Members must provide written responses via memo or e-mail. If there are conflicting opinions, the
Collections Committee will meet to discuss the matter. The Curator/Registrar of the Art and
Archaeology Collections may seek additional opinions or advice from conservators, curators, or faculty
page 9 Collections Management Policy
members, including persons working at other institutions. Consensus should be reached on all
testing.
The Collections Staff and/or the Collections Committee may request further information on the
procedures and/or personnel before granting approval. Conditions for approval may include having
samples taken by, or in the presence of the Registrar or Curator of the Art and Archaeology
Collections.
The applicant will receive written notice (by letter or e-mail) of the decision of the Collections
Committee. Approval, if granted, always includes the stipulation that all test results be sent to the
Curator/Registrar of the Art and Archaeology Collection and that at least one copy of any publication
or other written material incorporating information obtained from testing will be donated by the
researcher. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the denial of future requests. All test
results will be filed in the object’s permanent record.
The Registrar of the Art and Archaeology Collections will handle all matters pertaining to the loan of
objects that are being sent away from Bryn Mawr College for testing. Borrowers must comply with all
loan procedures.
Results of tests are considered confidential until published, and will not be available to anyone not
involved in the original request without written permission from the researcher and the Registrar or
Curator of the Art and Archaeology Collections. Public access to the data is restricted for five years.
If publication is not made within five years of the test results, the data will become available for
reference by qualified researchers.
Access to Collections
The College’s Collections are open to students, faculty and staff during normal working hours (Monday
through Friday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM). The Collections are also available to qualified outside researchers.
Researchers will be considered “qualified” if they are working towards an academic degree, a publication,
exhibition or similar scholarly pursuit. All researchers should request an appointment with the Curator or
Registrar as far in advance as possible.
Objects from the Collections may not be taken from their assigned facility except when accompanied by
the Curator or Registrar. Researchers working with objects will be accompanied at all times by the
Curator, Registrar, or other trained Collections staff.
LOANS
Incoming Loans
Items will be accepted as incoming loans for the purposes of:
 Exhibition
 Possible acquisition
Processing and renewal of loans will be the responsibility of the Registrar. Objects will be accepted for
incoming loans for a period of two-three years, renewable but not to exceed a total of six years.
Criteria for an Incoming Loan:
 Ability of the object to enhance the College’s Collections in exhibition or classroom instruction
 Ability of the object to be kept on display or accessible for a substantial portion of the loan period
 Availability of appropriate exhibition or storage space for the loan item
 The object to be loaned is in good condition and able to withstand handling, packing, transport
 The lender is willing to agree to the terms of our incoming loan form
 The objects to be loaned do not have the potential to bring discredit upon the College
page 10 Collections Management Policy
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The loan might aid in eventual acquisition of the object(s) through gift or bequest
The loan has no unreasonable restrictions
The loan has satisfactory documentation of provenance and title
The loan is not primarily for reasons of storage
Incoming loans will be approved by the Curator and the Registrar of the College’s Collections.
Objects left on Deposit:
These are objects that are temporarily in the Collections’ custody but not covered by an incoming loan
agreement or lack transfer of legal title. These may be objects left by an intended donor without the
appropriate paperwork. These objects will be monitored in the same manner as Collections’ objects
while they are investigated.
When the intended donor is known, a loan form will be processed and forwarded. Unwanted or
unsolicited objects will be disposed of expediently by one of two methods: returned to the owner (if
owner is known); sold at auction after failed attempts to find the owner. (Failed attempts will end in
public advertising in the Alumnae Bulletin, the College newspapers, and at least one major
newspaper.) Items intended for the College’s Collections will be processed in the same manner as an
accession.
Outgoing Loans
Criteria for an outgoing loan:
 The object will be loaned for educational and scholarly purposes
 The object will not be loaned for decorative purposes outside the College environment
 The object will not be used in a commercial gallery or enterprise
 The object is in good condition and able to withstand the ordinary strains of packing and transportation
 The proposed loan will not bring discredit upon the College
 The object will not be on exhibit with illegally acquired objects. (See acquisition and accessioning
policy above.)
Process:
All loan requests must be in writing from the borrowing institution, including Haverford and Swarthmore
Colleges. Requests must outline the reason for the request (exhibition or otherwise), dates of the
proposed loan and schedule of tour (when applicable), proposed packing, travel and insurance
arrangements. Bryn Mawr College requires the borrowing institution to submit a Standard Facility Report
detailing environmental conditions and will require proof of insurance and indemnification as detailed in the
Loan Agreement form.
The Registrar with the assistance of the Curator is accountable for monitoring loans. Before an object
leaves the College an outgoing condition report, photography, and in-house appraisal will be
accomplished. Outgoing loans must be approved by the Registrar and the Curator and will be reported to
the Collections Committee.
Deaccessioning
The Collections Committee will determine what items are appropriate for deaccessioning from the
College’s Collections, following the recommendation of the Curator of the College’s Collections.
page 11 Collections Management Policy
Criteria for deaccessioning:

Is the object no longer relevant to the mission and scope of Collections?

Is the object subject to NAGPRA and being repatriated according to the law?

Is the object subject to international repatriation?

Is the College no longer able to preserve the object properly?
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Has the object deteriorated beyond usefulness?

Is the object a fake, forgery or reproduction and not useful for instruction purposes?
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Is the object a duplicate?
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Will this deaccession provide the means for improving or strengthening Collections in order to
further the goals of the College’s Collections?

Is the object intended for exchange with another object from another educational facility?
Deaccessioned objects that have educational value or historical significance will be deaccessioned only
after an appropriate institution can be found to accept the object.
Process for deaccessioning
 The College will follow ethical practices in deaccessioning. Items from the College’s Collections may not
be deaccessioned with the intent to give the items as gifts to employees, trustees, or students.
 The Registrar and Curator will review application of all international, federal and state laws governing
collections such as UNESCO Convention, NAGPRA, ARPA, Antiquities Act, Visual Artists Rights Act.
The Registrar and Curator will certify that there are no restrictions on the object(s) that preclude
deaccessioning.
 Proceeds from the sale of collection objects should be deposited in a Collections acquisition fund.
 The Committee must make a unanimous decision for deaccessioning. Outside opinions may be
solicited before reaching a decision.
Documentation for an object to be deaccessioned will consist of findings of the Registrar’s and Curator’s
research, the Collections Committee’s recommendations, official receipts, correspondence, and final
disposition of the object. All documentation will be filed with the registration records of the object.
Disposal
The College will occasionally dispose of Collection items that have been deaccessioned by the Collections
Committee. Objects will be disposed of when the College no longer has a need for an object or can no
longer properly care for it.
Order of Actions for Disposal:
 If the object was a gift, intended specifically for the College’s Collections, then the Collections staff
will seek to return the object to the original donor, informing the original donor of applicable IRS
regulations.
 If the item has educational or historical value, the Collections staff will arrange to donate it to
another educational institution.
 If none of the above apply, the object may be sold to another collecting agency or at public
auction.
page 12 Collections Management Policy
Proceeds of items sold at auction will be used to purchase Collection items that would further the mission
of the College’s Collections or for preservation of the Collections. The only exception to this policy will
potentially occur in an acquisition preceding the formulation of this policy in 1999. In such a case, an item
may have been given to the College with the stipulation that proceeds from the sale of said item would go
to a specific department, fund, etc.
Under no circumstances will ownership be transferred to any employee of Collections nor any member of
the Collections Committee. Deaccessioned Collection items will not be given as gifts to employees,
trustees, or students.
APPENDICES

Codes of Ethics
American Association of Museums, Code of Ethics for Museums, 1994
Association of Art Museum Directors, Professional Practices in Art Museums, 1992
Archaeology Institute of America, Code of Ethics, As amended December 1997.

UNESCO Convention 1970

Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, Title III of Public Law 97-446

Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act: Public Law 101-601

Rights and Reproduction Form & Invoice

Incoming Loan Form & Outgoing Loan Form

Deed of Gift Form

Making a Gift in Kind to Bryn Mawr College
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