To: Committee of the Whole

Agenda Section: Performance Management Division: CAO, Clerk's and Communications Department: Museum

Item Number: CCW - 18 - 093

Meeting Date: March 27, 2018

Subject: Objects for Deaccession from Simcoe County Museum collection

Recommendation

That Item CCW 18-093, dated March 27, 2018 regarding the deaccession of objects from Simcoe County Museum collection, be received; and

That staff proceed with the deaccession of the identified objects in accordance with the Museum Collections Management policy.

Executive Summary

Simcoe County Museum has been collecting objects since 1930, and currently has more than 30,000 artifacts in the permanent collection. When an object is accepted into the collection, it is with the intent that this artifact will be held permanently at the museum, and that the museum will ensure that it has the adequate capacity and resources to record, preserve, display and store each of those artifacts in accordance with the highest professional standards.

As part of a solid collections management program, and in order to properly care for and manage the collection, it is necessary from time to time to review artifacts in the collection to assess their condition, provenance (the object’s complete documented history), relevance to the museum’s mission and statement of purpose, and duplication within the collection. Objects that are in poor condition, lack provenance, have no relevance to the museum’s purpose, or are duplicate items, may be good candidates for consideration of removal from the collection.

In a museum collection, removing objects from the permanent collection is known as deaccessioning. Deaccessioning objects is an important component to maintaining a robust and healthy museum collection. As the museum collection grows, the practice of completing collections analysis and identifying objects for deaccessioning allows objects to be evaluated and potentially moved to a more appropriate location.

March 27, 2018 Committee of the Whole - CCW 18 - 093 Page 2

In accordance with the professional standards and ethics set out by the Canadian Museums Association, and outlined in the Museum Collections Management policy, staff recommend that the evaluated items identified in this report be deaccessioned, for the reasons outlined, in accordance with the criteria and goals outlined in the Collections Management policy, attached as Schedule 1 to this Item.

Background/Analysis/Options

As part of the museum’s ongoing collections management efforts, it was determined that a review needed to be undertaken to evaluate if any objects currently in the collection would be suitable candidates for deaccessioning. This review began in summer, 2016, and continued through to October, 2017.

Staff have been fortunate to have assistance from a collections summer student, and Interns from the Museum Studies programs at Georgian and Fleming Colleges to conduct an inventory and photo documentation project. These staff were tasked with matching objects in our outdoor storage areas (Vespra Shed, Trades Barn, and Storage Coverall) to the corresponding record in PastPerfect, the museum’s collections management database. Each matched object was thoroughly documented with updated physical descriptions, new condition reports, and identifying photographs included in the database.

During this inventory project, a list of items was created to identify which artifacts should be considered for deaccession based on poor condition, duplication within the collection, or lack of provenance.

Should the recommended items be approved for deaccession, staff will follow the process outlined in the collections management policy. All items will first be offered to the other museums located within Simcoe County. Any remaining items will then be posted on the ON-Muse listserv, an email distribution list coordinated by the Ontario Museums Association that is sent to museums in Ontario.

Any museums interested in acquiring a deaccessioned piece are required to make arrangements to have that item picked up within two months. Items not accepted by other public institutions in Ontario will be disposed of confidentially through a trusted auction house or site. Any funds generated from the sale of these items will be retained in the museum’s Channen Fund Reserve Account for future acquisitions, as per the collections management policy.

If a deaccessioned artifact is in an advanced state of deterioration, posing a safety hazard to staff and the public, or can no longer serve a definable purpose, the object will be destroyed. Two museum staff members will be present to oversee the object’s destruction and complete the appropriate documentation of the process.

Proposed Items for Deaccession

The following items, having been carefully reviewed by the collections team; Registrar, Collections Technician, and Museum Curator, are recommended for deaccession from the museum’s permanent collection. It should be noted that, while not included in the reason for deaccession, many of these items are duplicates of artifacts in the collection.

Form issued: April 2016 March 27, 2018 Committee of the Whole - CCW 18 - 093 Page 3

Object ID Object Name Description Reason for Condition Deaccession 957.316.1 Stereoscope Stereoscope. Wood body with aluminum Poor Poor hood. Includes set of slides condition 960.685 Feed One FEED CHOPPER, or TURNIP Lack of Fair Chopper CHOPPER. Hand turned, it has a disc and provenance a cast iron container. This is a model No. 2 pulper, side wheel type (as per 1927 M-H catalogue). 963.1846 Baby One wicker BABY CARRIAGE. Lack of Poor Carriage provenance, Poor condition 963.2002 Knick Knack One glass slipper with heel. Intricate design Broken Poor 964.2223 Cradle Scythe One CRADLE SCYTHE in two pieces. The Lack of Poor blade of the scythe is completely rusted all provenance, over the surface. Poor condition 964.2286 Milk Can One MILK CAN. The can is metal and Lack of Poor cylindrical in shape. Stamped into the metal provenance on the front of the can is "Meaford Creamery". There is visible rust on the entire surface of the can. 964.2477 Sewing One SEWING MACHINE. Early Jones Poor Fair Machine sewing machine brought over from Blythe, condition, England. Duplication 967.3710 Milk Can MILK CAN is cylindrical in shape, and has a Lack of Fair mushroom shaped lid at the top. It has provenance "Silverwoods Toronto" engraved across centre portion of can. 1968.47.1 Ensilage One Cutting box or CORN CUTTER. Lack of Fair/Incomplete Cutter "Aurora Agricultural Works". The base is provenance rectangular in shape and is made of wooden material that is painted red. 1969.68.10 Binder One grain BINDER. Horse drawn, and used Lack of Poor to cut and bind grain into sheaves provenance, Poor condition 1969.117.2 Slant-Top One sloped-top mahogany DESK. Four Lack of Poor Desk drawers on the left side measure 39cm provenance, length by 13cm width. Poor condition 1970.54.1 Baby One wicker BABY CARRIAGE. Frame of Lack of Poor Carriage body is a combination of wood and metal provenance, fixtures. Poor condition 1972.61.1 Vehicle One BUGGY BACK or BUGGY Lack of Poor Component FOOTREST. Broken front wooden edge. provenance, Edges have metal nails in them, appear to Poor have held a fabric or lining of some sort. condition 1972.61.10 Scale One set of SCALES. Metal rusted sliding Lack of Poor weights and graduated scale. provenance, Poor condition

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Object ID Object Name Description Reason for Condition Deaccession 1973.11.3 Baby One wicker BABY CARRIAGE. Two wheels Lack of Poor Carriage are located inside the carriage and are no provenance, longer attached to the body. Poor condition 1974.127.5 Fruit Press One FRUIT or CIDER PRESS. Constructed Lack of Poor of various components made of metal and provenance, pine, painted green. poor condition 1975.9.2a Milk Can MILK CAN, "Lakeshore Dairy Ltd. Lack of Poor Etobicoke". provenance 1975.9.2b Milk Can MILK CAN, Lakeshore Dairy Ltd. Lack of Poor Etobicoke". provenance 1975.9.2c Milk Can MILK CAN, "Detroit Creamery Co". Lack of Poor provenance 1975.23.2 Saucer Two saucers, one with three cornered piece Poor Poor missing condition 1975.23.4 Teacup Three teacups, one with handle broken off, Poor Poor the remaining two with large vertical cracks condition from top edge. 1975.34.19 Lid One clear glass lid or cover from butter Poor Poor dish. Badly broken on top, mended condition 1975.132.1 Carriage One horse drawn BUGGY, two seater, Poor Fair constructed of wood with homemade rubber condition rimmed wheels. 1975.133.2 Bottle Stopper Two crystal decanter stoppers, one floral Poor Poor design, one rounded. Broken condition 1976.35.1 Wheelchair One WHEELCHAIR, with wooden frame Lack of Poor and metal fixtures. On the back there is also provenance, a sticker label with the manufacturers name Poor "The J.F. Hartz Co Limited Sick Room condition Supplies Toronto & Montreal." 1976.73.4 Tin One black pepper tin, rusted and label torn Poor Poor in places condition 1976.83.2 Doll Carriage One DOLL CARRIAGE, folding type, metal Poor Poor disk wheels painted red. condition 1977.8.12 Hand Fan One ivory HAND FAN, oval shape. Very Poor Poor fragile condition, and evidence of carpet condition beetles. 1977.15.11 Goblet One Goblet, Ribbon band pattern. Broken Poor Poor stem condition 1977.33.3 Crock Three gallon earthenware crown Crock, Poor Poor cracked, with hole in side condition 1977.57.54 Bowl One small pink satin glass bowl. Badly Poor Poor broken and mended. condition 1977.68.19 Pitcher One small pitcher, acanthus leaves in greek Poor Poor style. Chip in top lip. condition 1977.123.2 Vase Moorcroft Vase, 2/3 of rim is broken. Poor Poor condition 1978.48.1 Sewing One SEWING MACHINE, cobbler's leather Lack of Fair Machine working machine, made by Singer. Made in provenance, Clydebank, Scotland, determined by the V Poor in the serial number. condition

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Object ID Object Name Description Reason for Condition Deaccession 1978.112.18 Milk Can One MILK CAN, "Teeswater Creamery". Lack of Fair provenance 1978.128.2 Baby One twin BABY CARRIAGE, wicker, Poor Poor Carriage gondola shape, babies seated facing each condition other. Loose pieces of wicker hanging from two corners of carriage. 1979.26.1 Display Case One DISPLAY CASE, made of oak and Poor Poor plate glass. Small gold label that reads Condition "Manufactured by Kant McClain, Toronto." 1979.87.4 Vase Small glass cut vase, large piece broken Poor Poor from upper edge condition 1980.10.1 Quilt Patchwork quilt, log cabin pattern. Quilt has Poor Poor multiple black/blue stains, and spotted black condition mould on back side. 1980.32.2 Vase Small amber glass vase with hand painted Poor Poor floral. condition 1980.32.3 Vase Cranberry tint square shaped vase. Broken Poor Poor on one side, mended, and several tiny chips condition missing from top edge. 1981.28.1 Incubator One CHICKEN EGG INCUBATOR. Written Lack of Fair on side "The Daniels Incubator 196-200 provenance River St., Toronto, Ontario". 1983.1.1 Reed Organ One PUMP ORGAN, two manual keyboards Poor Unusable with twenty stops, foot operated bellows, Condition eight stops are minus knobs and 1 stop is missing, right upper panel is missing, right centre panel is detached. Organ is inoperable in present state. 1983.85.1 Wheelchair One early WHEELCHAIR. Four wheels, two Lack of Poor larger front wheels and two smaller back provenance, wheels. Poor condition 1984.76.4 Milk Can One MILK CAN, minus lid, painted red. Lack of Fair provenance, Poor condition 1986.133.1 Bowl Small cut glass bowl. Has had break Poor Poor across entire centre, and was repaired condition 1987.21.1 Feed One ROOT CHOPPER, mfg. by Massey Lack of Fair Chopper Harris, Toronto, made of wood, iron and provenance paint. Marked "Massey Harris Co., Ltd. Toronto Patented". 1990.7.1 Insect Insect and butterfly collection. Contains Poor Poor Collection collection of insects and butterflies pinned condition to cardboard. Specimens have disintegrated. 1994.24.1 Farm Tractor One TRACTOR, Fordson Major, made in Lack of Fair England. provenance 1999.6.1 Buggy BUGGY; built in Barrie by the Barrie Poor Poor Carriage Works. Poor condition. Front Condition wheels are off and incomplete, rear wheels have some missing/bad spokes. Portions of

Form issued: April 2016 March 27, 2018 Committee of the Whole - CCW 18 - 093 Page 6

Object ID Object Name Description Reason for Condition Deaccession body appear to have been stripped of paint and sanded. 2002.2.2 Bed Spool bed with side rails and woven steel Poor Poor wire spring; includes parts of bed with Condition individual Accession Numbers. (1) - 2002.2.2.1.1 Headboard (2) - 2002.2.2.1.2 Footboard (3) - 2002.2.2.2.1 Rail (4) - 2002.2.2.2.2 Rail (5) - 2002.2.2.3 Spring 2002.2.4 Louvered One wooden LOUVERED SHUTTER. Duplication Fair Shutter Stained a green colour, with a matte finish. 2002.2.5 Louvered One wooden LOUVERED SHUTTER. Duplication Fair Shutter Stained a green colour, with a matte finish. 2002.2.6 Louvered One wooden LOUVERED SHUTTER. Duplication Fair Shutter Stained a green colour, with a matte finish. 2003.21.1 Seed Drill Wooden wheels, original tongue re-built. Poor Poor condition 2005.17 Heater One HEATER. Made by Stelco, Hamilton; Poor Poor ca 1862, used at the Four Corner Tea condition Room, Elmvale, operated by Isabelle Bertram. 2005.40.6 Book Treasury of Early American Automobiles, Lack of Good 1877-1925. Bonanza Books, New York; 213 provenance pages. 2008.47.6 Book "Steam Locomotives"; a brief history of Lack of Good Steam as well as full colour illustrations of provenance locomotives from England, USA, Scotland, Prussia/Germany, France, Canada, India. 2010.13.1 Motor MOTOR; Leland Electric Canada Limited, Poor Poor Guelph Ontario. condition 2010.13.2 Switch SWITCH; Canadian Controller Limited, Poor Poor Toronto, Canada; Push Button Station; Bul condition 3000, Max volts 600, Type 3002DW-3; single arm to activate UP or DOWN 2010.13.3 Switch SWITCH; Cober Elevator Manufacturing Poor Poor Company, Toronto, Canada; 110 Volts, condition Type LS3W, Series R.; CSA App 2192. 2010.13.4 Switch SWITCH; Cober Elevator Manufacturing Poor Poor Company, Toronto, Canada; 110 Volts, condition Type LS3W, Series L.; CSA App 2192. 2010.13.5 Pulley PULLEY; for switches and activation plate Poor Poor condition 2010.13.6 Plate PLATE; Attached to elevator in order to rise Poor Poor and fall with same, thus activating the condition switches 2010.13.7 Shaft LINE SHAFT; Large gear Poor Poor condition 2010.13.8 Shaft LINE SHAFT; Large gear Poor Poor condition 2010.13.9 Housing HOUSING; For the worm gears Poor Poor condition 2010.13.10- Pulley PULLEY Poor Poor .13 condition

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Object ID Object Name Description Reason for Condition Deaccession 2010.13.14 Shaft LINE SHAFT; Large gear Poor Poor condition 2010.13.15 Parts PARTS Poor Poor condition 2010.45.1 Tractor 420 John Deere Tractor, 2 cylinder gas Poor Poor engine. condition, lack of provenance 2010.45.2 Manual Service manual for John Deere Tractor Lack of Fair provenance 2011.44.26 Book Teddy Bear Encyclopaedia by Pauline Lack of Good Cockrill. provenance

2011.44.27 Book Teddy Bears by Judy Sparrow; an Lack of Good authoritative text complemented by more provenance than sixty commissioned photographs. 2011.44.28 Book Teddy Bear by Gustav Severin, 'A Loving Lack of Good History of the Classic Childhood provenance Companion'. 2011.44.29 Book Genuine Corn Flower by W. J. Hughes; a Lack of Good catalogue of glass ware. provenance 2011.48.3 Crosscut Saw One CROSSCUT SAW. A two man saw Poor Poor with one wooden handle. Visible rust all condition over saw blade. 2011.48.4 Crosscut Saw One CROSSCUT SAW. A one man Poor Poor crosscut saw with no handles. condition 2011.48.6 Cradle Scythe One CRADLE SCYTHE. Curved wooden Poor Fair frame with attached wooden handle. The condition blade is made of metal, is curved and has visible rust all over.

Financial and Resource Implications

There are no direct costs to the museum associated with this Item. Costs incurred related to the relocation of artifacts to other institutions will be covered by those sites receiving the objects. Funds received through the potential sale of any item will be retained in the museum’s Channen Fund Reserve Account for future acquisitions, as per the collections management policy. There will be a resource benefit to the museum’s storage facilities, as the removal of the deaccessioned items will allow improved storage space for current and future artifacts in the collection.

Relationship to Corporate Strategic Plan

The County of Simcoe’s initiatives regarding Simcoe County Museum activities are tied to Strategic Direction C – Economic and Destination Development which provides direction to expand the role of the County in promoting economic development and tourism.

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Reference Documents

There are no reference documents associated with this Item.

Attachments

Schedule 1 – Collections Management Policy

Prepared By: Kelley Swift Jones, Museum Curator

Approvals: Date John Daly, Director of Legislative Services/County Clerk March 20, 2018 Trevor Wilcox, General Manager, Corporate Performance March 20, 2018 Mark Aitken, Chief Administrative Officer March 20, 2018

Form issued: April 2016