Deaccessioning 101
Becky Preiss Odom, Ph.D. History Curator/Manager of History Services
Jessica Sells Assistant Registrar What is deaccessioning?
• The permanent removal of objects from a museum's collection • Applies ONLY to accessioned items
Image courtesy of AASLH Why deaccession?
• Remove items from collection that aren’t of use anymore • Collections are not a financial asset to be raided to fund new initiatives or pay operating costs
Image courtesy of AASLH How to deaccession?
• Create a process to ensure deaccessioning is done ethically and transparently • Case study: Furniture Assessment Project at the Ohio History Connection
Image courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Step 1: Assess and Research
• Physical examination • Research the provenance
Image courtesy of the Ohio History Connection
Assessment: NAGPRA
• Federal Funding: Yes or No? • Yes -> National NAGPRA • https://www.nps.gov/nagpra/ • No -> Contact the Ohio History Connection • Brad Lepper | Manager of Archaeology and Natural History • [email protected] Step 2: Decision to Deaccession
• Who makes the decision? • What guides the decision?
From the Ohio History Connection’s Collections Management Policy Step 3: Approval
• Higher Authority • Checks & Balances • Singular vs. Multiple
Image courtesy of Ohio Memory
From the Ohio History Connection’s Collection Management Policy What Paperwork Do You Need?
• Ownership • Ohio Revised Code 3385 • http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3385 • Recommendation • Approval • Disposal
Image courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Step 4: Disposal Methods
• Deaccession vs. Disposal • Follow the Collections Policy
From the Ohio History Connection’s Collections Management Policy Disposal Methods, cont.
• Dictated by Provenance, but also Condition: • the good, the bad, and the ugly
Images courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Funds from Sales of Deaccessions
• Separate and identifiable account • New acquisitions • Direct care activities • Direct Care of Collections: Ethics, Guidelines and Recommendations (AAM, April 2016) • Conservation, preservation, research, or other activities that directly impact collections and prolong their life or usefulness Questions?
Becky Odom Jessica Sells [email protected] [email protected] 614-298-2052 614-297-2516