Collection ethics - the third rail of the museum profession. What are the encompassing issues museum face regarding how they acquire, keep and work with their collections? Museum Collection Ethics discusses the complexities inherent in preserving and interpreting the extraordinary range of culturally significant objects entrusted to museums. The book presents an encompassing look at every aspect of the intellectual and stewardship duties museums by definition assume. The differences between ethics, laws, customs, and expectations are discussed. They are not synonymous. Ethics vary widely and are fluid. Essential factors include: *Defining a museum as an ethical pursuit *The role of museum governing authorities regarding ethics *The ethics of collection authority: who is responsible for collection truths *How museums collect and how ethics influences that activity *The ethics of assuring collection authenticity *The ethical access to collections, be it physical or digital *Ethics and conservation *Exhibition ethics *The ethics of collection removals be they voluntary or involuntary This is the first book devoted solely to the ethical concerns museums face regarding their collections.
Dedication List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Defining a Museum Chapter 2. Museum Governance Chapter 3. Ethics and Museums Chapter 4. Collection Authority Chapter 5. Museum Collecting Methods Chapter 6. Acquisition Ethics Chapter 7. Ethics and Collection Authenticity Chapter 8. Collection Stewardship and Access Chapter 9. Ethics and Conservation Chapter 10. Exhibition Ethics Chapter 11. Ethics and Collection Loss Chapter 12. Museum Collection Ethics Standards Appendix I. Museum Positions with Direct Collection Connectivity Appendix II. The Declaration on the Importance and Value of Universal Museums, 2002 Appendix III. A Code of Ethics for Curators, American Association of Museums, Curators Committee, 2009 Appendix IV. Penn Museum Statement on Human Remains Appendix V. The Cleveland Museum of Art News Release on Open Access Appendix VI. American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Core Documents: Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice Appendix VII. "The Ethics of Deaccessioning," by Steven Miller Appendix VIII. Corcoran Board of Trustees Announces One of the Largest Free Art Distributions in U.S. History. More than 10,750 Works of Art Going to 22 Institutions in Washington Bibliography Index About the Author
