Ethics

An elderly museum friend wishes to donate an item which he claims was bought for him as a boy in the 1930s. It turns out that it is not what he claims; it is marked with a stamp from a manufacturer which our research reveals only began production of items of this type in the 1950s.

What he claims it to be might fall within our collecting policy, what it actually is does not. Our friend has done valuable volunteer work for us and we have the greatest affection for him. It is a tiny item which could easily be tucked away in a store. Should we acquisition to avoid the hurt he would inevitably feel if we were to reject his offer?


No. You should of course avoid hurting anybody's feelings if you can but your first duty in this case is professional rather than personal. It is unethical to disregard the museum's collecting policy. By acquiring you create the problem for your successors at the museum of dealing with an inappropriate object.

Cumulatively, many such acquisitions could divert the museum's precious resources away from the objects they should be focused on.

Your responsibility to the potential donor is to give him a correct identification, however disappointed he may be. Your Friend, your colleagues, the museum and the public are all best served by frankness and adherence to the principles outlined in the code of ethics for museums (5.18) and in the acquisition guidelines (6.1.1, unwanted offers).