Museum Collection Ethics
Acquisition, Stewardship, and Interpretation
Published on 20. March 2020
Book
Hardback
222 pages
978-1-5381-3519-8 (ISBN)
Description
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 pursuitThe role of museum governing authorities regarding ethicsThe ethics of collection authority: who is responsible for collection truthsHow museums collect and how ethics influences that activityThe ethics of assuring collection authenticityThe ethical access to collections, be it physical or digitalEthics and conservationExhibition ethicsThe 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.
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 pursuitThe role of museum governing authorities regarding ethicsThe ethics of collection authority: who is responsible for collection truthsHow museums collect and how ethics influences that activityThe ethics of assuring collection authenticityThe ethical access to collections, be it physical or digitalEthics and conservationExhibition ethicsThe 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.
Reviews / Votes
Museum Collection Ethics discusses the complexities inherent in acquiring, preserving, and, making accessible to the public the extraordinary range of culturally significant objects entrusted to museums. The book provides an encompassing look at the intellectual, practical and stewardship duties museums by definition assume. Differences between ethics and laws, customs and expectations, practices and potentials are reviewed in the context of museum operations. These considerations are not synonymous. Each has its own characteristics. All infuse how museums treat collections. * Art Daily * The museum world is increasingly the subject of public protest - donors, governance, collecting practices and so much more are catching the public eye in the 21st century. Miller's book offers a practical and thorough look a collections concerns and reminds us all of our purpose as collections caregivers and our ethical duties. This is a must read for anyone looking to work in or serve museums, and a helpful reminder to the mid-career and seasoned professional who is looking for guidance when issues arise. -- Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, director, Illinois State Museum Collections are the very soul of every museum and for the first time, a comprehensive exploration of the myriad ethics issues are explored in a single volume. Every aspect of collections stewardship is considered with thoughtful analysis and relevant case studies. A must read for any member of a museum family. -- Bruce Katsiff, Director/CEO, James A. Michener Art Museum - Retired I found this volume to be useful, current, readily readable and highly relevant to any archivist, or indeed any employee responsible for collections of any kind and how ethics can impact on professional practice. Miller motivated me throughout to examine how I myself approach collection ethics within my own career and workplaces, and that of colleagues and institutions elsewhere. If this is the first volume dedicated to museum collection ethics, then I look forward to reading the next. * Archives and Records: The Journal of the Archives and Records Association *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
5 b/w photos; 15 textboxes
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
479 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5381-3519-8 (9781538135198)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2020
1st Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€32.99
Available for download
E-Book
03/2020
1st Edition
Bloomsbury eBooks US
€32.99
Available for download
Person
Steven Miller has been in the museum field for nearly fifty years. During that time he has been a curator, administrator, director, trustee, writer, consultant, and museum studies educator. He has served with six major museums in the northeastern United States. He holds a BA in sculpture (with honors) from Bard College and an international graduate certificate in the Principles of Conservation Science from the International Centre for the Study of the Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Property, Rome, Italy.
Content
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
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