THE TICKER
CONNECTING TO COLLECTIONS
Securing Object Loans for Exhibitions
By Sarah Poole
In every issue of Financial History , we tell you the stories behind artifacts from the Museum ’ s permanent collection . But what happens when the collection does not fulfill the needs of an upcoming exhibition ? One option is to acquire new artifacts for the collection , but this is only viable if the items are readily available for donation or sale , are within the exhibition budget and fit the Museum ’ s collecting mission . More frequently , the exhibition team relies on loans from other collections .
We recently faced this challenge in developing the current temporary exhibition , Worth Its Weight : Gold from the Ground Up . This is the Museum ’ s largest exhibition to date and features the highest number of objects on loan , with over 260 borrowed items on display . The 43 lenders that contributed to the exhibit consist of museums , private companies , universities and individual collectors .
The process for securing loans from other institutions can be lengthy . We began seeking out loans for Worth Its Weight more than a year prior to the exhibition opening . The first steps involve researching the collections of various institutions and identifying objects that fit the topics of the exhibition . As an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution , our exhibit team was able to visit the collections of various Smithsonian museums in Washington , DC , as well as to connect with other Affiliate museums across the country . The team was also referred to
A handheld trading device and roll of ticker tape from the Museum ’ s collection were featured in the Computer History Museum ’ s Tools of the Trade exhibit .
additional lenders through various professional networks , exhibit content advisors and exhibition sponsors .
Discovering interesting artifacts from potential lenders is one of the most exciting parts of creating an exhibit . Our research for the gold exhibit led us to gold dentures from the National Museum of Dentistry , a golden sword from the Arab American National Museum and even an example of the world ’ s first gold coin from the private collection of Jonathan P . Rosen .
When requesting a loan from another museum , we typically must submit a formal letter or application , as well as a General Facility Report ( GFR ). The GFR is a standardized report developed by the American Alliance of Museums ( AAM ), a professional organization that sets best practices for museums in the United States . The report provides information about the physical specifications , environmental conditions and staff policies and procedures in place at a museum . This documentation clearly shows the level of care a museum will be able to provide for objects in its possession .
Once a loan is approved , the lenders and borrowers work together to ensure
Computer History Museum / Douglas Fairbairn Photography
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JUN 9
1784
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New York ’ s first bank , The Bank of New York , opens for business at the Walton House in Lower Manhattan , only a few months after the British troops depart from American soil . |
JUN 19
1969
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The NYSE , so far behind on its antiquated paperwork that it has to close each Wednesday so clerks can process trades , appropriates the unprecedented sum of $ 7.5 million to upgrade its computer systems . |
8 FINANCIAL HISTORY | Spring 2016 | www . MoAF . org