I know that in many of the museum profiles in L&RP and on this site the topic of collection policies is a hot topic. I also know that several museums such as the NCTM have crafted documents that explicitly state what the museums will and will not collect in terms of railroad artifacts, equipment, etc. If possible, would individuals who belong to other museums that have such written policies please contact me off list and share with me these documents? Thank you very much in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

wilkidm@hera.wku.edu

We have such a collection policy, and use it to judge possible additions to the collection. We belive that one of the keys to making it work, and having every one understand it exists, is making it public, so we post it at our web site, at http://www.spcrr.org/spcrr_policies_and_guidelines.htm

Randy Hees
SPCRR

http://WWW.SPCRR.org
hees@ix.netcom.com

Some organizations have their collection policies posted as part of their web site.

I just did a search with google.com using the terms "collection policy" and "railway" and got back about 140 returns. Not all of these are for railway museums as some are for other museums collecting railway artifacts or history. Such a search should also be conducted using the word "railroad" instead of "railway."

Putting a collection policy on a museum's web page is a good way of sharing this document with potential visitors, donors and others concerned with railway preservation.

Also "Recommended Practices for Railway Museums" prepared by the Association of Railway Musuems outlines what should be considered when preparing a collection policy.

Good Luck.

Brian Norden
member board of directors, Association of Ry Museums

Recommended Practices for Railway Museums
bnorden@gateway.net

> Some organizations have their collection
> policies posted as part of their web site.

> I just did a search with google.com using
> the terms "collection policy" and
> "railway" and got back about 140
> returns. Not all of these are for railway
> museums as some are for other museums
> collecting railway artifacts or history.
> Such a search should also be conducted using
> the word "railroad" instead of
> "railway."

> Putting a collection policy on a museum's
> web page is a good way of sharing this
> document with potential visitors, donors and
> others concerned with railway preservation.

> Also "Recommended Practices for Railway
> Museums" prepared by the Association of
> Railway Musuems outlines what should be
> considered when preparing a collection
> policy.

> Good Luck.

> Brian Norden
> member board of directors, Association of Ry
> Museums

David, the state of North Carolina handles the small artifacts (ie, things that don't need a slot in the roundhouse), which makes life simple; I'll try to get one of them to holler you up or give you an email for one of them.

As for the bigger stuff: This isn't a hard and fast rule, but our non-profit owns most of the operating equipment for the on-site rail ride; we have a rolling stock committee made up of representatives of both groups so we can try for some coordination; we have on paper what we're about and what we want, but being a place that's been around a while (ie, the Roundhouse is packed and leaving stuff outside only results in rust and slow destruction) a friend of mine a few years ago suggested a quick rule of thumb:

1. Can we afford it? Do we have the resources to acquire, house, restore, preserve or operate it?

2. Is it part of our mission: NC, Southern Railway or southeast?

3. Would someone come to see it?

This quick rule of thumb has served us well in the last few years. We've gotten rid of some things we didn't need (ie, ex-RDG baggage car a few years ago and ex-WM VO1000 last month); we've made some smart acquisitions (P&N boxcab electric from Atlanta, ex-Cone Mills (textiles) boxcar from Greensboro NRHS).

Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Dave-

While we at the Port Huron Museum have not put our collections policy on the web, it is very similar in mnay ways to what other have mentioned. One thing I can't emphasize enough is that one of the keys to a good collections policy is a good de-accessioning policy as well. There was a time in many of our museums' past when items were accepted rather haphazardly. We recently de-accessioned some Burlington timetables to the Heartland Railroad Historical Society (Gerlad Kopiasz is there main rep.) because they did not fit into our scope of Southeast Michigan/ Thumb Region Transportation history. If I can help in any other way (hey, we in the rail history community need to stick together), please let me know.

Sincerely,

T.J. Gaffney
> Brian Norden
> member board of directors, Association of Ry
> Museums


Port Huron Museum
peremarquette@hotmail.com