[BCMA] Criteria for evaluating trophies?

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Hi Nancy,

    There's a difference between scratching one's back and tearing it apart:

    Few can stand the itch of having to care for countless commemorative (even historical) objects when they've other work to do. Hence, they search for suckers who'll take on the burden - always at no cost to themselves. Institutions (like NVSD) with some conscience or empathy fit this bill.

    The impulse here, however, is antiquarianism, not museology. The local curator need not be the court of last resort.

    Agreed its a good idea to acquire trophies or scrolls directly related to achievers of national or international stature, but I'd cut it off there - just as you suggest.

    The school district could then auction off the rest within the community, the perfect entertaining, popular, warm feelings "antiques roadshow" solution, with the proceeds going to district school sports programmes. (All items left unbid upon to the recycling bin, after digital recording in collaboration with the Museum for posterity and possible later research).

Dan Gallacher

    
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. 
  To: 'bcma at lists.vvv.com' 
  Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 1:08 PM
  Subject: [BCMA] Criteria for evaluating trophies?


  Hi everyone,

   

  I'd be grateful for guidance or suggestions about evaluating trophies. We own a sizeable collection of trophies, stretching back 100 years, that recognize achievements in community horticultural fairs, company-sponsored teams such as bowling leagues, sporting events and scholastic achievement.

   

  Our local School District is planning a move from its current building to a new facility next year. They say they have "lots and lots of trophies" that they don't want to keep. Before we engage in a conversation about whether some of the trophies should be transferred to the Museum & Archives, rather than discarded, I'll want to develop a set of significance criteria to help guide our decision making. If names such as famous NV athletes Harry Jerome or Karen Magnussen appear on any of the trophies they're probably keepers. But what other criteria would you use when deciding whether to accession a trophy?

   

  Thanks ,

  Nancy

   

  Nancy Kirkpatrick, Director

  North Vancouver Museum & Archives

  Community History Centre - 3203 Institute Road

  North Vancouver, BC  V7K 3E5

  Tel: 604.990.3700 ext 8001  Fax: 604.987.5688

  e-mail: kirkpatrickn at dnv.org

  website: www.northvanmuseum.ca

   

   



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