Message-ID: <SNT104-W55D47950823CF4B16A8116A1070@phx.gbl> From: Destinee Udelhoven <destineekae@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Museum artifact insurance Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:38:06 -0500
At the Historic Indian Agency House we carry a blanket fine-arts policy tha
t is basically a set amount of coverage for our entire artifact collection.
Such insurance is not intended, in most cases, to replace artifacts tha
t hold a high amount of "historic" worth (because these items, as noted p
reviously, are certainly irreplaceable). Such insurance, rather, cou
ld be used in the event of a catastrophic event that damages such an item (
to professionally repair or restore it). Even more so, artifact insuranc
e protects an organization from the loss of or damage to those items of hig
h monetary worth--for, as Antiques Roadshow has taught us, much of our
old stuff is worth a heap of money. Such items are held by most every hist
orical society or museum. And, even if we can't REPLACE the item lost,
we can use that money to seek a comparable item for our collection. (As
an aside, this same arguments can be applied to, say, historic automo
biles. I bet anything that if you were lucky enough to own a 1957 Chevy,
you would insure that sucker--even if it was, technically, irreplaceabl
e.)
But, perhaps most importantly as I see it, museum and historic socieite
s have a responsibility to protect the items we care for to the utmost of o
ur abilities--including insurance coverage. People donate their meaningful
family treasures and the like to museums and historic instiututions because
they expect us to safely protect their treasures for future generations. I
nsurance is another step we can take to care for these objects.
Please note: I know that insurance is expensive and that this often dictate
s whether or not an institution carries it. I am not arguing that it is che
ap. Just that it is a worthwhile expense that should be carefully considere
d.
Humbly,
Destinee K. Udelhoven
Executive Director
Historic Indian Agency House
Portage, Wisconsin
(608) 742 - 6362
War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading.
~Thomas Hard
y
,
> Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:15:26 -0500
> Subject: Re: Museum artifact insurance
> From: renie.giese@gmail.com
> To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
>
> I fully agree with Don Jensen's message. We at the Waterloo Area
> Historical Society have insurance for the building ant that's it. We
> have limited funds from the city, and fundraise all the rest of our
> budget. Our artifacts are priceless and no way can we afford
> insurance. The best we can do is "oversee" everything so hopefully
> nothing happens.
>
> Maureen Giese, President & Curator of the Waterloo Historical Museum
>
> On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 12:17 PM, Don Jensen <dnjkenosha@wi.rr.com>
wrote:
> > I guess my question is two-fold. . . Why would a society insure its
> > artifacts? Do other societies/museums on this list, in fact, insu
re their
> > artifacts, and why?
> >
> > I of course understand insuring your building, and your fixtures (cas
es,
> > display units) and your equipment. In case of fire, water damage
,
> > theft, all those are replaceable, at a cost. Insurance makes sens
e. You
> > can build a new museum and buy new equipment.
> >
> > But artifacts are irreplaceable in most cases. You can’t go out and
buy a
> > replacement family Bible of a prominent local family.
> > How do you even place a value on something that you cannot replace with
> > insurance money. Even assuming you can find an insurer
> > who will quote a premium that will pay you $2 million for your archival
> > collection if it burns up and is gone, what do you do with THAT insur
ance
> > money
> > you receive?
> >
> > Maybe I am missing something here. . . but I don’t see how paying
> > substantial insurance premiums
> > for what is essentially uninsurable, puts you, as a museum, in a
better
> > situation in the event of a castastrophe. Seems to me you are
> > in no more favorable situation if you insure your collection than if yo
u
> > don’t. In that case, it would seem that your premium money has be
en
> > wasted. .
> >
> > I guess my main question is do other museums insure COLLECTIONS, and
if so,
> > why?
> >
> > Don Jensen
> > Kenosha History Center BoD
> >
> >
> > From: William Woolley
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 4:34 PM
> > To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
> > Cc: Tebon, Craig
> > Subject: Museum artifact insurance
> >
> > The Ripon Historical Society is considering buying insurance to cover i
ts
> > collection of artifacts. If anyone has done this recently could you con
tact
> > me and let me know your experience.
> >
> > Bill Woolley, President
> > woolleybill@gmail.com