Subject: Re: High School Yearbooks From: Brian Bigler <usemeum@mhtc.net> Message-ID: <ea752cf5-7852-4a8e-c475-920c63468abf@mhtc.net> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2020 11:54:24 -0500
My suggestion would be to keep two copies - one set for reference and
one set as displayable copies - much like an artifact. The reference
copies will become tattered over time and the display copies will remain
in a quality state.
Many of these books have personal messages in them and therefore it is
difficult to sell them. You may also check to see if your local library
has a complete set and offer a set of duplicates there.
If you have a digitized set then you only need to keep the one set of
displayable volumes
Most of these books come into museums with other materials that are
often the product of someone cleaning out an estate and so in this case
it would be harder to stipulate that you no longer want them. Telling
people you no longer want certain items may come off as a little harsh
and may also lead to the reduction in donations of other materials.
Having a good collections policy in place and published would be the
best alternative of relaying that you do not accept everything, Your
collections committee would make the call on that which would be
accepted into the collections followed up by by correspondence from the
curator. This leaves the door open for that rare moment when someone
might offer a yearbook that is filled with notes or signature of someone
who went on to become famous for example. Also, a well spelled out deed
of gift form gives you the option of returning what is not wanted or
disposing of what is not wanted
In addition, make a list of all that you have duplicates of and keep
that handy for when more arrive.
And, remember that almost every class member in each consecutive class
had one of these books so there are are often hundreds of these out
there - at this point one just relies on the recycling bin - sorry to say.
Check the collections policies of such places as the Wisconsin
Historical Society or the Chicago Historical Society for examples. The
Chicago Historical Society does spell out what they specifically no
longer accept.
Hope this is of help and keep up the good work fellow historians -
Brian J. Bigler
Mount Horeb
On 10/28/2020 9:57 AM, Mondovi History wrote:
> Good Morning,
>
> At the Mondovi Area Historical Society we have multiple copies of each
> edition our high school yearbook, The Mirror. and we are discussing
> downsizing the collection. Does anyone have any recommendations on
> how many copies to retain. Also,what would be a good way to dispose
> of them We do have them digitized up to 2014 on CD's. Finally, what
> is a good way to politely communicate to people that we don't need
> anymore copies.
>
> Thanks
>
> Steve Mikelson
> Mondovi Area Historical Society