|  Collecting
Policies & Museum Regulations
As
approved by the University Court,
6 February 2007
Acquisition
and Disposal Policy
1.
Existing collections, including the subjects or themes for collecting
The University’s museum/collections are internationally renowned.
They are the product of hundreds of years of collecting, driven by
the research and teaching activities of staff and the exploits and
generosity of graduates and friends. Holding items acquired by the
University and its constituent institutions from their foundation in
1495, museums were established in the later 18th century in King’s
College and Marischal College. These two colleges were fused in 1860
to form the University of Aberdeen.
The University’s
museums/collections provide a unique resource for teaching, research
and with which to engage the public. Within the University, they
are support undergraduate and postgraduate teaching within their
own fields, and in other disciplines, such as Anthropology, Cultural
History, Education, English, Geography, Gender Studies and Law. They
are an important research resource, used by a wide range of people
as well as University of Aberdeen staff and students, increasingly
for interdisciplinary projects. Outwith the University, the museums
and collections enable enhanced learning opportunities for formal
and informal educational groups across North-East Scotland and beyond,
notably for nursery, primary and secondary schools. In addition to
permanent exhibitions, regularly changing exhibitions on campus and
elsewhere offer both the University and wider community an opportunity
to engage with the collections.
The museums/collections
are:
- Anatomy Museum
- Geological Collections
- Herbarium
- Marischal Museum
- Scottish history
and archaeology
- European and Mediterranean
archaeology
- Non-Western ethnography
and archaeology
- Fine Art
- Numismatics
- Natural Philosophy
Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments
- Pathology and Forensic
Medicine Collection
- Zoology Museum
As
well as the accessioned collections, several museums/collections
also care for separately listed collections that do not form part
of the main collection. Items in these are often a working resource,
such as a teaching collection, rather than an archive collection.
Likewise, it is not appropriate that all works of art, gifts or other
items acquired by the University be accepted into the University’s
museum collections. Instead, they will be held in identified collections
that are not covered by this policy, on the basis that they may have
a finite use within the University.
2.
Criteria governing future collecting policy, including the subjects,
themes, period of time and geographical area to which collecting
relates
This collecting policy recognises the various roles of the University’s
museums/collections, aiming to work together to preserve significant
material for the public benefit in the present and future. The University
therefore expresses its willingness to lend items for display elsewhere,
on condition that appropriate conservation and security conditions
are met.
The general principles
and priorities for collecting are:
- to preserve important
material for the benefit of the University and the general public.
- to build on the
existing strengths of the collection.
- to collect material
to support teaching, research and display.
The
specific collecting activities of the University’s museums/collections
are stated in the following appendices:
Appendix A – Anatomy Museum
Appendix B – Geological Collections
Appendix C – Herbarium
Appendix D – Marischal Museum
Appendix E – Natural Philosophy Collection
of Historical Scientific Instruments
Appendix F – Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Collection
Appendix G – Zoology Museum
3.
Limitations on collecting
The University recognises its responsibility, in acquiring additions
to its collections, to ensure that care of collections, documentation
arrangements and use of collections will meet the requirements of the
Accreditation Standard. It will take into account limitations on collecting
imposed by such factors as inadequate staffing, storage and care of
collection arrangements.
4.
Collecting policies of other museums
The University will take account of the collecting policies of other
museums and other organisations collecting in the same or related areas
or subject fields. It will consult with these organisations where conflicts
of interest may arise or to define areas of specialism, in order to
avoid unnecessary duplication and waste of resources.
Specific reference
is made to the collecting activities of the National Museums of Scotland
and other museums in the North-East of Scotland in accordance with
the North-East Museums Concordat (see appendix H).
University museum staff
will discuss potential acquisitions to ensure they are acquired by
the most appropriate collection within the institution.
5.
Acquisitions not covered by the policy
Acquisitions outside the current stated policy will only be made in
very exceptional circumstances, and then only after proper consideration
by the University Court, having regard to the interests of other museums.
As
stated in section 3, the University’s museums/collections also
care for a number of separately identified collections that are not
covered by this policy.
6.
Acquisition procedures
a. The University will exercise due diligence and will not acquire,
whether by purchase, gift, bequest, exchange or active collecting,
any item, unless a curator, acting on the University Court's behalf,
is satisfied that valid title to the item in question can be acquired.
b. In particular, no
item will be collected which has been acquired in, or exported from,
its country of origin (including the United Kingdom), or any intermediate
country in which it may have been legally owned, in violation of
that country's laws.
c. In accordance with
the provisions of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting
and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership
of Cultural Property, which the UK ratified with effect from November
1 2002, the University will reject any items known to have been illicitly
traded, informed by the guidance on the responsible acquisition of
cultural property issued by Department of Culture, Media and Sport
in 2005.
d. So far as biological
and geological material is concerned, the University will not acquire
by any direct or indirect means any specimen that has been collected,
sold or otherwise transferred in contravention of any national or
international wildlife protection or natural history conservation
law or treaty of the United Kingdom or any other country, except
with the express consent of an appropriate outside authority.
e.
The University will not acquire antiquities in any case where a curator,
acting on the University Court’s behalf, has any suspicion
that the circumstances of their recovery involved a failure to follow
the appropriate legal procedures or if recovery involved unauthorised
destruction of or damage to ancient monuments, known archaeological
sites or places of special scientific or historic interest.
Scottish archaeological material will not be acquired by any means
other than allocation to the University by the Crown, normally on the
advice of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Advisory Panel (SAFAP),
unless a curator, acting on the University Court’s behalf, is
satisfied that valid title to the item can be proven, such as by a
certificate of ‘No Claim’ issued by SAFAP.
f. Under normal circumstances
only items which are accompanied by adequate documentation as to
their origin and method of collection will be acquired.
g. Wherever appropriate,
the University will aim to acquire relevant intellectual property
rights associated with acquired objects.
h. A curator, as the
University Court's representative, will normally have delegated authority
and responsibility for the acceptance or rejection of gifts or bequests
to a collection, for soliciting gifts of material for the collections
within the terms of this policy, and for making purchases of material
in accordance with this Policy and within the University Court's
normal standing orders.
i. Where the acquisition
of any item or group of items would result in significant financial
implications in respect of curation, storage, conservation or display,
the matter will be referred to the University Court for decision.
j. Items offered to
the University as gifts or bequests will not normally be accepted
if they are subject to any restrictive covenant or special conditions.
A general exception to this rule will be deemed to exist in respect
of restrictive covenants or conditions intended only to assure the
permanent protection of the item concerned in the University's collections.
The University Court may be asked to approve the acquisition of specific
items to which unusual conditions are attached.
k. Advice and criticism
about the use of the collections from any source will be acknowledged,
respected and considered. Whether at the time of acquisition or later,
if the critique derives from representatives of the original owners,
the appropriate curator will consider it with proportionally greater
sensitivity.
l. Items will not normally
be accepted into the collections on loan. No item will be accepted
on 'permanent loan', a term which has no legal status. In exceptional
cases, items of major importance that fall within the scope of this
Policy may be accepted on long, fixed-term, loan, the period to be
agreed in writing between the curator and owner (or representative).
Where the term of a loan has expired, it may be renewed or extended
for further finite periods, at the discretion of both the owner and
the curator. In exceptional circumstances the University may ask
for a contribution from the lender towards the upkeep of items on
loan.
m. Any exceptions to
the above clauses 6a, 6b, 6c, or 6e will only be because the University
is either:
acting as an externally approved repository of last resort for material
of local (UK) origin;
or acquiring an item of minor importance that lacks secure ownership
history but in the best judgement of experts in the field concerned
has not been illicitly traded;
or acting with the permission of authorities with the requisite jurisdiction
in the country of origin;
or in possession of reliable documentary evidence that the item was
exported from its country of origin before 1970.
In these cases the
University will be open and transparent in the way it makes decisions
and will act only with the express consent of an appropriate outside
authority.
7.
Disposal procedures
a. One of the basic functions of a museum is preservation; items acquired
by a museum are generally considered to be inalienable once they have
been incorporated into its collections. The University's principal
duty in this respect is to hold its collections in trust, now and for
future generations. There is therefore a strong presumption against
disposal of any item in its care. However there are circumstances in
which disposal might be considered, as set out below.
b. The University will
establish that it is legally free to dispose of an item. Any decision
to dispose of material from the collections will be taken only after
due consideration by the University Court.
c. When disposal of
an item is being considered, the University will establish if it
was acquired with the aid of an external funding organisation. In
such cases, any conditions attached to the original grant will be
followed. This may include repayment of the original grant.
d. Decisions to dispose
of items will not be made with the principal aim of generating funds.
e. A decision to dispose
of an item, whether by gift, exchange, sale or destruction (in the
case of an item too badly damaged or deteriorated to be of any use
for the purposes of the collections), will be the responsibility
of the University Court acting on the advice of professional curatorial
staff; not of the curator of a collection acting alone.
f. The University Court,
following the procedure stated in appendix I, may take a decision
to return items to a country, people or person. The University will
take such decisions on a case by case basis, within its legal position
and taking into account all ethical implications.
g. Once a decision
to dispose of material has been taken, priority will be given to
retaining it within the public domain, unless the procedure in appendix
I is to be followed or if it is to be destroyed. It will therefore
be offered in the first instance, by gift, exchange or sale, directly
to other Registered/Accredited Museums likely to be interested in
its acquisition.
If
the material is not acquired by any Registered/Accredited Museums
to which it was offered directly, then the museum community at large
will be advised of the intention to dispose of the material, normally
through an announcement in the Museums Association’s Museums
Journal, and in other professional journals where appropriate. The
announcement will indicate the number and nature of items involved,
and the basis on which the material will be transferred to another
institution. Preference will be given to expressions of interest
from other Registered/Accredited Museums. A period of at least two
months will be allowed for an interest in acquiring the material
to be expressed. At the end of this period, if no expressions of
interest have been received, the University may consider disposing
of the material to other interested individuals and organisations.
h. Any monies received by the University from the disposal of items
will be applied for the benefit of the collections. This normally means
the purchase of further acquisitions but in exceptional cases improvements
relating to the care of collections may be justifiable. Advice on these
cases will be sought from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
i.
Full records will be kept of all decisions on disposals and the items
involved and proper arrangements made for the preservation and/or
transfer, as appropriate, of the documentation relating to the items
concerned, including photographic records where practicable in accordance
with SPECTRUM Procedure on deaccession and disposal.
8.
Management of archives
As the University museums hold and intend to acquire archives, including
photographs and printed ephemera, they will be guided by the Code of
Practice on Archives for Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom
(3rd ed., 2002).
9.
Policy review procedure
The Acquisition and Disposal Policy will be reviewed in 2011. Any changes
to the policy prior to the 5 year review will be approved by the University
Court.
The approved Acquisition
and Disposal Policy will be published on the University’s website.
The Scottish Museums
Council will be notified of any changes to the Acquisition and Disposal
Policy, and the implications of any such changes for the future of
existing collections.
Appendix
A
University
of Aberdeen Anatomy Museum
Nature and Scope of the Collections
The collections of the Anatomy Museum are the product of over 100 years
of collecting, driven by the research and teaching activities of staff.
The exact opening date of the Anatomy Museum is uncertain, but many
dated specimens can be traced to the early 1880s. The Anatomy Museum
now cares for a rich collection with some notable strengths.
The main collection
types are:
- Skeletal approx.
300 specimens
- Fluid-preserved
specimens of human tissues approx.
200 specimens
- Modern
plastic models approx.
200 objects
- Historical
models approx.
200 objects
(wax,
papier-mâché, plaster)
- Non-biological
artefacts of anatomical relevance approx.
40 objects
- Works
on paper approx.
900 objects
Access to, and display
of, parts of the collection is restricted by the Anatomy Act (1984)
as amended by the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.
The Museum has registered
status.
Principles and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines
of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Anatomy Museum’s principles
and priorities for collecting are:
- To preserve important
human anatomical material (and related non-biological artefacts)
for the benefit of the University and the wider anatomical discipline
- To build on the
existing strengths of the collection.
- To collect material
(and related non-biological artefacts) to support teaching and
research in the human anatomical and related disciplines.
- To concentrate on
material which is primarily within the distribution of human anatomical
variance:
(i) material overtly
of primary pathological or forensic interest will only be considered
following discussion with the curator of the Pathology and Forensic
Medicine Collection,
(ii) material overtly of archaeological interest will only be considered
following discussion with the curator of the Marischal Museum,
(iii) material of non human origin will only be considered following
discussion with the curator of the Zoology Museum.
(iv) all human tissue specimens will be accepted under procedures laid
down by the Anatomy Act 1984, as amended by the Human Tissue (Scotland)
Act 2006, and any additional guidance as may, from time to time, be
put forward by HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland.
- Normally, only to
collect material connected to the North of Scotland. Within the
North of Scotland there is no conflict with other equivalent museums.
Where material is considered from outside the North of Scotland
it would only be considered in consultation with museum authorities
in the area of origin.
Appendix
B
University
of Aberdeen Geological Collections
Nature
and Scope of the Collections
The collections are a repository for research material of palaeontological,
mineralogical and lithological nature. This is particularly true of
the Palaeontology collection with an important holding of Type and
Figured material. The collections are also used for teaching and display.
The collection types
are:
The collection contains
over 600 Type and Figured specimens for which a published catalogue
exists (updated in 2006). Strengths of the collection are:
Fossil corals and bryozoa collected by H.A. Nicholson when Professor
of Natural History at Aberdeen; this includes the majority of our type
material.
The Lyon Collection of material from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert
of northeast Scotland.
The
collection incorporates the Gordon Collection that was given to the
University by the Rev. J.M. Gordon in memory of his father. The
mineral collection is of high standard with many excellent display
specimens from worldwide localities.
The collection contains
material of worldwide origin, but its strength lies in material from
northeast and northern Scotland. Much of the material was collected
and added to the collection by Prof. T.C. Phemister. The collection
is valuable in that many localities are no longer available for collecting.
The collections have
registered status.
Principles
and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines
of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Geological Collections’ principles
and priorities for collecting are:
- limited to material
of research, display and teaching value given limited storage and
staff resource
- most acquisitions
are obtained through collecting by staff and students in the course
of their professional activities
- Geology is a world-wide
subject, hence material in the collections comes from all continents,
but there is an emphasis on Scottish material.
- Different policies
are adopted for the three collections as follows:
(i) Palaeontology
Collection
Acquisitions relate to current palaeontological research work within
the University.
(ii) Mineral Collection
The mineral collection provides reference specimens of minerals from
worldwide localities. Additions are only made of exceptional specimens,
mineral species not represented in the collection, and Scottish material
from localities not represented in the collection.
(iii) Rock Collection
The rock collection contains a fine selection of Scottish rocks, together
with many of worldwide origin. Priority is given to rocks for which
analyses are available, specimens from classic localities, and specimens
mentioned in research publications.
Appendix
C
University
of Aberdeen Herbarium
Nature
and Scope of the Collections
The Herbarium is the largest plant collection north of Edinburgh. The
University has recognised the collection as a valuable source of reference
and, particularly with regard to southeast Asia, of international standing.
The Herbarium contains approximately 120,000 herbarium specimens, with
special emphasis on British (Scottish) and southeast Asian (Thai) material.
The material is also used for teaching and display.
The main collections
are:
- Thailand material
(approx. 20,000 specimens)
The
collection is regarded as the second most important collection in
the world. It was principally collected by Arthur Francis George
Kerr (who was born in Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, Ireland) while he was
in the service of the Government of Siam as Medical Officer of Health
from 1902-20, and in charge of the Botanical Section, Ministry of
Commerce, from 1921-31. The Herbarium obtained its material through
Professor Craib, for whom Kerr collected while he was a Lecturer
in Forest Botany at Edinburgh University. Professor Craib came to
Aberdeen from Edinburgh as Regius Professor of Botany in 1920 where
he remained in the Chair until his death in 1933
- British Material
(approx. 55,000 specimens)
The
collection was formed by several past Professors of the University,
particularly Trail (including fungi), Dickie (mainly algae), and
William MacGillivray, but also amateur collectors such as McMurtrie,
Lewis Gavin, and Stables. All the British plants collected by George
Nicholson, Curator at Kew from 1886-1901, were bequeathed to Professor
Trail and, together with Trail's extensive collection, these form
the foundations of the British collection. The Herbarium also has
substantial collections of Lichens (especially H.E. Wilson and C.R.
Prince) and Bryophytes (especially C.H. Gimingham and A.A. Pardy).
Our oldest specimen, of Gentiana campestris, was collected
by Dr William Knight in 1772, later Professor of Natural Philosophy
at the University, and found in Principal Campbell's herbarium.
The Herbarium has registered
status.
Principles
and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines
of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Herbarium’s principles
and priorities for collecting are:
- Enhancing the collection's
areas of strength by encouraging further acquisitions of material
from Scotland and South-East Asia. Material from other parts of
the world will be regarded as lower priority and will only be accepted
after consideration of its value to teaching, research or display,
and the cost of its curation.
- Accepting voucher
material from researchers who are either working at the University,
or studying Aberdeen Herbarium specimens, where it:
(i) relates to taxonomic
research, e.g. type specimens and comparative material
(ii) relates to DNA analyses
(iii) may be useful for future reference
(iv) is in support of new distributional records of plants
(v) is related to fields of research of local botanists.
- The Herbarium will
accept unsolicited donations of other plant material only when
it is accompanied by adequate documentation and following consideration
of its value to teaching, research or display.
- Scientific equipment
is not collected.
- Most collecting
is passive.
Appendix
D
University
of Aberdeen Marischal Museum
Scope
of collections
The collections of Marischal Museum derive
from five centuries of collecting by graduates, staff and friends
of the University of Aberdeen and its constituent institutions.
Museums were established in both King’s
College and Marischal College in the late 18th century. Marischal Museum
was established in its present location in 1907 as the University’s
Anthropological Museum, incorporating the collections of the King’s
College Archaeological Museum, the Wilson Museum in Marischal College
and ethnographic and historical items from elsewhere in the University.
The museum was renamed as Marischal Museum in 1990 and the University’s
collection of fine art transferred to it in 1996.
Marischal Museum now
cares for a rich collection with some notable strengths and it forms
an important element of museum provision in Scotland. Throughout
its history the Museum has operated alongside other collections in
the University, the region and nationally. This collecting policy
recognises the roles of these other collections, aiming to work with
them to preserve significant material for the public benefit in the
present and future. Working within the overall Acquisition and Disposal
Policy for museums in the University of Aberdeen, the collecting
procedures of Marischal Museum will follow the principles and priorities
laid out in this appendix.
The collections of
Marischal Museum number almost 80,000 items. These lie within five
major areas, as follows:
- Scottish
history and archaeology 15,000
- European
and Mediterranean archaeology 7,000
- Non-western
ethnography and archaeology 9,000
- Fine
Art 2,000
- Numismatics 45,000
The acquisition of
material outwith the above categories may be considered if it would
support the teaching and research aims of the University, particularly
in the Arts and Social Sciences. This will include disciplines such
as anthropology, archaeology, education, history, history of art
and Scottish ethnology.
Marischal Museum is
also responsible for the care of a separately identified collection
of University memorabilia, gifts to the University and certain works
of art which do not form part of the main collection are treated
according to the terms stated in section 1 of the main policy.
Principles
and Priorities for Scottish History and Archaeology
The Museum's collecting area for Scottish
archaeological material is North-East Scotland, approximating
to the local authority areas of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire
and Moray. Items will only be acquired from outwith this area
if more appropriate local museums choose not to acquire them.
Items will only be acquired as an allocation to the University
by the Crown, normally on the advice by the Scottish Archaeological
Finds Advisory Panel (SAFAP), unless the curator is satisfied that
valid title to the item can be proven, such as by a certificate of ‘No
Claim’ issued by SAFAP.
The collection of historical
material will also normally be confined to this area. Items which
have close associations with the North-East, such as through use
or manufacture, will also be acquired, with due regard to the collecting
policies of other Registered/Accredited museums.
Specific priorities
are as follows:
Prehistoric - Early
Historic
All material will follow the procedures of the Scottish Archaeological
Finds Advisory Panel, with collecting normally restricted to the North-East
of Scotland. Assemblages deriving from recent archaeological fieldwork
with associated contextualising information will be given the highest
priority, while a second priority will be placed on the acquisition
of Iron Age and Early Historic material in which the collection is
weaker.
Medieval to Modern
Archaeological material will only be considered for acquisition if
no other local Registered/Accredited museum wishes to acquire it.
Material relating to the traditional culture of Northern Scotland
will be acquired, especially if relating to the teaching and research
activities of the Elphinstone Institute.
Other
Items relating to significant individuals associated with North-East
Scotland or the University of Aberdeen, particularly where their
collection relates to existing material in Marischal Museum. Items
deriving from mixed assemblages of archival and artefactual material
will also be collected where these relate to the collecting priorities
of the University's Special Libraries and Archives.
University History
Items of museum merit presented to or purchased by the University may
be acquired for their long-term preservation. Items of lesser interest
may be placed in a separate collection, not governed by this policy,
from which they may be disposed. Items relating to University teaching
and research may be acquired, particularly those dating prior to
1907.
Militaria
Items made or used in the North-East or by North-East people may be
acquired, though the collecting priorities of the Gordon Highlanders
Museum will be respected. Although active collecting for the Gordon
Collection of militaria associated with the Gordon Clan has ceased,
additional items may be acquired if closely related to material
already in the collection.
Principles
and Priorities for European and Mediterranean Archaeology
European and Mediterranean archaeological material is often illegally
excavated and exported. The Museum therefore places a low priority
on the acquisition of archaeological material from these areas. Coherent
assemblages historically associated with people from the North-East
may be collected, while individual items of importance or that fill
gaps in the collection may be considered for acquisition. In other
cases, potential donors will be recommended to offer material to appropriate
museums in the originating country or to the National Museums of Scotland.
Principles
and Priorities for Non-Western Ethnography and Archaeology
The Museum is aware of the illegal excavation and export of material
in this area and the sensitivity of certain items. Acquisition of material
in this area will therefore be approached with particular care and
consideration. Active collection of material should be associated with
the research and teaching activities of the University and should aim
to establish long-term relationships with the people from whom material
is collected. Archaeological material will not normally be collected,
except where it is in coherent assemblages historically associated
with the people from North-East Scotland. Items will not be collected
if they have been acquired in a way that contravenes the 1970 UNESCO
Convention or the spirit of the 1995 Unidroit Convention.
Europe, Asia and
North America
Among the existing collections from these areas is some particularly
important Inuit material. Current priorities aim to extend this aspect
of the collection and add to it other material from northern Eurasia
and North America. Such collecting will normally be conducted in collaboration
with anthropologists in the University and the people from whom the
material is to be collected. Other material will only be accepted if
it is well contextualised, protects material from destruction or loss,
relates to areas of particular strength in the existing collections
or is of particular value for display or teaching purposes. Potential
donors of material from outwith the priority areas will be recommended
to approach appropriate museums in the originating country or to the
National Museums of Scotland as more appropriate repositories.
Africa, Oceania,
Central and South America
The existing collections include particularly important groups of material
from these areas which offer a valuable resource for teaching and display.
However, current research and teaching priorities of the University
mean collection from these areas has a low priority and material will
only be accepted if it is well contextualised, protects material from
destruction or loss, relates to areas of particular strength in the
existing collections or is of particular value for display or teaching
purposes. Potential donors will normally be recommended to approach
appropriate museums in the originating country or to the National Museums
of Scotland as more appropriate repositories.
Principles
and Priorities for Numismatics
In general, there will be no further additions to this area of the
collection. Exceptions relate to items associated with the history
of the University, such as prize medals, and military medals that closely
relate to the Gordon Collection. Potential donors of other material
will be recommended to approach Aberdeen City Museums, the Hunterian
Museum or the National Museums of Scotland.
Principles
and Priorities for Fine Art
The Fine Art collection is the result of
acquisitions over five centuries and closely reflects the history
of the University and its constituent institutions. This has
resulted in an important assemblage of early Scottish paintings,
most notably 17th to 18th century portraiture, while there is
also a collection of later portraits of people associated with
the University, Christ’s College and the Aberdeen College
of Education. There is also a substantial collection of topographic
views of Aberdeen and the North-East. Donations such as the Keith bequest
(19th century landscapes) and the Linklater bequest (Scottish Colourists
etc. ) have broadened the scope of the collection, but are relatively
few in number. Acquisitions will aim to build on the strengths of the
existing collection, prioritising material associated with the history
of the University, developing a collection of contemporary art for
display on campus and supporting the teaching of Art History in the
University.
It is recognised that
other sections of the University may acquire items of artistic merit
which will not become part of the main collection governed by this
collecting policy. Curatorial responsibility for certain works of
art may be placed with Marischal Museum without them being acquired
for the main collection. Such items are not governed by this policy.
University history
Items associated with the history of the University will be collected,
with the criteria for selection being the significance of the item
to the University, the quality of the item and the costs associated
with acquisition and curation.
Contemporary Art
Works of art will be acquired that build on the existing collections,
notably the Linklater Bequest. Priority will be given to extending
the representativeness of the collection, particularly where it
supports the teaching in the University. Particular note will be
taken of the collecting areas of other local institutions, such
as the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum and the Grampian Hospitals
Art Trust.
Other
works will be acquired by gift, purchase and commission to enhance
the aesthetic environment of the University campus. The acquisition
of such works will be informed by the University’s Art Advisory
Committee. A priority will be work by artists of international stature.
Acquisition to the main art collection will, however, be at the discretion
of the curator responsible for the collection, taking into account
long-term issues of conservation and security.
Art History teaching
In recent years, a collection of old master to contemporary prints
for teaching within the University has been formed. The collection
has helped to familiarise students of the History of Art with graphic
techniques and with the history of art as seen through the various
graphic media. A priority will therefore be given to the acquisition
of prints to add to this collection, while work in other media
will also be considered where they will demonstrably support teaching
in the History of Art and Visual Culture.
Appendix
E
University
of Aberdeen Natural Philosophy Collection of Historical Scientific
Instruments
Nature
and Scope of the Collections
The Natural Philosophy collection is based upon material that has been
in use in the University of Aberdeen, primarily for the purpose of
teaching and research in the area that used to be called Natural Philosophy.
It is one of the most diverse collections of historical scientific
instruments in any British university, and one of the most extensive,
covering 250 years of the evolution of this genre. Physically, the
collection encompasses a wide range of apparatus, from the simplest
demonstration pieces to state-of-the-art research equipment, with no
uniformity in size, shape or constructional materials.
The collection is estimated
to be about 3000 items. The smallest items are individual components,
like microscope objectives and slides; several of the largest items
weight over a tonne, such as the electron microscope, an unusual
X-ray generator of the 1950s with a demountable X-ray tube and a
pioneering reciprocal space explorer for X-ray structural crystallographic
work.
In addition to the
scientific instruments, there is a significant amount of accompanying
documentation in terms of instrument manuals, student experiment
instructions, illustrative photographs of equipment and related matters,
glass-plate slides and negatives produced for teaching and research,
instrument catalogues, books and pamphlets relating to scientific
equipment, purchase receipts and assorted relevant material.
The collection is used
for teaching, research and display.
The collection has
registered status.
Principles
and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines
of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Natural Philosophy Collection
of Historical Scientific Instrument’s principles and priorities
for collecting are:
- preserving relevant
historical material in the University.
- maintaining a link
with the evolution of scientific equipment and techniques to keep
its relevance to modern science. The existing body of the collection
defines the subject areas collected.
- collecting new equipment
only where it has a strong relevance to the science that is, or
has been, taught or practised in the University.
- collecting redundant
scientific equipment in the broad areas described above mainly
from departments practising physical science within the University,
and from the Computing Centre.
- considering equipment
offered from other academic departments (whose main business is
not physical science) where this otherwise meets the principles
of this policy.
- collecting material
dated between 1500 to the present day, in keeping with the historical
context of the collection.
- offers from outside
the University will not normally be accepted.
Appendix
F
University
of Aberdeen Pathology and Forensic Medicine Collection
Nature and Scope of the Collection
The collection is a unique historical record of disease manifestations
in the population of northeast Scotland in the middle third of the 20th
century and includes a few artefacts relating to crimes of note committed
in the Aberdeen area around the same period. The collection also contains
models dating from the late 19th/early 20th centuries demonstrating a range
of pathological appearances. The collection as a whole represents the work
of a succession of Regius Professors of Pathology and Professors of Forensic
Medicine - and their staffs - in the University of Aberdeen. The collection
is used in the education of health care professionals. Access to, and display
of, parts of the collection is restricted by the Human Tissues Act (1961),
as amended by the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.
The main collection
types are:
- Fluid-preserved
Specimens of Human Organs showing both pathological conditions
(covering a range of functional body systems and demonstrating
the features of disease in each) and traumatic pathology (including
associated objects such as murder weapons linked to the specimens)
- Wax Models showing
a variety of pathological appearances, dating from the late 19th/early
20th centuries
- Scientific Instruments used
in the preparation and examination of pathological specimens
- Archival Material providing
anonymous clinical details for the fluid-preserved specimens that
allow the pathological appearances to be considered in their clinical
context.
Overall there are several
thousand objects. The material is of historical significance as it
represents a snapshot of disease and death mainly from the middle
third of the 20th century. Some disease conditions represented in
the collections are no longer prevalent, so the opportunity to collect
such material no longer exists. Complete collections such as this
are rare anywhere in the UK.
The Collection has
registered status
Principles and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Collection’s principles and priorities for collecting are:
- In the current climate
surrounding the retention of human organs and tissues, it would
probably be impossible to build up such a collection again. That
climate - as well as funding issues - means that at the moment,
the expansion of the collection is unlikely.
- New acquisitions
would only be accepted if accompanied by appropriate documentation.
- New acquisitions
would be centred on material not yet represented in the collection,
eg new variants of disease.
- Such material would
almost always be obtained from within the NE of Scotland (eg from
operative specimens), although it is possible that individual items
of exotic (eg tropical) disease might come from elsewhere.
- Any future collecting
would follow the highest ethical standards and only take place
with the informed consent of the relevant individuals.
Due
to the ethical and legal constraints associated with the retention
of human material, the acquisition activities of the Pathology and
Forensic Collection do not conflict with those of any other body. The
incorporation of material (eg anatomical or archaeological) of interest
to one of the other University collections would only be considered
after discussion with the relevant curator.
Appendix
G
University
of Aberdeen Zoology Museum
Nature
and Scope of the Collections
The University has the only large, international collection of zoological
specimens in the north of Scotland. It is the result of collecting
over the last 200 years or so by teaching and research staff and students
and by the gifts of graduates and friends of the University. The Zoology
Museum cares for a wide range of material that is worldwide in scope
and which covers the whole of the animal Kingdom, from protozoa to
the great whales. The collection contains around 75,000 specimens and
it is wholly owned by the University.
The main collection
types are:
- vertebrates approx.
15,000 objects
- marine
and fresh water invertebrates approx.
40,000 objects
- terrestrial
invertebrates approx.
20,000 objects
The Museum has registered
status
Principles and Priorities for Collecting
Acting within the framework and guidelines
of the University’s
Acquisitions and Disposals Policy, the Zoology Museum’s principles
and priorities for collecting are:
- to preserve important
zoological material for the benefit of the University and the education
and enjoyment of all our visitors and users
- to build on existing
strengths, and fill important gaps when the opportunity arises
- to acquire material
that is worldwide in scope to support the research activities of
staff and graduate students, and to underpin the education of undergraduates
and the general public about biological principles, the diversity
of living creatures, their taxonomic relationships, their adaptations
to life and the conservation of biodiversity
- to consider our
ability to provide long-term curation before acquiring any item
to the collection.
Appendix
H
North-East
Scotland Museums Concordat
General
principles
A wide range of material
from the North-East of Scotland is curated by a variety of different
museums. While no one institution has ever attempted to collect all
types of item, together they make up a spectacular range of material,
ranging from geological and archaeological specimens from the North-East
to zoological and ethnographic items collected from throughout the
world. These collections have been created by the exploits of many
different people since the 18th century and so in themselves give
a valuable insight into the recent history of the region.
In recent years, the
collecting activities of these museums has become more formalised,
with written collecting policies. This offers museums the opportunity
to work together, understanding and respecting their varied collections,
resources and interests. This concordat reflects that shared concern,
highlighting in particular the benefits to be gained from working
together when acquiring new material for the collections. Three aspects
are of particular note:
- The need to ensure
the long-term preservation of material worthy of collection by
a museum
- The value of working
together to minimise competition between museums when collecting
- The benefits to
be gained from providing access to each others’ collections
for research, teaching and display
From
these statements of principle flow a number of policies that apply
to all material to be considered for acquisition by one of the partner
museums.
- Each museum will
provide to the others a copy of its collection policy, outlining
the key areas for future development of the collection. As changes
to collecting policies are adopted, they will be circulated to
the other museums.
- Where a museum is
offered material that does not fall within its collecting area,
it will make this known to those museums that might be interested
or direct people to those museums.
- If a museum believes
that it is in competition with another museum over the acquisition
of material, it will contact the other museum to discuss whether
there is scope for collaboration.
- Each museum expresses
its willingness to lend material for display in the other museums
agreeing to this concordat, subject to security and conservation
conditions and other uses of the material. Requests for loans will
be considered favourably.
- The museums express
their willingness to work towards publicly accessible on-line catalogues
of their collections.
Principles
for the collection of Scottish archaeological material
The acquisition of
archaeological material through the Treasure Trove procedure and
the Scottish Archaeological Finds Advisory Panel is governed by external
procedures. These ensure that information about competing bids is
circulated and that an independent decision is made about allocation.
Any registered museum is entitled to bid for material within its
collecting policy. The museums agreeing to this concordat respect
each other’s collecting areas, recognising that there are overlaps
in their collecting interests. This concordat is the first step in
minimising overlaps and conflicts in the collection of material.
Material made available
through these procedures will range from high-value attractive items
to large assemblages of excavated material of little display value
and with no monetary valuation. While the National Museums of Scotland
has expressed its willingness to accept material for which no museum
has made a bid, this concordat expresses the willingness of museums
in the North-East to try to ensure that this is not necessary.
To achieve these aims,
the museums agreeing to this concordat will abide by the following
policies:
- To eliminate competing
bids wherever possible, each museum that wishes to bid for material
agrees to contact other museums with a possible interest in the
material to discuss possible collaboration or withdrawal of bids.
This should be done as far as possible in advance of the deadline
for bids. If there is no agreement, competing bids will be submitted
for assessment by the relevant Panel.
- In order to encourage
the retention of as much relevant material as possible in the North-East,
if a museum decides not to bid for material for which it has expressed
a general interest in its collecting policy, it will contact the
other museums with a possible interest in the material to discuss
possible collaboration. If no museum is willing to bid for material,
this should be reported to the relevant Panel.
The published collecting
policies of museums are the only authoritative source of information
about the collecting interests of each museum.
Appendix
I
Responding
to requests for the return of items in the University’s museum
collections
Introduction
The University’s museum collections come from
many parts of the world and are of many ages. For generations, the University
has been collecting, organising and displaying these collections, and the
institution is itself part of the history of the North-East and the wider
world. As a place where people are encouraged to encounter the variety
of human experiences with respect and understanding, the University is
an appropriate home for the items in its collections. The University holds
its collections in trust for past and future generations, with ongoing
responsibilities associated with the items themselves and the express and
implied wishes of the many collectors and donors. It has a duty to care
for the collections and to encourage access and understanding to as many
people as possible.
The
University also recognises that people from whom items were collected
and their descendents also have reasonable interests in items in
the collections, and that questions may be raised about the moral,
and sometimes the legal, basis of their acquisition. The University
welcomes these interests as contributing to knowledge about the collections
and to ensuring that its collections are curated to the highest ethical
standards. The University aims to respond with sensitivity and respect
to requests for rights over items in the collection, while at the
same time maintaining its responsibility to safeguard the long-term
public interest in the collections. The University recognises that
items in the collection may also be considered as ancestral remains
and sacred items: the use of the term ‘item’ in this
policy does not diminish the importance of other terms.
While the agreement
to return items in the collection will be exceptional, the University
commits itself to follow this procedure when responding to any reasonable
request for the return of items from its museums/collections. Account
will also be taken of the Museum's Association's Code of Ethics
for Museums issued in 2002, the Museum Ethnographers Group’s Professional
Guidelines concerning the Storage, Display, Interpretation and Return
of Human Remains in Ethnographical Collections in United Kingdom
Museums published in 1994, the Museums and Galleries Commission's Restitution
and Repatriation: guidelines for good practice issued in 2000
and Spoliation of Works of Art during the Nazi, Holocaust and
World War II period issued in 1999 for non-national museums. With
the exception of a number of clearly recorded loans or conditional
gifts and donations under the Anatomy Acts and Human Tissue Acts,
the University Court is the only body able to agree to the transfer
of title from items in its collections. The following procedure and
criteria establish a framework to assist the University Court to
respond to requests for the return of items in the University’s
museum collections, with the aim of ensuring that the request is
dealt with fairly, openly and promptly.
Procedure
A request for the return of an item in the
University’s collections
should follow a standard procedure, starting with informal discussion
with the curator of the relevant collection. At all times, the principle
of full disclosure should apply, subject to legal restrictions (such
as the Anatomy Acts and the Data Protection Act). Ideally, the approach
will be consensual, but cases for and against return can be presented
for consideration at all stages of the procedure. As appropriate,
items in the University Collections donated under the Anatomy Acts
will be considered by the Licensed Teacher of Anatomy in accordance
with Anatomy Act procedures.
Informal discussion
Initial enquiries concerning repatriation should be made to the appropriate
curator. The University may subsequently appoint an alternative
member of staff as case officer to simplify contact between claimant
and University. At this stage the history of the item and an outline
its legal status in the collection will be considered. Where appropriate,
arrangements for the loan of the item, rather than legal transfer,
can be made by the relevant curator, acting on conservation and
security advice. While the case is being considered, claimant and
University should agree to a joint approach to publicity and should
involve outside parties only after discussion with each other.
Formal request
A formal request for repatriation should be made in writing to the
appropriate curator (or case officer if appointed), who will report
this to the Convenor of the University’s Museums, Collections
and Galleries Committee. Further investigation by the curator or
case officer and correspondence with the claimant will inform the
report written for consideration by the Advisory Panel.
Advisory Panel
The Convenor of the University’s Museums, Collections and Galleries
Committee will appoint an ad-hoc Advisory Panel to consider each request.
Members of the Panel, normally numbering no more than eight, will include
a lay member of the University Court, a University curator, a member
of the University’s academic staff with relevant specialist knowledge
and a museum professional from elsewhere in Scotland with experience
of repatriation issues. The claimant is also entitled to nominate a
member of the Panel. The Panel will be clerked by the case officer.
The claimant and curator (if not the case officer) will be invited
to give an oral presentation to the Panel. To encourage openness and
the sharing of information, participants in Panel discussions will
agree that they are subsequently free to use the information
received, but that neither the identity nor the affiliation of the
speaker may be revealed.
Decision
A report will be written for the Museums, Collections and Galleries
Committee outlining the advice of the Panel, including any particular
recommendations. A copy of this report will be provided to the
claimant who may, if they wish, present a separate written case
to the MCGC. The recommendation of the MCGC (and any statement
by the claimant) will be passed to the University Court for decision.
The University Court may make certain conditions apply to the return
of an item, while payment of costs associated with the return will
normally be expected. The University hopes that any request for
the return of an item will lead to mutually beneficial collaboration
between the University and the people making the request, perhaps
resulting in the addition of other items to the Museum's collection,
exhibitions and research drawing on the resources of both parties.
The decision of the
University Court is final.
Criteria
Each case for repatriation will be judged on its merits and will be
assessed according to five criteria. Evidence should therefore
be presented under each criterion at all stages of the procedure.
There is no weighting of the criteria and their importance will
vary from case to case. The criteria are:
Identity of the
item
Evidence should be presented relating to the identification of the
item concerned to demonstrate that it is that requested by the claimant.
History of possession
and/or ownership of the item
Evidence should be presented about the provenance of the item prior
to its acquisition by the University and evidence relating to the University’s
title in the item and/or rights of possession. The use and treatment
of the item since its acquisition by the University should also be
described.
Connection between
the item and the claimant
Evidence should be presented to demonstrate the connection between
the claimant and the item. This may include evidence of the continuity
of practices or group identity between the original possessors and
those making the request. If the claimant is acting on behalf of another
person or group, evidence must also be presented to demonstrate that
they have the right to be a representative.
Significance of
the item to the claimant and to the University
Evidence should be presented to demonstrate the significance of the
item to both the claimant and the University. This may include issues
such as the religious, cultural, historical or scientific importance
of the item.
Consequences of
return to the claimant or retention by the University
Evidence should be presented about the likely future treatment
and use of the item if it is returned or if it is retained by the
University. This may include information about aspects such as
possible display, research, destruction, alteration or restrictions
on access. Evidence relating to the broader implications of a decision
to return or a decision not to return the item should also be presented.
Suggestions about issues such as the creation of a replica, additions
to the University’s
collections the use of images and research opportunities should also
be discussed.
As
of January 2007, the partner museums are those museums directly
governed by the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council,
Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council.
Historic Collections · Marischal College · Aberdeen · AB10 1YS · Tel:
+44(0)1224 274301· Email: museum@abdn.ac.uk
|
