Orphan Collections.pdf

Paul Valentich-Scott, curator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History since 1982, discusses the process of saving orphan collections. The museum, a private non-profit established in 1916, has four collections departments and approximately 3 million total objects.

An orphan collection refers to a collection that is no longer wanted by its current institution or owner, often due to a change in direction, retirement, or death. The museum hears about these collections through various means, including phone calls, emails, and personal connections.

When assessing an orphan collection, the museum considers factors such as data quality, preliminary costs, and the collection's fit with the museum's mission and long-range plan. The assessment process involves evaluating the collection's size, location, housing, and stability, as well as the resources required to pack, move, and curate it.

The museum also considers the potential costs of adopting an orphan collection, including transportation, packing supplies, and personnel. In some cases, the donor may cover these costs. Ultimately, the decision to adopt an orphan collection depends on whether it aligns with the museum's mission and goals, and whether the costs are manageable.