Transaction Terms: Temporary Custody
SI Data Content Committe, 1994, Version 1.0

V. Temporary Custody

A. Introduction

The Institution regularly receives objects and specimens in temporary custody for purposes of attribution, examination, conservation, identification, and for acquisition consideration. Some museums clearly distinguish incoming loans from collections held in temporary custody by distinct processing procedures, conditions, restricted use, and time limitations. Standard practice encourages prompt documentation and periodic review of these objects to ensure expeditious handling. Objects which are not owned by the museum or on formal loan to the museum but are temporarily in the museum's custody for purposes such as study, attribution, identification, conservation, acquisition consideration, or exhibition.

Temporary Custody

To dispose of an object by returning it to the original donor or the donor's official representative.

B. Terms

• Temporary custody

  Terms in Current Use

  EXAMINATION AND REPORT (E&R)
  Source: NMNH

  OBJECT TEMPORARILY LEFT (OTL)
  Source:
  C-HM

  PENDING ACQUISITION
  Source: NPG
  Objects that come into the museum as possible acquisitions.

  RESEARCH LOAN (RLS)
  Source:
  AMSG/FGA
  An incoming object covered by a Custody Receipt and retained at the Gallery for study, not meant to be retained for longer than six months.

  TEMPORARY CUSTODY
  Source:
  AM, NMAH, NMAI

  TEMPORARY LOAN
  Source:
  NMAA

  Historic Terms

  ON DEPOSIT
  Specimens from citizens, circuses, etc., at NZP with no formal loan agreements.
  Source:
  NZP