Transaction Terms: Dispose
SI Data Content Committe, 1994, Version 1.0

I. Dispose

A. Introduction

Museum collections cannot remain static, existing solely as mausoleums, or, in the case of the Smithsonian, as the "Nation's Attic." As a general rule, objects and specimens are accepted for Smithsonian collections only when there is good faith intention to accession and to maintain the material in perpetuity on behalf of the public. Responsible acquisition of objects and specimens is preceded by thoughtful review, evaluation, and, if necessary, disposal of existing collections.

Deaccessioning is the process used to record the removal of an accession from the collection. Deaccessions occur because, despite conservation efforts, some objects deteriorate beyond usefulness; others are found to be redundant; others do not relate to the mission of the museum and, therefore, are judged to be better placed elsewhere; and others are selected for research or public education. Methods of disposal include transfer, donation, exchange, repatriation, sale, and destruction. In some cases the purpose of the deaccession and the method of disposal are the same, i.e., lost or stolen, died, escaped, and inventory reconciliation.

The method of disposition is generally affected by the nature of the collection: natural history museums tend to favor exchanges with other educational institutions while art museums rely on the marketplace to acquire and dispose objects. Deaccessioning procedures are designed to insure thoughtful, well-documented consideration of each proposed disposition in the context of the best long-term interest of the museum, the general public, and the object or specimen.To relinquish physical custody, legal title, and management control of an object or specimen. Disposals are categorized by the method used to relinquish custody and title to an object or specimen.

DISPOSE

To relinquish physical custody, legal title, and management control of an object or specimen. Disposals are categorized by the method used to relinquish custody and title to an object or specimen.

B. Terms

• Destruction
  To dispose of an object by deliberate destruction due to scientific testing or because the object has deteriorated, is damaged beyond use, or has been found to be a reproduction.

  Terms in Current Use
  DESTROYED
  Source: NMAA, NMAH, NMAI, NMNH, NPG

  DESTRUCTION
  Source:
  NMAA, NMAH, NMNH

  DESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
  Source: NMAI, NMNH

  DISCARDED
  Source: NMAI, NMNH

  WITNESS DESTRUCTION
  Source: C-HM, NMAI

• Died
  To relinquish title to a specimen due to its death.

  Terms in Current Use

  DIED
  Source:NZP

• Escaped
  To relinquish title to a specimen that escaped from the custody of the National Zoological Park.

  Terms in Current Use

  ESCAPED
  Source:NZP

• Euthanized
  To relinquish title to a specimen due to the medically induced death of the specimen.

  Terms in Current Use

  EUTHANIZED
  Source: NZP

• Exchange
  To dispose of an object in return for an object of equal value. If the values of the exchanged objects are unequal, a combination of disposal methods may apply.

  Terms in Current Use

  EVEN TRADE
  Source: NZP

  EXCHANGE
  Source: C-HM, NASM, NMNH

  EXCHANGED
  Source:NMAA, NMAI, NMNH

  EXCHANGED TO
  Source: NMAI

  LONG TERM OPEN EXCHANGE
  Source: NMNH

  OPEN END TRADE
  Source: NZP

• Gift
  To dispose of an object voluntarily and without monetary payment or other compensation, generally to educational or not-for-profit organizations. A gift requires the completion of three elements: evidence of intent to make the gift, delivery of the gift, and acceptance of the gift.

  Terms in Current Use

  DONATION
  Source: NMNH, NZP

  GIFT
  Source: C-HM, NASM, NMAA, NPG

• Lost
  To relinquish title to an object or specimen whose removal from the collections was documented as a loan or temporary relocation, and the object or specimen was not returned. There are a variety of reasons for the non-return: lost in transit, destroyed, or stolen while in borrower's care.

  Terms in Current Use

  LOST
  Source: NMAI, NMNH

• Missing
  To relinquish title to a specimen whose removal from the National Zoological Park was not documented, and the specimen is presumed dead or stolen.

  Terms in Current Use

  MISSING
  Source: NZP

• Repatriation

  To dispose of objects or specimens by returning them to their place of origin. The Smithsonian recognizes the right of native peoples to the return of human remains and cultural objects under the provisions of The National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAIA), which applies to the Smithsonian, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) which does not apply to the Smithsonian but which the NMNH follows as a matter of policy.

  Term in Current Use

  REPATRIATION
  Source: NMAI, NMNH

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

  Terms in Current Use

  RETURNED TO DONOR
  Source: NPG

• Returned to Owner
  To dispose of an object by returning it to the owner when accessioned in error.

  Terms in Current Use

  RETURNED TO OWNER
  Source: AM, NMAI, NMNH

• Sale
  To dispose of an object or specimen in return for payment of money or its equivalent.

  Terms in Current Use

  SALE
  Source: C-HM, NMNH, NZP

  SOLD
  Source: C-HM, NMAA, NPG

  Historic Terms

  SOLD
  Source: NMAfA

• Transfer
  To dispose by conveying an object from one Smithsonian Institution bureau or office to another or to another government agency.

  Terms in Current Use

  TRANSFER
  Source: C-HM, NASM, NMAfA, NMAA, NMNH, NPG

  TRANSFERRED
  Source: NMAI, NMNH

  TRANSFERRED TO
  Source: NMAI