P3D Re: Museum Donations

["Paul A. Lehman" <palehman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell wrote:

> We are donating our ENTIRE VIEW-MASTER/STEREO COLLECTION to a museum and
> this is desingated so in our will.  We want to preseve stereo history
> for the masses not just for the select few that have some $$$ and want
> to spend it on 3-D.

The recent discussion on donation to museums brings up some very
interesting points of view, and problems. I have a good friend who has
an extensive camera and photograph collection in his own private museum.
Several public museums have approached him about donating the collection
to them. He asks the following test question: will it be exhibited? So
far, not one has made this assurance! Some eventually admitted that they
were going to sell it off to acquire other "historic" items. One very
prominent society claimed they had 6 million dollars to build a
photography museum and wanted his collection. It was soon discovered
that after his donation, his collection was to be sold to provide
initial funds to buy the land as the $6 million was only for the
building. So far, he is does not know what will become of his life work.

A question to the lawyers of the group, when one wills a collection to a
museum, can one make the donation conditional such that it must be
exhibited, or, always available for public viewing and research, or,
never to be sold?

Paul A. Lehman


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