The endless debate continues. Philadelphia History Museum Sells Pieces, Reviving Debate – NYTimes.com. Should museums divest themselves of their collections?

As I read this and mull over the Cleveland experience of the Western Reserve Historical Society, I am struck that this sort of culling usually occurs only during times of absolute or relative financial stress, or to promote expansion and renovation. To my mind, this makes the whole process a bit suspect, and particularly troubling even though I believe that museums and collecting institutions should engage in a regular process of reviewing and relieving themselves of their collections.

I am also left to wonder about the relative merits of the standards proposed by the various professional organization. Of particular note is the degree to which historical standards are lesser than art museum standards. And, finally, I am struck by the notion that differences between types of historical artifacts yields a difference in how they should be divested from collections. I am not at all sure if this logic–which is surely true for conservation and for exhibitions and such–applies to standards of care, vis-a-vis policies toward divestiture.

Enough said, in a quick post.