°µÍø½ûÇø

1. Purpose of the Museum and Collection Goals

Scope of the Collection

The °µÍø½ûÇø Museum, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, holds one of the world’s most important collections of fashionable urban dress spanning the mid‑eighteenth century through the present day. This core collection is augmented by regional traditional dress that represents the world’s major cultures. Decorative and fine art reflecting the same time period as the dress collection includes an important collection of American commercial glass.

The Museum was founded in January 1982 by fashion entrepreneurs Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman with a gift of 4,000 costumes, 1,000 decorative and fine art objects, and a 5,000‑volume reference library.

The permanent collection now contains over 30,000 objects that are formally accessioned, safely stored and preserved, and used in exhibitions, classroom teaching, research, and loans to other institutions. The collection continues to grow primarily through donations, with occasional purchases.

The collecting policy is framed by the nature of the original gift and by the needs of the academic programs most closely allied with the Museum, including the Fashion School, the College of the Arts, the School of Theatre and Dance, the Departments of History and English, and Women’s Studies.

Ownership of the Collection

The collection is owned by the °µÍø½ûÇø Foundation, Inc., a not‑for‑profit entity that receives gifts on behalf of °µÍø½ûÇø and the Museum.

The Foundation and the Museum are guided by:

• The January 7, 1982 Agreement establishing the Silverman/Rodgers founding gift
• The Resolution of Support passed by the University Board of Trustees (November 7, 2007; action May 14, 2008), defining the reporting structure of the Museum Director
• The recommendations, guidelines, and standards of the American Alliance of Museums, including accreditation standards
• Governance and Policies for the °µÍø½ûÇø Museum

Collections Management Statement

Proper stewardship of the collection is the ethical obligation of the Museum, its staff, and volunteers. Policies for collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving the collection conform to the Museum’s mission and vision statements, ethical standards related to conflict of interest, and professional stewardship standards.

The Museum’s collections serve as primary evidence of the cultures they represent and are truthfully interpreted for the public good. The Museum acknowledges the importance of consultation and cooperation with other museums and institutions in the management of objects and information.

Mission Statement

The °µÍø½ûÇø Museum advances the understanding of world cultures through collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting fashion, textiles, and related arts to students, scholars, and the general public.

Vision Statement

The °µÍø½ûÇø Museum is a highly visible access point for the University and a world‑class destination for the study and presentation of historic and contemporary fashion, textiles, and related art forms.

The Museum will continue to:

• Build a world‑class collection of historic and contemporary garments and textiles
• Build collaborative relationships with the University community and cultural institutions
• Broaden its audience through online collections access and social media
• Secure financial stability through endowments, donors, and grants
• Expand outreach through public programs, tours, and classes
• Develop professional expertise of staff through education and training
• Improve the Museum facility to better meet its mission

2. Policies for Acquiring Objects

Acquisition Criteria

Objects are evaluated based on:

• Alignment with the Museum mission and vision
• Intrinsic aesthetic qualities
• Significance to the collection
• Condition
• Availability of safe storage space

Objects may be acquired through unrestricted gift, bequest, purchase, field collection, or exchange. Due diligence is required to establish proper documentation, provenance, and legal compliance, including transfer of clear legal title through a deed of gift or bill of sale.

Acquisitions Committee

The Acquisitions Committee consists of the Director and Curator in coordination with the Collections Manager/Registrar. All potential acquisitions are reviewed by the Committee, with final decisions made by the Director and reported to the °µÍø½ûÇø Foundation, Inc.

All related records, both paper and digital, are retained by the Collections Manager/Registrar.

Legal Restrictions Regarding Acquisitions

Museum staff are prohibited by law from appraising or valuing objects for donors. If requested, the Museum will make objects available for examination by an appraiser contracted by the donor.

Statements of authenticity are not provided except when authorized by the Director in circumstances related to non‑profit institutions or government agencies.

3. Policies for Deaccessioning Objects

Objects may be deaccessioned for the following reasons:

• Accidental loss or destruction
• Condition issues preventing responsible conservation
• Insufficient aesthetic merit or redundancy
• Repatriation
• Questionable or fraudulent authenticity

Deaccessioning decisions are made as part of ongoing collection refinement, based on recommendations of the Acquisitions Committee and consultation with outside experts.

Methods of Deaccessioning

• Transfer to another non‑profit collecting institution
• Sale through consignment
• Sale at public auction
• Destruction or disposal if conservation is not possible

Deaccessioned objects may not be sold or given to Museum staff. Revenue from sales must be placed in the purchase fund for new acquisitions.

4. Loan Policies

The Museum shares its collection through outgoing loans and accepts incoming loans that enhance exhibitions or research. All loans are temporary and must be approved by the Director.

Objects are not loaned to Museum or University staff for private use, or to private citizens or commercial enterprises.

Outgoing Loans

Outgoing loans are made nationally and internationally to institutions that meet American Alliance of Museums facility standards. Loans are evaluated based on scholarly merit, object condition, and Museum programming needs.

Incoming Loans

Incoming loans receive the same standard of care as the Museum’s own collection and are approved by the Director. Written loan agreements are required.

Denial of Loans

Loans may be denied if the object, collection, or reputation of the Museum or University could be adversely affected.

5. Objects Left in Custody

Objects placed in Museum custody for consideration for acquisition, research, examination, or transfer must be issued a temporary custody receipt and recorded in the collections management database.

Abandoned property may be considered for acquisition or deaccession after legal requirements are met.

6. Care and Control of Collection Objects

The Museum adheres to the highest standards of care and conservation. Accredited conservators are used when in‑house expertise is unavailable. Treatments are approved by the Director or Curator, documented, and reversible when possible.

The Museum follows international guidelines for costume conservation and discourages wearing or altering garments intended for preservation.

7. Records

Collection records are maintained through a descriptive digital database backed up on secure University servers, supported by paper records and legacy catalog cards.

Each object is assigned a unique inventory number and location. Non‑confidential catalog records and images are available to the public online.

8. Insurance

The Museum maintains fine arts insurance under the °µÍø½ûÇø Foundation, Inc. Incoming loans are insured wall‑to‑wall, while outgoing loans are insured by borrowers unless otherwise arranged.

Temporary custody objects are not insured.

9. Inventories

The Museum maintains a uniform inventory system, conducts comprehensive and spot‑check inventories, and follows established procedures for items that cannot be located.

10. Access to the Collection

Public access is provided through exhibitions, publications, the Museum website, and social media. By appointment, supervised access is available to faculty, students, scholars, and qualified members of the public.

Objects may be used in classrooms under staff supervision. Image publication requires completion of a Rights and Reproductions Agreement.

11. Visitor and Employee Safety

°µÍø½ûÇø maintains the Museum’s physical plant and safety systems. The Museum employs trained security staff and coordinates emergency response with University and City of Kent emergency services.

The facility is protected by alarms, smoke detectors, fire suppression systems, off‑site digital backups, and an established disaster plan.