Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

Les guides électroniques de la SMQ

Acquisition Mode (Source)

Field to be used with an authority listField used for ethnology and history collectionsField used for fine and decorative arts collectionsField used for science and technology collectionsField used for archaeology collections (object data and site data)Field used for natural science collections

Definition:

  • This field indicates how your institution acquired the object.

Observations:

  1. For better search results from the database, use this field with the following authority list:

    bequest
    An object left to your institution in an individual's will is transferred permanently to your institution.
    Example

    Javier Travino left a candlesnuffer to your institution when his will was read out on October 14, 1978.

      Object Namecandlesnuffer
    Acquisition Mode bequest
      Accession Date 1978-10-14
      Source Travino, Javier
    birth
    A specimen is born in your institution.

    deposit
    An object was placed on deposit with your institution for a limited time, with a view to your acquiring it.

    N.B.: It is common practice to use the term "deposit" for an object that has been placed with an institution for an unlimited time, but this is incorrect. In such cases, the appropriate term is "unlimited loan." This information cannot be entered in this field, however, because the object has not been acquired by the institution.

    N.B.: "Deposit" is a temporary acquisition mode. If objects have been deposited with your institution for an unspecified duration, acquisition procedures such as purchase or donation should be considered.
    Example

    A print by Albert Dumouchel was deposited with your institution on February 12, 1991, by Francis Dingwall, to be presented at the next meeting of the acquisitions committee.1

      Object Nameprint
      Artist/Maker Dumouchel, Albert
    Acquisition Mode deposit
      Accession Date 1991-02-12
      Source Dingwall, Francis
    excavation
    An authority mandated by your institution gathered an object by digging into the ground or looking underwater.

    N.B.: Underwater digs do not necessarily mean that the object was recovered from beneath the ground. It may have been freed from the surface under which it was at least partly buried.
    Example

    A button was acquired on September 18, 1988, during digs carried out on your institution's property, by an archaeologist working for your institution.

      Object Namebutton
    Acquisition Modeexcavation
      Accession Date 1988-09-18
    exchange
    An object is permanently transferred to your institution from another institution, in exchange for another object.
    Example

    You obtained an anklet on June 20, 1991, from the Jewellery Museum. In exchange, you gave it an object from your Museum.

      Object Nameanklet
    Acquisition Mode exchange
      Accession Date 1991-06-20
     SourceJewellery Museum
    found
    An authority mandated by your institution collected the object from the surface or in the water.

    This mode is most common for archaeological objects and natural science specimens.
    Example

    A gunflint was collected from the surface on May 6, 1985, by an archaeologist on an excursion organized by your institution on your land.

      Object Namegunflint
    Acquisition Modefound
      Accession Date 1985-05-06
    gift
    An object has been given permanently to your institution.

    N.B.: It may be considered a gift even if your institution issues an income tax receipt.
    Example

    A Peruvian tapestry was given to your institution on May 27, 1976, by Joseph and Annie Grant

      Object Nametapestry
      Originating CountryPeru
    Acquisition Modegift
      Accession Date 1976-05-27
     Source Grant, Annie; Grant, Joseph
    integration of art and architecture
    A work of art was acquired by your institution as part of the policy on integrating art with architecture and the environment in public buildings. Under this legislation, part of the construction budget for a public building (1 %) should go toward having a work of art created by a visual artist from Quebec.
    Example

    A painting was done for the entrance to the new wing of your institution by Michael Lawrence, on June 4, 1988, under the "1 % Act."

      Object Name painting
      Artist/Maker Lawrence, Michael
    Acquisition Modeintegration of art and architecture
      Accession Date 1988-06-04
    purchase
    The object was obtained by your institution in exchange for payment.
    Example

    A stained-glass window by Marcelle Ferron was obtained by your institution at a sale on November 21, 1990 from its owner, Christian Courval.

      Object Namestained-glass window
      Artist/Maker Ferron, Marcelle
    Acquisition Mode purchase
      Accession Date 1990-11-21
      Source Courval, Christian
    staff commissioned
    An object was commissioned by your institution and produced by one or more individuals working for the institution.
    Example

    An exhibition display case was executed in 1910 by Wilfrid Castonguay, the architect who designed the building housing your institution. The display case is now part of your permanent collection.

      Object Namedisplay case
    Acquisition Modestaff commissioned
      Accession Date 1910
    transfer
    An object is permanently transferred from another institution to yours, or from the consolidated fonds of your institution to your collections.
    Example

    A commode, from the consolidated fonds of the congregation of the Sisters of Providence, was transferred to the decorative arts collection of your institution from the Museum of the Sisters of Providence on February 20, 1989.

      Object Namecommode
    Acquisition Modetransfer
      Accession Date 1989-02-20
     Source Congregation of the Sisters of Providence
    unknown
    Acquisition mode impossible to determine, even following research.
    Example

    Despite all your research, you cannot determine how your institution acquired a map made by Jodocus Hondius the Elder. Nonetheless, you know that the object came to your institution in 1968.

      Object Namemap
      Artist/Maker Hondius, Jodocus, the Elder
    Acquisition Mode unknown
      Accession Date 1968
     Source unknown
  2. This field is used in conjunction with the Accession Date and Source fields.
    Example

    A prie-Dieu given to your institution by Paul Ranger on February 9, 1924

      Object Nameprie-Dieu
    Acquisition Modegift
      Accession Date1924-02-09
     SourceRanger, Paul

Entry rules:

  1. Enter the full acquisition mode of the object; do not use abbreviations.
    Example

    A doll bequeathed by Henriette Laurier on March 14, 1982

      Object Namedoll
    Acquisition Mode bequest
      Accession Date 1982-03-14
      Source Laurier, Henriette
  2. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the keyword.
    Example

    A barometer, probably purchased, in your collections since 1919.

      Object Namebarometer
    Acquisition Modepurchase ?
      Accession Date1919
      Source unknown
  3. This field may not contain more than one entry.

 
  1. If the object is acquired, the information in the Acquisition Mode field must be updated. Otherwise, the print will be returned to its owner.
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