Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

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Acquisition Mode (Source)

Definition:

Observations:

1. Use this field with the following authority list for better results when searching the database:
   
   bequest
   A specimen left to your institution in an individual's will is transferred permanently to your institution.
   Example

   Larry Silverstein left a naturalized reindeer to your institution in his will, which was read on November 12, 1990.

   	Discipline	mammalogy
   	Genus	Rangifer
   	Species	tarandus
   	Specimen Common Name	reindeer
   	Acquisition Mode	bequest
   	Accession Date	1990-11-12
   	Source	Silverstein, Larry

   birth
   A specimen is born in your institution.
   Example

   On October 15, 1991, your giraffe gave birth in your institution.

   	Discipline	mammalogy
   	Genus	Giraffa
   	Species	camelopardalis
   	Specimen Common Name	giraffe
   	Acquisition Mode	birth
   	Accession Date	1991-10-15

   deposit
   A specimen 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 a specimen 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 specimen has not been acquired by the institution.
   
   N.B.: "Deposit" is a temporary acquisition mode. If specimens have been deposited with your institution for an unspecified duration, acquisition procedures such as purchase or donation should be considered.
   Example

   A naturalized turkey vulture was deposited with your institution on May 8, 1991, by Jack Clifford, to be presented at the next meeting of the acquisitions committee.¹

   	Discipline	ornithology
   	Genus	Cathartes
   	Species	aura
   	Specimen Common Name	turkey vulture
   	Acquisition Mode	deposit
   	Accession Date	1991-05-08
   	Source	Clifford, Jack

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

   	Discipline	paleontology
   	Genus	Amyzon
   	Species	brevipinne
   	Specimen Nature	bone
   	Acquisition Mode	excavation
   	Accession Date	1988-09-18

   exchange
   A specimen is permanently transferred to your institution from another institution, in exchange for another specimen.
   Example

   You obtained a naturalized armadillo on March 29, 1980 from the Tropical Fauna Museum. In exchange, you gave it a specimen from your Museum.

   	Discipline	mammalogy
   	Genus	Dasypus
   	Species	novemcinctus
   	Specimen Common Name	armadillo
   	Acquisition Mode	exchange
   	Accession Date	1980-03-29
   	Source	Tropical Fauna Museum

   found
   An authority mandated by your institution collected the specimen from the surface or in the water.
   
   This mode is most common for archaeological objects and natural science specimens.
   Example

   A destroying angel was collected on May 6, 1992 by a botanist on an excursion organized by your institution on your land.

   	Discipline	mycology
   	Genus	Amanita
   	Species	verna
   	Specimen Common Name	destroying angel
   	Acquisition Mode	found
   	Accession Date	1992-05-06

   gift
   A specimen 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 naturalized Atlantic salmon was given to your institution on August 22, 1981 by Explorers Group Inc. The specimen is now part of your permanent collection.

   	Discipline	ichtyology
   	Genus	Salmo
   	Species	salar
   	Specimen Common Name	Atlantic salmon
   	Acquisition Mode	gift
   	Accession Date	1981-08-22
   	Source	Explorers Group Inc.

   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.
   
   purchase
   The specimen was obtained by your institution in exchange for payment.
   Example

   Your institution purchased a shell from the Outward Bounders Club on March 7, 1987.

   	Discipline	conchology
   	Genus	Maculopeplum
   	Species	junonia
   	Acquisition Mode	purchase
   	Accession Date	1987-03-07
   	Source	Outward Bounders Club

   staff commissioned
   A specimen was commissioned by your institution and produced by one or more individuals working for the institution.
   
   transfer
   A specimen is permanently transferred from another institution to yours, or from the consolidated fonds of your institution to your collections.
   Example

   A Northeast lucina belonging to the Marine Interpretation Centre was transferred to your institution on March 15, 1990.

   	Discipline	conchology
   	Genus	Lucinoma
   	Species	filosa
   	Specimen Common Name	Northeast lucina
   	Acquisition Mode	transfer
   	Accession Date	1990-03-15
   	Source	Marine Interpretation Centre

   unknown
   Acquisition mode impossible to determine, even following research.
   Example

   Despite all your research, you cannot determine how your institution acquired a wild red raspberry plant. Nonetheless, you know that it came to your institution in 1983.

   	Discipline	botany
   	Genus	Rubus
   	Species	idaeus
   	Specimen Common Name	wild red raspberry; raspberry
   	Acquisition Mode	unknown
   	Accession Date	1983
   	Source	unknown

2. This field is used in conjunction with the Accession Date and Source fields.
   Example

   A specimen donated by Paul Ranger on February 18, 1952

   	Acquisition Mode	gift
   	Accession Date	1952-02-18
   	Source	Ranger, Paul

Entry rules:

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

   On March 26, 1988, your institution purchased a naturalized grey seal belonging to Christopher Thyssen.

   	Discipline	mammalogy
   	Genus	Halichoerus
   	Species	grypus
   	Acquisition Mode	purchase
   	Accession Date	1988-03-26
   	Source	Thyssen, Christopher

2. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the keyword.
3. This field may not contain more than one entry.