The Kelsey Museum accessions objects in order to preserve complete
records of the date and manner of acquisition, source, identification,
description, condition, provenance, and value of each object or group
of objects. The Registry is responsible for the accession process.
The Kelsey Museum accessions primarily antiquities, but unique casts,
impressions, squeezes, and study collections may be accessioned if they
are of acceptable unique intrinsic value.
Accession Procedure
Proper accessioning entails creation and maintenance of accurate records
for each object and helps ensure efficient access to all information
about that object. The Kelsey Museum currently uses the common trinomial
numbering system expressed as:
[year of acquisition].[lot number within that year].[object serial number]
A single serial number scheme was used until 1961. Objects accessioned
before that date remain numbered in the earlier system.
The accession process is as follows:
1. Each object or group of objects received on the same day from the
same source is assigned a unique lot number. Each object within that
lot is then assigned a serial number that is linked to the lot number
and the year of acquisition to create a unique object number. This combined
trinomial number will be used in all formal references to the object.
The trinomial number is referred to as the "accession number".
2. The accession number (object number) and a brief description of
the object are entered into the Accession Book, along with information
about its acquisition, source, provenance, and value.
3. An accession card is provided for each individual object. This card
records all available information about the object (except monetary
value) as follows:
a) accession number
b) succinct term of identification
c) date of manufacture
d) cultural attribution
e) any former of field numbers
f) any credit line to be used in formal references, publications, and
label copy
g) photographs
h) measurements
i) brief description of the object
j) brief description of the condition of the object
k) listing of known bibliographic citations, exhibitions, etc.
4. A specific storage location is assigned to the object.
5. The Museum's insurance is updated with the object's replacement
value.
6. Selected information about the object is entered into the Museum's
computer database maintained by the Registry.
