Found in Collections (FIC): Pathways for Resolving Undocumented Objects in Museum Collections

Undocumented or “orphaned” collections are groups of objects with little or no associated records that remain unresolved in museums. Ownership of or title to these collections is often unclear. This webinar will address “Found in Collections,” or FIC items, and provide practical guidance for working through the step-by-step process of reconciling them. A complimentary electronic resource guide that outlines specific criteria and procedures for determining appropriate methods to resolve FIC objects is provided to all participants.

Presented by Danielle Benden, Driftless Pathways, LLC, a small museum consulting firm in Wisconsin. Ms. Benden obtained her B.S. in archaeology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a M.S. in Museum and Field Studies with an archaeology emphasis from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Before opening Driftless Pathways, she served as a museum director, and held the position of curator for the anthropology collections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for ten years. She has directed national curation committees and is the current chair of the Society for American Archaeology’s Committee on Museums, Collections, and Curation.