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kevin airis · 05-20-2009, 05:01 PM

This is not about Items on loan anymore this is about the staff of the science center covering up the fact that they threw out thier collection files and employee files. here is the letter from James Houser to Doug King dated 2/20/2001
Dear Mr. King
A situation has arisen in the collections area which causes me great concern and ,I believe,it is one that merits your prompt attantion. I have been told by some of the collections workers that on returning from the Christmas holidays they saw in the lounge area a large trash receptacle filled and overflowing with files and loose papers. They said that they did not examine the files ,so I can only guess at what those files were. I suspect, however,that they may have been collection files.If this is true,I find it very disturbingthat some one took it upon themself to determine that these files were useless and so consigned them to the trash bin.Anyone with only remedial traing in collections management should know that files and papers relating to collections are important as the objects in the collections.On the rare occasions that files are thrown away it is only after careful review by individuals with thorough knowledge of the collections and the history of those collections.If after such a review,it is decided that records should be made together with the names of those making the decision to depose of the files,the date of the disposal and the reasons for the disposal.

Not only did the apparent destruction of files violate one of the major tenets of collections management it may have at least one very unfortunate consequence,Dr.Charles Sherwin and his wife,volunteers in the collections department, have spent almost a year cataloging the science centers camera collections.When they were called back to continue their work a few weeks ago,they were unable to find the folder of their notes they had compiled on the cameras. In an attempt to track it down,I called Ron Beer who told me that he is certain that he left the folders on top of his filing cabinet.Since I was told that Rons office had been searched and the files and had not been found,I can only assume that they were scooped up and tossed out along with the rest of the material in the lounge area.

Mr. King ,I dont know who was responsible for trashing all those files,Nor do I know who authorized the action. Its done and and cannot be undone,Sadly we will never know what was in those files. please ask those of your staff working in collections not to throw out anymore files until they have carefully considered their actions and consulted with others more knowledgeable as to the value of the files
Thank you for your consideration in this matter
James G Houser

It took me three years to discover what really happened at the science center and to find out what Doug Kings back ground was . the letter you just read is a true copy of the orginal submitted by James Houser the orginal destroyed along with his employee files. This story is getting bigger everyday and that is why this lawsuite is so important to museums to study for their accreditation program
I would be happy to discuss this and show you any material on this to you and your museum on this matter

05-20-2009, 05:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
kevin airis Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 56	ST.Louis Science Center destroying files This is not about Items on loan anymore this is about the staff of the science center covering up the fact that they threw out thier collection files and employee files. here is the letter from James Houser to Doug King dated 2/20/2001 Dear Mr. King A situation has arisen in the collections area which causes me great concern and ,I believe,it is one that merits your prompt attantion. I have been told by some of the collections workers that on returning from the Christmas holidays they saw in the lounge area a large trash receptacle filled and overflowing with files and loose papers. They said that they did not examine the files ,so I can only guess at what those files were. I suspect, however,that they may have been collection files.If this is true,I find it very disturbingthat some one took it upon themself to determine that these files were useless and so consigned them to the trash bin.Anyone with only remedial traing in collections management should know that files and papers relating to collections are important as the objects in the collections.On the rare occasions that files are thrown away it is only after careful review by individuals with thorough knowledge of the collections and the history of those collections.If after such a review,it is decided that records should be made together with the names of those making the decision to depose of the files,the date of the disposal and the reasons for the disposal. Not only did the apparent destruction of files violate one of the major tenets of collections management it may have at least one very unfortunate consequence,Dr.Charles Sherwin and his wife,volunteers in the collections department, have spent almost a year cataloging the science centers camera collections.When they were called back to continue their work a few weeks ago,they were unable to find the folder of their notes they had compiled on the cameras. In an attempt to track it down,I called Ron Beer who told me that he is certain that he left the folders on top of his filing cabinet.Since I was told that Rons office had been searched and the files and had not been found,I can only assume that they were scooped up and tossed out along with the rest of the material in the lounge area. Mr. King ,I dont know who was responsible for trashing all those files,Nor do I know who authorized the action. Its done and and cannot be undone,Sadly we will never know what was in those files. please ask those of your staff working in collections not to throw out anymore files until they have carefully considered their actions and consulted with others more knowledgeable as to the value of the files Thank you for your consideration in this matter James G Houser It took me three years to discover what really happened at the science center and to find out what Doug Kings back ground was . the letter you just read is a true copy of the orginal submitted by James Houser the orginal destroyed along with his employee files. This story is getting bigger everyday and that is why this lawsuite is so important to museums to study for their accreditation program I would be happy to discuss this and show you any material on this to you and your museum on this matter Last edited by kevin airis; 06-09-2009 at 06:25 PM.