The Preservation Society of Newport County has announced a new initiative to review and refine its permanent collection, part of an ongoing effort to better align its holdings with its mission and long-term stewardship goals.
The nonprofit, which preserves and interprets Newport’s historic mansions and cultural assets, said the Deaccession Initiative reflects standard museum practice. Over time, the organization has built a significant collection of fine art, decorative objects, archives and historical materials, much of it through donations. Periodic evaluation, officials said, ensures the collection remains relevant, well cared for and consistent with current research and interpretation.
Deaccessioning — the formal removal of items from a museum’s collection — will be considered for objects that no longer support the organization’s interpretive goals. The process, the society noted, is carried out with careful review and in accordance with professional standards.
Once an item is deaccessioned, its future will be determined individually. In line with guidelines from the American Alliance of Museums, objects may be transferred to other museums or nonprofits, or sold at public auction. Any proceeds from sales will be directed exclusively to the Preservation Society’s Collections Fund.
In the coming months, the organization said it will contact donors, or their next of kin, whose gifts are affected by the process. Donors whose items remain in the permanent collection will not be notified.
“The Preservation Society has been fortunate to benefit from the generosity of generations of donors,” said Leslie B. Jones, director of museum affairs and chief curator. “We are grateful for their gifts as well as their support in this process as we serve our mission to care for and uphold the highest standards in collections practices.”
More information about the initiative is available at newportmansions.org/our-collections.