The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 16, April 14, 2002, Article 16

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR FILES, MISTER NUMISMATIC RESEARCHER?

  Dick Johnson continues:  "This does bring up the question
  of our own files.  If you have done any original research in
  numismatics where would your papers, files, photos (and
  now computer discs) go?  Do you have this in writing and
  informed your spouse and relatives?

  There is a committee of the Rittenhouse Society of which
  I am the chairman to advise in the disposition of numismatic
  authors' papers.  Perhaps this is a project the Numismatic
  Bibliomania Society should endorse as well.

  A case in point with the recent death of Carl Carlson. We
  just missed out eight yeas ago retrieving his papers and
  computer files -- his wife disposed of these before our
  contact.  This was unfortunate as he had done extensive
  study of quantities struck of U.S. Mint medals, ancient
  coins (and who knows what else since he was a onetime
  ANA historian).

  We all have work-in-progress files. Not everything we
  have researched and written about has been published.
  How great a loss it would be if these would be destroyed.
  Just this week E-Sylum subscriber Nicholas M. Graver
  has motioned the Rochester Numismatic Association to
  photocopy their early records and deposit copies in some
  numismatic archive at my suggestion. Yes! Even local
  coin club minutes can be valuable for some numismatic
  research! (We had been researching recently the engravers
  of the RNA Presidential Medal series.  Nick, with the
  help of Robert Doty, found them all in the club minutes!)

  If you died tomorrow, where would your files go?

  Place a statement in your Will or Important Papers that
  someone should advise in the disposition of your numismatic
  papers and computer files. Use the name Rittenhouse Society
  if you wish.  This person should advise what items can be
  sold, and suggest appropriate auction houses to do this,
  and what should be donated to what numismatic archive
  and perhaps assist in such a transfer."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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