SOCS_Template.docx

Scope of Collection Statement [YEAR] Scope of Collection Statement [YEAR]

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

[PARK]

Scope of Collection Statement

[Date]

Scope of Collection Statement YEAR Page Intentionally Left Blank

National Park Service | 22

1 | PARK NAME

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SCOPE OF COLLECTION STATEMENT

Table of Contents

1. Cultural Resource Collection………………………………………………………………………………………..9

I. INTRODUCTION

Acquisition of museum objects is governed by the park’s ability to manage and preserve materials according to NPS Management Policies, Chapter 5 (2006), the standards for managing museum objects in NPS-28: Cultural Resources Management Guideline (1998); Special Directive 80-1 Guidance for Meeting NPS Preservation and Protection Standards for Museum Collections (1990); and the NPS Museum Handbook I-III. See section IV Acquisitions for more information.

1. Executive Summary

<In one page or less, briefly describe:

The park unit, congressional designation, collection, and general provenance.

Highlight notable aspects of the park, collection, or individual items.

Where is the collection stored?

Through what means does the collection grow?

If there is a collecting philosophy (A collecting philosophy is a brief description of what the park collections and why) for the park, include that as well.

For additional information on the museum collection, please contact: <Include name and contact information for the Custodial Officer and/or Accountable Officer for the collection.>

2. Purpose of the Scope of Collection Statement

This Scope of Collection Statement (SOCS) defines the composition of present and future museum collection holdings of [full park name] that contribute directly to the understanding and interpretation of the park’s purpose, themes, and resources, as well as those objects that the National Park Service (NPS) is legally mandated to preserve. The SOCS is designed to ensure that the entirety of the museum collection is clearly relevant to the site and sets appropriate limits for acquisition. The SOCS is intended to be an evolving document which must be reviewed on a regular basis (minimum 5 years). Updates/changes should be made through interdisciplinary efforts of park and regional subject matter experts (411.1 DM) Director’s Order #24: NPS Museum Collection Management states that NPS units with museum collections must:

· Approve and keep current a Scope of Collection Statement to identify the scope of collecting activities and define the purpose of the collection. (DO 24 4.3.6)

· Ensure that the statement is consistent with natural resource and archeological permit conditions. (4.3.6)

· Ensure acquisitions are consistent with the Scope of Collection Statement. (4.3.6)

· Deaccession objects inconsistent with the Scope of Collection Statement. (4.3.18)

Refer to the Use and Restrictions Appendix for other legislation and NPS legal authorities to acquire and preserve museum collections.

3. Context for [PARK] Museum Collection

{This section is compiled from NPS and non-NPS histories, reports, and plans, and provides context for museum collection acquisition. It is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information about sources used, refer to the Selected Bibliography Appendix}.

A. Park Purpose and Significance

<This section can be written in narrative or bullet point format. Information to include:

Congressional designation information. If the unit’s enabling legislation specifically mandates a museum collection, note that here.

Park Mission Statement Significance language from the Foundation Document or other relevant park planning documents <Fundamental resource/values from Foundation Document (use as a reference)> B. History of [PARK] and {PARK] Museum Collections

<This section should focus on the collection, but a brief history of the park is helpful for context. May also include a link to the park’s Administrative History document if one exists. Information to include:

History of the park prior to NPS management Significant events, sites, tribes, affiliated groups, and people that would help provide necessary context for the museum collection History of park becoming Federally/NPS managed (focus here on information relevant to the creation of the park’s museum collection and how it may grow)

Administrative history of the collection (how objects, specimens, and archives were originally determined to be included in collection, early collecting foci, original pieces vs reproduction pieces, significant accessions and/or fieldwork resulting in important collections). May move to relevant sections for projected growth of collections.> C. Collection Themes and Categories

<Highlight themes and periods of the park unit as found in the Foundation Document, Long Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP), or other relevant park documents. Themes should be developed/discussed with the park’s Collections Advisory Committee (CAC). Focus on themes that are relevant to the museum collection.

If applicable, summarize themes specific to the collection and highlight associated events or cultural groups, time periods relevant to collection, etc. If specific collecting is being done to fill a gap, this should be mentioned here as well.>

D. Special Designations

<Indicate here whether any features of the park unit are on the National Register, National Historic Landmarks (NHL), The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage sites, National Natural Landmarks, biosphere reserves, sacred/significant sites for traditionally associated peoples, or have other special designation.>

II. TYPES OF COLLECTIONS

This section describes the contents, present and future, of the park’s cultural collection and natural history collection.

1. Cultural Collection

<Except for objects/specimens that the Service is mandated to preserve, a cultural collection may not be applicable to your park’s enabling legislation, interpretive themes, and resource management goals and objectives. If your park does not currently possess or intend to acquire a cultural collection (other than mandated collections resulting from resource management activities), include a short statement in this section to that effect.>

The purpose of this collection is to {increase knowledge and inspiration among present and future generations through exhibits, research, and interpretive programs; support research, resource management, and education; provide baseline data of park cultural resources; document changes these resources are undergoing because of internal park conditions and external effects, and guarantee the protection of information about important objects and resources whose in-situ preservation cannot be assured} The cultural collection is subdivided into five disciplines: archeology, ethnology, history, art, and archival and manuscript collections. [Which] disciplines are represented in the [PARK] museum collection, with the largest portion made up of the [which], followed by the [which] collection. These collections include <provide a brief description of the types of objects in the park’s collection> An object from the site or directly associated with person(s) or event(s) commemorated by the park is more desirable than a similar object without such association. Future growth of the collection should be restricted to items related to:

· Interpretive and/or research needs identified in [PARK] approved planning documents and resource studies.

· Service-wide initiatives if applicable <CAC review>.

· Enhancing the understanding of, and promoting increased stewardship of, the park’s cultural resources.

· Cultural resources baselines/inventory and monitoring activities.

· Regulatory and compliance activities such as those mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended and the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA).

· Refer to the Potentially Hazardous Material Appendix for more information.

A. Archeology Collection

Archeological resources are any material remains or physical evidence of past human life or activities which are of archeological interest, including the record of the effects of human activities on the environment. They can reveal scientific or humanistic information through archeological research (NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guideline). Material remains are “artifacts, objects, specimens, and other physical evidence that are excavated or removed in connection with efforts to locate, evaluate, document, study, preserve, or recover a prehistoric or historic resource” (36 CFR 79.4(a)(1)). <Note that archeologists increasingly use precontact instead of prehistoric>

Legal and ethical standards provide protection for archeological sites and materials. Artifacts found on the surface by NPS staff and visitors outside of an archeological investigation should be left in place; collecting them removes them from their archeological provenience, degrades sites, and can reduce our understanding of the artifacts and their contexts. If archeological materials are collected outside the parameters of an authorized archeological study and brought to park staff, appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that the visitor or staff member collects no more material, that precise provenience information is recorded, when possible, that park cultural resource staff are notified, and that the objects/data are promptly given to the curatorial staff upon receipt by staff members. Parks should develop appropriate standard operating procedure (SOPS), interpretive messages and staff training to prevent this unauthorized collection of materials <If your park already has an SOP in place for managing unauthorize collecting, mention that here>. Violations under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), 1979, should be promptly reported to park law enforcement officers and the Regional Archeologist. <Archeological Resource Damage Assessment>

NPS Management Policies (2006, section 5.3.5.1) mandates that archeological resources are managed in situ, unless the removal of artifacts or physical disturbance is justified by research, consultation, preservation, protection, or interpretive requirements. “Data recovery actions will be taken only in the context of planning, consultation, and appropriate decision-making . . . conducted within the scope of an approved research design.” Refer to the Research Design Appendix for a more in-depth discussion of research design development within the context of the permitting process.

<Briefly describe how the park unit manages compliance work, and any ongoing or upcoming archeology field/cataloging projects.>

Archeology Collection at [PARK]

<Report the size of the archeology collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the archeology objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary.>

Mandated acquisitions: Archeological collections, except inalienable and communal property (as defined by NAGPRA), recovered from within park boundaries through systematic collection must be retained in the park’s museum collection. 43 CFR 7.13, “Custody of Archeological Resources,” requires that archeological resources excavated or removed from public lands remain the property of the United States. Archeological material must be of archeological value and interest, including scientific integrity and replicability.

NPS Management Policies (2006, section 5.3.5.1) mandate that artifacts and specimens recovered from archeological resources, associated records, and reports will be maintained together in the park museum collection.

Collections (artifacts and/or associated records) may result from research or compliance projects, including because of historical research, surveys (phase I), test excavations (phase II), and research or mitigative excavations (phase III). Every archeology project will result in materials for the museum collection; even if artifacts are not collected, project records (both physical and digital) must be accessioned and cataloged into the collection. These records may include field notes and catalogs; daily journals; drawings and maps; spatial data; photographic prints, negatives, and slides; photographic logs; sound recordings; raw data sheets; instrument charts; remote sensing data; collection inventories; analytical study data; conservation treatment records. The museum curator (or collateral duty museum staff) will work cooperatively with the Project Investigator (archeologist responsible for the project) to make certain that these records are complete and preserved. Always retain original documents rather than copies whenever possible.

Should be acquired: {Confiscated archeological materials recovered from unauthorized and illegal activities in [PARK] in violation of ARPA should be acquired. These materials commonly include archeological materials illegally excavated or obtained through uncontrolled surface collecting or excavation by unauthorized individuals within a NPS unit’s boundaries. Such objects might be held temporarily by law enforcement following legal chain of custody protocols as evidence if legal action is to be taken but should be formally turned over to museum staff as soon as possible. Museum staff should also be consulted to ensure proper handling and transportation of these materials. Objects resulting from unauthorized and illegal activities in the park may be considered for acquisition, with all associated documentation once all legal questions are resolved. If an archeologist or related subject matter expert is not on the park CAC, museum staff should request an assessment of the significance of the materials and potential research value.}

May be acquired: {Surface or diagnostic finds not recovered from systematic excavations, but which have provenience data and are uncommon in the collection and/or suitable for exhibit may be acquired. Collections recovered from within the park before it was created should be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on legal title, provenience data, condition, objects present, size of collection, associated records, etc...}

Not to be acquired: {The Park should discourage visitors from collecting cultural resource materials from park property. Artifacts with no direct provenience within the park, artifacts which lack data, and artifacts with questionable provenance should not be accessioned into the museum collection. Objects excavated from non-NPS property, potentially hazardous material (see the Potentially Hazardous Material Appendix), Native American human remains and inalienable and communal property subject to NAGPRA will not be accessioned into the museum collection (see Section III for information about inadvertent discoveries related to NAGPRA.}

B. Ethnology Collection

According to NPS-28, Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (Chapter 10), the ethnology classification is used for resources associated with the cultural systems or ways of life, and the related technology, sites, structures, and natural resources of peoples associated with the park from before the park’s establishment. The decision to call resources “ethnographic” depends on whether associated peoples perceive them as traditionally meaningful to their identity as a group and the survival of their lifeways.

There are four ethnographic resource types that have been assigned cultural significance by traditional users which include sites (archeological or historic places), structures (built features), objects (portable materials), and landscapes (areas containing diverse natural and cultural resources). When natural resources acquire meaning according to the different cultural constructs of a particular group, they become ethnographic and thus cultural resources as well. A major goal of ethnographic object collections is to facilitate collaborative relationships between the NPS and the peoples whose customary ways of life affect, and are affected by, park resource management.

The composition of the park’s ethnology collection is subject to change as traditionally associated peoples are identified. <Include brief description of associated groups and major ethnographic resources here.>

{Ethnographic studies of the park and its resources will generate records including oral histories, journals, photographs, field notes, reports, and other documents associated with ethnographic fieldwork. Because of their documentary nature, these materials shall be included in the museum collection as archives and are described in section II.1.E this SOCS.}

<Briefly describe how the park unit manages compliance work and any ongoing or upcoming ethnography/ethnology field/cataloging projects.>

Ethnology Collection at [PARK]

<Report the size of ethnology collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the ethnology objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary.>

Mandated Acquisitions: There are no legal mandates for the Ethnology collection. Please refer to the Archives Resource Management Records section for guidance on records related to ethnographic studies.

Should be acquired: {Only ethnographic materials with a direct association with the park, such as from an eminent individual from an affiliated Native American tribe; should be considered on a case-by-case basis. A park’s ethnology collection may include archives and media associated with a study.}

May be acquired: {Ethnographic objects owned or used by an individual or cultural group traditionally associated with, and significant to, the park mandate. The park should carefully consider collections of non-original ethnographic resources which may be related to the existing museum collection or attributed to traditionally associated people of the park/park area.}

Not to be acquired: {Ethnographic materials from peoples who do not have direct traditional associations to the park.}

C. History Collection

History collections reflect the spectrum of materials made and/or used during recorded times by humans residing in what today is the United States and its Territories. They include cultural collections that are neither archeological nor ethnological. These collections document individual or community life; social, cultural, political, economic, and technological trends; and events associated with a park’s mission, themes, and history. They also may include art, such as paintings and sculpture, and rare books.

Some history collections reflect activities of well-known individuals, others evidence everyday life and actions of working-class people. Documenting and interpreting historical objects to the public in the context of their original settings enhances the public’s understanding. For more in-depth discussion of history collections, see Museum Handbook II, Appendix G.

History Collection at [PARK] <Report the size of history collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the history objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary.> Mandated Acquisitions: There are no legal mandates for the History Collection.

Should be acquired: {Only historic material with a direct association to the park is to be included in the museum collection. When a large quantity of an object type is available, priority should be given to acquiring the best-preserved examples. The history collection is based on the park’s themes used to establish the following collecting categories: <list any collecting categories you may have here>

Future collections activity in this area will concentrate on the acquisition of outstanding examples of objects currently not represented in the collection, which meet the criteria referenced above and clearly address a resource management, interpretive, or research deficiency noted in park documents, thus ensuring that the history collection is relevant to the needs of the park. Acquiring samples of historic fabric is a separate, optional section (see guidance document)}

May be acquired: {PARK will not accession period pieces and reproduction in the museum collection. Period pieces and reproductions are managed as non-museum property.

OR

PARK accessions and catalogs period pieces and reproductions in the museum collection upon an evaluation of its purpose and its cultural, educational, aesthetic, historic, monetary, or scientific value.}

{Rare books retained for their physical properties or associative value may be acquired into the park’s museum collection. Books should never be added to the museum collection simply because they are perceived as old, rare, or valuable.} <Park may consult with a librarian/rare book specialist to determine criteria for acquiring rare books. Once criteria are established, include them here.>

<Add additional information as needed to reflect known gaps in the history collection. This description may be sufficiently broad to reflect interpretive themes or targeted to specific types of objects, people, etc. Identifying what is currently missing from the collection, with the park CAC review, helps to prioritize future acquisitions and improve understanding of the history collection.>

Not to be acquired: {Objects without a direct association to the park’s resources.

Objects that duplicate current holdings or objects in such poor condition that they are beyond conservation. Objects that are inherently unstable which causes the item to deteriorate or destroy itself.

Potentially hazardous materials, except on a case-by-case basis. See the Hazards in the Collection Appendix for more information.}

D. Art Collection

Art collections generally consist of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures admired and appreciated primarily or solely for aesthetic or intellectual content. Although created primarily for utilitarian or decorative purposes rather than aesthetics, the artistry and skill of many folk artists is now recognized, and folk art is sometimes considered within art collections. Although most artists in parks work independently, the NPS may commission artists to create works of art inspired by a specific park or resource.

Art Collection at [PARK] <Report the size of art collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the art objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary.> Mandated acquisitions: There are no legal mandates for the art collection.

Should be acquired: {Art that is directly associated with the park and/or significant people/events related to the park’s enabling legislation should be acquired. For example, the fine art collection at MABI. Proposed acquisitions must be evaluated by the CAC on a case-by-case basis against existing collections and the park’s mission and resources.}

May be acquired: {Works commissioned by the NPS for specific park purposes, such as exhibitions, illustrations, education, or interpretation may be acquired. Note that contracts commissioning works of art should include language transferring copyright to the NPS}

Not to be acquired: {Art with undocumented provenance and no clear title; “office art” or reproductions (posters, prints, and similar mass-produced copies); artwork with no direct association of past ownership, subject, or artist, to the park. NOTE: the NPS Commissioned Art Collection is not managed as a museum collection, but as Federal Property.

Objects in such poor condition that they are beyond conservation. Objects that are inherently unstable which causes them to deteriorate or destroy themselves.}

E. Archives Collections

For the NPS, the term “archives” or “archival collections” refers to permanently valuable documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.

From the Museum Handbook I, CH 1, pg 11:

Other than resource management records, Federal records should not be included in the museum collection without specific authorization from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These records are the original or “record copy” documents created or received in the course of performing the daily work of the NPS. Examples of records that do not belong in the museum collection include audit records, budget materials, central files, contracting files, financial records, law enforcement records, legal records, museum and project administrative records, permits, personnel records, and superintendent’s correspondence files.

<Report the size of (subject) collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the (subject) objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary.>

a. Manuscript Collections at [PARK]

The term “manuscripts” commonly refers to single documents or collections of documents created by organizations (“organizational records”), businesses (“corporate archives”), and individuals or families (“personal papers”). In NPS museum collections, manuscript collections are primarily donated by individuals, organizations, or families and may include letters between family members, ledgers from family businesses, and photographs documenting the family’s history.

Manuscript collections, or donated collections, are not “park Federal records” and should always be maintained and cataloged separately from resource management record collections. They are not subject to the Federal Records Act (FRA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), or other laws governing federal records access. Donated collections may be protected by copyright or other restrictions, and the NPS may hold copyrights for donated materials.

<Briefly mention key manuscript collections by name and their extent. For example: XYZ Historic Preservation Commission Records, 1978-1995 (15 LF); ABC Mining Company Collection, 1888-1924 (53 LF); Jane Doe Photograph Collection, 1927-1948 (5.2 LF); Jack Sprat Papers, 1914-1962 (8.5 LF). >

Mandated Acquisitions: {There are no legal mandates for manuscript collections}

Should be acquired: {Manuscript collections should be acquired, but proposed acquisitions must be evaluated by the CAC on a case-by-case basis against existing collections and the park’s mission and resources.}

May be acquired: {Manuscript collections may be acquired, but proposed acquisitions must be evaluated by the CAC on a case-by-case basis against existing collections and the park’s mission and resources.}

Not to be acquired: {Photocopies or scans of diaries, letters, historic photos, etc. from personal collections or other repositories are more appropriately library “vertical files” or interpretive use collections and will not be acquired for the museum collection. General “family vacation” images from members of the public and employee personal photos unrelated to the park will not be acquired. Digital copies of analog photos or documents already in the collection created for access and use will not be added to the museum archives.} <Add other types of materials that the park has been offered in the past and rejected or which are already well represented in the collection and therefore additional examples are unnecessary.>

b. Resource Management Records in the Archival Collections at [PARK]

Resource Management Records (RMR) document the management of natural and cultural resources, and park lands which must be preserved in perpetuity. Using professional discretion, knowledge of park resource management, and working with an NPS archivist (park, regional office, WASO), determine how they support the management of the resources, and if they are active records.

Associated records are Resource Management Records that document and provide context for museum objects, specimens, and samples. Some associated records are specifically mandated by laws and regulations that govern how we manage archeological, biological, and paleontological collections.

For archeology: Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), specific reference to retention of associated records found here: US Code Title 16, 470cc. And 36 CFR 79 which are regulations associated with undertakings associated with the Antiquities Act, Reservoir Salvage Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and ARPA.

For biology: Management Policies 2006 (nps.gov) and 36 CFR 2.5

For paleontology: 16 USC 470aaa-1: Management (house.gov)

Resource Management Records (RMR) are federal records subject to the Federal Records Act (FRA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), or other laws governing federal records access. Although records created by government employees are in the public domain, records within the park archives created by others may be subject to copyright or other legal restrictions. A compelling reason would be needed to accept copyrighted formats.

<Provide a brief description of the records already accessioned to the museum collection, include size and date ranges. Note when the last RMR survey was completed and if there are any collections cataloged as RMR that should not have been (i.e., interpretation records need not be included in the museum collection)>

Mandated Collections: Records associated with collections made through permitted activities associated with ARPA, and Paleontology Resources Preservation Act of 2009 (PRPA) are mandated by these laws to be retained.

Should be Acquired: {Resource management and lands records should be acquired regardless of format.} <If appropriate, add additional information to reflect known gaps in the RMR (including associated records) already in the collection. Examples might be research permit deliverables, inactive records in park natural or cultural resources program offices, records related to park land ownership, easements, or minerals management, and data and other project records from specific park resource management projects that may not be issued permits.>

May be Acquired: The NPS Service-wide Record Schedule (SRS) and the NPS Records and Electronic Information Management (REIM Guide) identify additional records that have enduring value to both the NPS and NARA. These records are not RMR or archives, but a very small set of park records related to protection and safety, wildfire management, park facilities management.

During development of the SOCS, the CAC should review these permanent records in the SRS and REIM Guide and determine if any will be acquired for the museum collection or if all materials will be sent to federal records centers (FRC).} <Document the CAC’s recommendation and identify those permanent records which fall within the SOCS here as “may be acquired” archives. Describe those permanent records that the CAC determines should be sent to FRC in the “Not to be Acquired” section below. If all are to be sent to the FRC, remove this section from the template.>

Not to be Acquired: {Museum records including but not limited to accession book, accession files, catalog records and databases, catalog folders, annual inventories, images/scans documenting objects/specimens, and object conservation condition and treatment reports must be permanently retained but are not accessioned into the collection.}

2. Natural History Collection

<Except for specimens that the Service is mandated to preserve, a natural history collection may not be applicable to your park’s enabling legislation, interpretive themes, and resource management goals and objectives. If your park does not currently possess or intend to acquire a natural history collection (other than mandated collections resulting from resource management activities), include a short statement in this section to that effect.>

{The purpose of [PARK] natural history collection is to support scientific research, resource management and education; provide baseline data of the park’s natural resources; document changes these resources are undergoing because of internal park conditions and external effects; preserve important or locally significant species collected in response to specific research or interpretive needs; and guarantee the protection of important paleontological specimens.}

Future growth of the collection is restricted to specimens and associated records generated through authorized, systematic scholarly research and selective acquisition based on:

· Needs identified in [PARK]’s enabling legislation or presidential declaration, approved planning documents and resource studies.

· Service-wide initiatives.

· Interpretive needs identified in planning documents.

· Enhancing the understanding of, and promoting increased stewardship of, the park’s natural resources.

· Natural resource baselines, inventorying, and monitoring activities.

· Regulatory and compliance activities such as those mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970.

All collecting activities must be in compliance with 36 CFR 2.5, the Research Permitting and Reporting System (RPRS), NPS Management Policies (2006, section 4.2.3), Director’s Order #77: Natural Resource Protection (under development), and NPS Natural Resources Management Guideline (1991). Please see Appendix G: Permits for more information.

Uncontrolled surface collecting by visitors or park staff is illegal according to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Volume I (36 CFR 2.1). Specimens found on the surface should not be removed from their original location by the finder; they should be reported to park staff delegated with museum collection responsibilities. If materials are turned in to the park, standard NPS policies and procedures must be followed to ensure that the finder collects no more material, the precise provenience information is recorded, if possible, and the subject specimens and data are delivered promptly to the park. Unless the items are determined to be significant by a subject-matter expert in the respective discipline (biology, geology, or paleontology), they should not be cataloged into the park’s museum collection.

Natural resource specimens collected outside park boundaries should not be managed as museum property unless mandated. <If mandated, cite legislation, policy, etc.>

[PARK] acquires natural history collections through internal NPS projects and outside permitted research projects conducted by researchers within park boundaries. Collections associated with research permits are accessioned and cataloged. NPS projects conducted without a research permit are subject to the same laws and policies as those with a permit.

Acquisitions and future growth of [PARK]’s natural history collection are initiated by park staff or outside researchers and will be restricted to specimens and associated records divided into three disciplines: biology, geology, and paleontology.

<Describe the Natural Resources of the park, including geographic and geologic context, biota present within park environs, taxa unique to the park/surrounding area, and taxa recorded in the park’s species database>

A. Biology Collection

Museum collections serve as the verifiable and reproducible evidence of a scientific study. Therefore, their collection and long-term preservation is a crucial aspect of ensuring scientific integrity.

Biological resources are plants and animals which live within, migrate through, or otherwise make use of a park. These include all species belonging to all five of the commonly recognized kingdoms of living things, such as flowering plants, ferns, mosses, lichens, algae, bacteria, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, worms, crustaceans, and microscopic plants and animals. These biological resources can be either native or exotic.

Biological collections include specimens (or parts thereof) from plants and animals and their associated records. Copies of records created during biological research are retained, at the discretion of the park, as part of the museum collection, regardless of specimen collection. These collections document the non-human biology of the park at a given time and place. When researchers make observations about the park environment, they often collect voucher specimens to testify to their observations. If these specimens are not destroyed or consumed in analysis, they may become part of the park’s museum collection as determined during the permitting process. The NPS has an ongoing program to inventory and monitor living resources in the park that generates many specimens for the museum collections. Over time, NPS biological collections can help document changes in the park environment and changes in species, thus helping to inform park planning, natural resource management, cultural landscape management, and interpretive programs.

Examples of biological collections may include:

· Animal skins

· Skeletal material

· DNA samples and other viable samples (blood)

· Tissue samples

· Marine and freshwater shells

· Pinned insects

· Pressed plants

· Tree cores

· Casts of animal tracks

· Specimens or other collected material that results in derivatives that may be patentable or otherwise protected under the intellectual property (IP) laws.

Biological Resources at [PARK]

[PARK] has diverse biological resources and much remains to be learned about lesser studied taxa and habitats within the park, as well as impacts of anthropogenic and natural processes. <Describe any Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species in collection>.

< Report the size of biology collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the biology objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary. >

Mandated acquisitions: {Specimens and samples obtained for preservation during inventory, monitoring, research, and study projects, together with associated records, must be acquired. Collecting of animal specimens will be associated with needs identified in the Resource Management Plan/Resource Stewardship Strategy or approved I&M plans, or as needed to voucher research projects. All approved study plans will limit collected specimens to what has been determined as a sufficient number of examples. Threatened and endangered (T&E) specimens should not be added unless (1) accidental death occurs or (2) if researchers comply with all legal restrictions regarding protected species, including all Federal, State, and other permitting requirements for all proposed collections. } <Add Park specific information> Should be acquired: {Park will identify gaps in the collection that are significant for baseline inventories and future research. These needs are identified in RPRS under the park research needs. Remainder samples and specimens not wholly destroyed during analyses that retain scientific value and potential for further testing remain Federal property and must be returned to the park.} < Discuss specific I&M protocols for the park. If the park is not an I&M park, use general I&M guidelines.>

May be acquired: {Taxidermy specimens with strong provenance to the park (particularly extirpated species) may be acquired. Although taxidermy specimens are traditionally considered more for exhibit or public education purposes, new technologies are proving that these specimens can have scientific value. Therefore, such specimens should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering provenance, condition, rarity, and other relevant factors. Specimens prepared prior to the 1990s may be contaminated with arsenic or heavy metals. Never use taxidermy mounts or study skins in hands-on demonstrations, particularly with children. For future potential gifts of taxidermy specimens,the donor should bear the responsibility to test the specimen for harmful materials prior to NPS consideration. For more information on health hazards in collections, see Potential Hazards in Collections Appendix below.

Reproductions, such as casts or molds of a specimen, may be acquired if they are the only remaining evidence of the original specimen. See NPS Museum Handbook, Appendix N for more information about evaluating the accession of reproductions.}

Not to be acquired: {Biological specimens collected outside the park’s boundaries will not be accessioned into the museum collection. Scientific specimens lacking provenience documentation, lacking scientific value, in poor condition or which were not prepared to professional standards, and species for which the [PARK] museum collection already has a representative sample are not to be acquired. Specimens specifically collected as a type or reference collection, e.g., for fire management programs that are used in the field, heavily used, etc., are not to be collected. Living specimens are not to be acquired for the museum collection. Nor is ICMS or it’s successor to be used to inventory or document living collections}

B. Geology Collections

NPS Management Policies (2006, section 4.8) describes geologic resources as both geologic features and processes. “Geologic processes” are the natural physical and chemical forces acting with natural systems and human developments across a broad spectrum of space and time. Examples include: exfoliation, erosion, sedimentation, glaciation, karst processes, shoreline processes, and seismic and volcanic activity. “Geologic features” are the products and physical components of geologic processes. NPS Management Policies (2006, section 4.8) requires the NPS to preserve and protect geologic resources and geologic features as integral components of park natural systems.

As described in the NPS Museum Handbook, Part II (2012), geological collections inform park planning and development, natural and cultural resources management, and interpretation.

Geological Resources at [PARK]

{Geologic processes are a major part of [PARK] formation, development, and management and should be well represented in the museum collection by specimens and associated records.}

< Report the size of geology collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the geology objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary. >

Mandated acquisitions: Specimens and samples obtained for preservation during inventory, monitoring, research, and study projects, together with associated records. Remainder samples and specimens not wholly destroyed during analyses that retain scientific value and potential for further testing remain Federal property and must be returned to the park.

Should be acquired: {Park will identify gaps in the collections that are significant for baseline inventories and future research. These needs are identified in RPRS under the park research needs. Identified research needs can also come from or be included in other park resources documents (RSSs, Foundation Document, etc.)} < Discuss specific I&M protocols for the park. If the park is not an I&M park, use general I&M guidelines.>

May be acquired: {Surface or isolated finds, specimens collected in the park illegally that are returned to the park, and specimens collected before the park was established should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering factors such as legal title, importance or rarity of the specimen, presence of existing specimens in the museum collection, condition, available provenience, and associated geologic data.}

Not to be acquired: {Specimens and samples from outside the park’s boundaries. Specimens and samples lacking provenience documentation are not to be acquired. Rock hounding (amature collecting of specimens) is prohibited in most national parks by 36 CFR 2.1(a); specimens collected without research permits after the park was established should be referred to appropriate law enforcement officials.}

C. Paleontology Collections

The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (Public Law 111-011) (PRPA) defines a paleontological resource as “any fossilized remains, traces, or imprints of organisms, preserved in or on the earth’s crust, that are of paleontological interest and that provide information about the history of life on earth, except that the term does not include— (A) any materials associated with an archaeological resource (as defined in section 3(1) of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470bb(1)); or (B) any cultural item (as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001)).” (NAGPRA) The law requires that both the paleontological resource and copies of associated records be preserved for the public in an approved repository, to be made available for scientific research and public education.

PRPA requires that paleontological resources collected on federal land remain the property of the United States and that the paleontological resource and copies of associated records will be preserved for the public and made available for scientific research and public education. The law requires curation of these resources, stating “Any paleontological resource, and any data and records associated with the resource, collected under a permit, shall be deposited in an approved repository.”

Uncontrolled surface collecting by visitors and park staff is prohibited. Fossils found on the surface by visitors should not be removed from their original location by the finder, but rather promptly reported to park staff. If visitors or staff collect a fossil illegally, the object and location data should be promptly given to the museum curator upon receipt by staff members.

Identify if molds, casts, and other reproductions such as 3D scans or prints, exist. See NPS Museum Handbook, Appendix N for more information about evaluating the accession of reproductions. These are made from fossils to share information with other researchers, preserve a specimen in situ before disarticulation, or make surface details clearer for black and white photography. Reproductions, such as casts or molds of a previously collected specimen, may be acquired if they are the only remaining evidence of the original specimen, a portion of a fossil that is now missing due to consumption by destructive analysis, or serve as a record of steps in the preparation process wherein they act to preserve taphonomic information or other important data which has been destroyed by the preparation process. 3D digital files should be preserved as you would digital photographs within an archive or other appropriate digital repository.

Paleontology Resources at [PARK]

< Report the size of paleontology collection and backlog from the most recent Collections Management Report. Summarize the paleontology objects in the collection. Note any significant objects, potential restrictions, or considerations. Note collections housed in non-bureau repositories or other locations not discussed in the executive summary. >

Mandated acquisitions: {Fossil plant, vertebrate, invertebrate, or trace specimens and associated records generated through systematic surveys or excavations undertaken within the park boundaries; high fidelity casts made from the molds of trace or body fossils left in situ; and scientifically significant paleontological resources , together with their associated records. Remainder samples and specimens not wholly destroyed during analyses that retain scientific value and potential for further testing must be acquired into the museum collection.}

Should be acquired: {All NPS construction projects in areas with potential paleontological resources must be preceded by a preconstruction surface assessment prior to disturbance.