photo acquisitions for an archive or research institution

P:ACM is straight forward and detailed in stating what skills an appraiser should have, what to look for in a potential gift or purchase, how to assess candidates for potential acquisition, and a lot more. I think the most important thing to consider when appraising photographs is finding the best materials to meet your institution’s needs (and in the same light finding the best home for the materials offered.) Developing and working with a collection policy is helpful and efficient, I also thought that the photographic accession appraisal form was a good tool for appraisers to use for organizational purposes.

After evaluating the potential acquisition (in terms of functional value inside the institution, informational value and original context, degree of documentation, preservation or legal risks, relevance to the current collection, and  ) the appraiser needs to seriously consider if their institution is the best home for the proposed works. 

• Will the institution be able to provide monetary support in terms of preservation? 
• Can they provide appropriate access to the photograph for researchers? 
• Is there another place in which this work could thrive more so? 

A photograph of value for a fashion archive is not of the same value to a scientific institution dedicated to the study of plants. That is why archival agencies should refer materials to appropriate institutions. By providing the best context for a work, the value of it is immediately increased. In terms of art work, I think the best placement for a work would be in the context of its cultural heritage. I am not sure if I believe that to be true with photographs, because they are not only to be considered works of art but scientific documentations as well.