Deaccessions

/ˌdiːækˈsɛʃənz/ noun

Definition

Plural form; multiple instances of items being removed from collections, or multiple items that have been removed from institutional ownership.

Etymology

Plural of 'deaccession,' formed regularly with the '-s' suffix; this plural form allows curators and scholars to discuss multiple deaccessioning events or multiple items collectively removed from collections.

Kelly Says

Tracking deaccessions reveals institutional history — analyzing which museums sold what and when shows how taste changed over time, how museums valued different cultures differently, and how economic crises forced difficult choices on institutions!

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