I. Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Our mission is to bring together the most information, documents,
photographs and video about World War II into a single site.
WWII Archives will present information to researchers, historians
and enthusiasts in a single and consistent interface to make
researching the most important event in modern history easier.
Collections Statement
The foundation of WWII Archives (the Museum) is its
collections, that are held in perpetuity for the public.
Therefore, in accordance with is mission and the diverse
nature of its constituency, the Museum maintains:
- Research Collections - Accessioned, documented,
and cataloged objects of historical significance, and
objects of high quality that are representative of the
diversity inherent in the mission of the Museum. These
collections are used for research, exhibitions, and
loans. They are either owned by the Museum or
held-in-trust. These collections are given the highest
level of care and protection.
- Interpretation Collections - Accessioned,
documented, and cataloged objects that are used for
interpretation, participatory exhibitions, and educational
programs. These objects are owned by the Museum
and subject to possible damage or destruction due to
supervised utilization.
- Educational Collections - Objects used to
support the educational mission of the Museum that are
cataloged. They are often exposed to hands-on
interaction with visitors. These objects are given
reasonable care.
II. Code of Ethics
A. Introduction
1. Premise
WWII Archives is a private institution that collects,
documents, preserves, and interprets objects, and disseminates
the knowledge gained from them, to serve society. To promote
public trust, high standards of operation and behavior
are necessary at all levels of the Museum, including individual
members of governing bodies, subdivisions and associations,
volunteers, and staff. Maintaining these standards is
a collective and individual effort.
2. Statement of Position
Scope. This Code of Ethics pertains to all governing
bodies, staff members, students, and support and/or associated
groups of the Museum.
Authority Recognition. This Code of Ethics is superseded
by all laws, regulations, and international agreements
of the United States and the State of Oklahoma.
Endorsement in Principle. This Code of Ethics endorses
in principle the guidelines proposed by the International
Council of Museums and the American Association of Museums.
Within this framework, this Code of Ethics also endorses
in principle the guidelines established by those disciplines
and/or professions that are recognized as having affiliations
with museums in the United States. In situations where
differences may occur, the interests of the Museum will
take precedence over the guidelines endorsed in principle.
Implementation. This Code of Ethics serves as the umbrella
for the mission and policies of the Museum. The policies,
established by the governing body of the Museum, are carried
out under the guidance and supervision of its designated
representative, the Executive Director. The development
of associated procedures is generally the responsibility
of the Executive Director and designated staff.
Periodic Review and Interpretation. An Ethics Committee,
appointed by the Executive Director, addresses any recommended
changes of this document and resolves any issues raised
about its interpretation. This Code of Ethics is reviewed
at least every five years, and amended as needed.
B. Goverence
1. General Responsibility
Administration. The governing body serves all parts of
the Museum, as well as the staff, visitors, and support
and/or associated groups of the Museum. While the governing
body has the responsibility of serving these parties,
it must also insure that all activities are in agreement
with federal and state regulations, as well as the mission
and policies established for the Museum.
Agreements and Contracts. The governing body, through
its designated representative, the Executive Director,
reserves the right to negotiate and involve the Museum
with corporations, agencies, or other outside parties
in projects and programs that have mutual interest. The
governing body will not obligate the Museum to projects
or programs that do not serve the Museum interests, or
to situations that compromise the resources needed for
on-going activities related to the Museum’s primary
functions.
Fiscal Matters. The governing body is responsible for
using budgeted funds and resources to serve the interests
of the Museum and its mission, in a manner that provides
an appropriate balance of allocations for staff, collections,
facilities, equipment, programs, services, and museum
functions. In all fiscal matters, the governing body,
through its agents, maintains full documentations and
accountability for resource expenditures.
Fund Raising. All fund raising activities will be compatible
with the mission and programs of the Museum. The Museum
will be ethical and open about its intentions related
to such activities. All donations will be handled so that
the needs and wishes of the Museum are balanced with those
of the donor. In all matters involving sales of goods
or services, the Museum will maintain reasonable rates
of exchange. The governing body may raise funds to establish
endowments for the Museum.
2. Personnel
The governing body recognizes the greatest asset of the
Museum is its staff, and that the quality of the staff
is directly related to the Museum’ s ability to
build and maintain collections, conduct research, develop
exhibit and education programs for public and academic
audiences, and perform ongoing services. For this reason,
the governing body, acting through the Executive Director,
is responsible for providing job descriptions, hiring
qualified staff, providing training and career enhancement
opportunities, supporting adherence to the Code of Ethics,
providing resources to perform jobs, conducting periodic
performance reviews and evaluations, and developing work
environments that are in agreement with federal and state
regulations that address health, safety, and personnel
issues.
3. Collections
The governing body recognizes that the collections are
the foundation of the Museum programs and functions. The
governing body recognizes that the possession of these
collections incurs legal, social, and ethical obligations
to provide proper storage, management, and care for the
collections and associated documentation. For these reasons,
the governing body, acting through the Executive Director,
is responsible for assuring that the scope of each collection
agrees with the Museum’ s mission, that collection
growth is balanced with available resources, and that
appropriate allocation is made of personnel, facilities,
equipment, services, and support to address the on-going
needs of each collection.
4. Audiences
The governing body recognizes the importance of serving
both public and academic audiences, and that these audiences
help justify the support the Museum receives from federal,
state, local, and private sources. For this reason, the
Museum 1) establishes programs and activities that serve
its broad constituency; 2) be a facility that provides
a responsive, safe, and comfortable environment; and,
3) is a resource for accurate information.
III. Collections
A. Scope
Collections are developed, managed, and conserved for
use in research, exhibits, and/or eduction programs for
public and academic audiences. To ensure these collections
will be available for use in the future, utilization is
balanced with current preservation philosophies and practices
especially those involving preventive conservation.
B. Acquisition
The growth and development of collections adheres to
the Mission Statement and Acquisition Policy of WWIIArchives,
particularly to legal and ethical acquisition, clear ownership,
provenance, condition, value, need, and ability to provide
proper long-term care. WWIIArchives is committed to continued
growth and development of collections, in a manner that
reflects quality and relevance over quantity. New acquisitions
will emphasize collection integrity, object/specimen integrity,
and maximum associated information.
C. Management, Care, and Use
The management, care, and use of these collections follow
the collections’ policies of the Museum, such as
those for security, loans, specimen utilization, pest
control, emergency preparedness, and preventive conservation.
Implementation of policies are based on written procedures
that 1) meet disciplinary standards for the respective
collections; 2) include spcifications for providing proper
care with respect to environment, storage, and handling;
and, 3) incorporate all parts of the collection, including
objects/specimens, associated data, collection records,
reference material, and specialized collections.
D. Disposal
The disposal of accessioned collection items follows
the Deaccession Policy of WWII Archives and written procedures
for policy implementation. All deaccessioned material
is fully documented, clearly justified, disposed of appropriately,
and free from problems of ownership, conflict of interest,
and legal issues. No personal gain resulting from deaccessioned
material is to be realized by any individual having affiliations
with the Museum.
IV. Conduct of Individuals
A. Scope
This Code of Ethics pertains to all governing bodies,
staff members, and support and/or associated groups of
the Museum.
B. Responsibility to Museum
Code of Ethics, Policies, and Procedures. Individuals
having an affiliation with WWIIArchves are expected to
be familiar with and to abide by the Code of Ethics, Policies,
and Procedures adopted by the Museum.
Duties and Responsibilities. Individuals having
an affiliation with the Museum are expected to fulfill
all duties and responsibilities of their designated position
and written job description, in a timely and professional
manner.
Use of Resources. All resources of the Museum,
including personnel, salaried-time, facilities, collections,
equipment, supplies, and funds are to be used only to
serve the interests and purposes of the Museum. Unauthorized
use of these resources by any individual, strictly for
personal benefit, is ethically irresponsible and may be
regarded as a conflict of interest, fraud or theft.
Discretion and Confidentiality. Individuals
affiliated with the Museum have unique responsibilities
related to maintaing the Museum’s image, trust,
and credibility to its public and academic audiences.
For this reason, affiliated individuals must 1) properly
represent the Museum and their position when interacting
with others; 2) exercise professional discretion about
activities and concerns of the Museum; and 3) hold in
confidence relevant information concerning matters such
as collection, personnel, and security.
Conflict of Interest. Individuals having an
affiliation with the Museum must avoid situations that
may be construed as a conflict of interest. Concerns about
potential conflicts of interest will be immediately conveyed
to the appropriate authority. The purpose of this concern
is to prevent the actual or perceived conflict between
personnal collecting within the curatorial collection
of areas of the Museum; 2) using the Museum’s affliation,
the Museum resources, or the influence of one’s
position, in unauthorized ways solely for personal benefit,
or to solely serve the interests of persons outside the
Museum; 3) placing the Museum in a situation that compromises
its mission, policies, functions, practices, or philosophies,
4) placing the Museum in a situation that it unduly competes
with outside parties; and 5) participating in other employment
that compromises one’s capability to perform in
a timely and professional manner.
C. Responsibility to Collections
Integrity of Information. The Museum’s
ability to serve its public and academic audiences is
dependent on the quality and accuracy of available information.
Such information includes object and collection documentation,
personal communications, formal presentation, written
correspondence, publication, exhibits, and educational
programs. For this reason, individuals affiliated with
the Museum will maintain information integrity to accuracy
and completeness.
Integrity of Preservation. The Museum’s
ability to perform its functions are dependent on the
quality of object/specimen preservation and conversation.
Individuals affiliated with the Museum will demonstrate
respect for the object/specimen by following professional
museum preservation procedures, providing protection from
agents of deterioration, providing proper storage, and
exercising safe handling.
Integrity of Operations. Individuals affiliated
with the Museum collections will be knowledgeable about
their respective collection(s), disciplinary standards
related to their collection(s), and changes in philosophies
and practices for properly managing and caring for the
collection(s).
D. Responsibility to Other Individuals
Public and Academic Audiences. Individuals affiliated
with the Museum will be responsive to WWIIArchvies’
public and academic audiences, and treat each individual
with professional courtesy.
Professional Associates. Individuals affiliated
with the Museum will be responsive and cooperative with
professional associates outside of the Museum.
Museum Affiliates. Individuals affiliated with
the Museum will respect the property and rights of one
another. Individuals will acknowledge the roles and responsibilities
of each other, and will cooperate as needed to promote
the mission, functions, services, programs, and image
of the Museum.
Supervisors are responsible for the actions of the individuals
under their direction. To promote the mission, functions,
services, programs, and image of the Museum, supervisors
will take an active role in providing direction, instruction,
communication, and group cooperation.
E. Adherence to the Code of Ethics
Adherence to the Code of Ethics by individuals affiliated
with the Museum is addressed in the General Policies of
WWII Archives.
|