In the Legal and Ethical Considerations in Museum Acquisitions, the author, Marilyn Phelan, shows the reader some of the issues that Museums face when bringing in new works into their collections. From sovereign nation’s customs laws to artworks looted during wartime and genocide. Phelan mentions that museum officials have been involved, both directly and indirectly, in the illicit trade in looted antiquities. When I read this section in the book, I asked myself why would a museum official, either knowingly or unknowingly, participate in trade that many museum goers would view as both illegal and unethical? I do not doubt that there are a large variety of answers for this question, but I came to the conclusion that some museum officials participate in the illicit trade in order to maintain and expand their organizations collection(s). When an individual or group has amassed a collection of items that is both a sense of pride and accomplishment, that individual or group does not want to lose it. This relates to the issues raised within the readings, Jewish artwork looted during the Holocaust and the remains of Native Americans. There are laws that have been enacted that attempt to help the victims that have been affected by those issues. In some cases museum officials work with both the victims and the law to see that the wrongs committed in the past are fixed during their present lifetime. Unfortunately, in other cases victims walk away empty-handed.
Authors such as Phelan help to shine a light on the illicit trade in looted antiquities to their peers when they write on the subject. I imagine the entire process of proving rightful ownership, on either the part of the museum or other party, is both a long and sometimes difficult process.