Renewing Nazi-era provenance research efforts: case studies and recommendations

Abstract

This article advances our understanding of current approaches to Nazi-era provenance research in American museums by examining four active provenance programs with different structures, priorities, and funding sources. Interviews with key personnel and a close examination of internal and publicly accessible documents reveal that active Nazi-era provenance research programs share core characteristics such as supportive leadership, team-based practice, and a willingness to shape programs around particular resources and circumstances. Using these core characteristics as a model for renewed Nazi-era provenance research efforts in all museums with covered objects, the author recommends that museum leaders pursue new ways to address Nazi-era provenance research needs; that museums delegate certain Nazi-era provenance research and documentation tasks to a team of qualified, non-curatorial personnel; that Nazi-era provenance researchers establish a formal professional network to facilitate training and collaboration; and that museums explore unique funding sources for the explicit purpose of Nazi-era provenance research.

Keywords:

• provenance research
• Nazi looting
• collections
• leadership
• policy

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the museum professionals from the Cleveland Museum of Art, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts who participated graciously in this study. Special thanks to Lisa Eriksen and to the museum studies faculty at John F. Kennedy University for their generosity and assistance.

Notes on contributor

Nancy Karrels explores the intersections of art, law, and museums and is the provenance research assistant for the Canadian Holocaust-Era Provenance Research and Best Practice Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization. She holds common and civil law degrees from McGill University Law School (Canada) and a Master of Arts degree in museum studies from John F. Kennedy University (USA). This article was adapted from the author's 2013 thesis.

Notes

1. The American Association of Museums changed its name to the American Alliance of Museums in 2012.

2. There has been a change in CMA executive leadership since this study was conducted.