Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Scope of Collections Statement - 2015

Prepared By:  										
Supervisory Curator						Date

Approved By:  										
		Superintendent						Date

Table of Contents

I.  INTRODUCTION
A.  Background
B.  Purpose of the Scope of Collections Statement
C.  Legislation Related to National Park Service Collections
D.  Park Significance and History
E.  Themes
F.   Laws, Regulations, and Conventions Related to Museum Collections
G. Structures, Landmarks, and Other Park Resources Listed on National Registries
H.  Golden Gate NRA Museum Advisory Committee
I.    Museum Collections and the Presidio Trust
J.   San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

II. TYPES OF COLLECTIONS

A. Cultural Collection

1. Archeology
a.  Artifacts and Other Specimens
b.  Surface and/or Field Finds
c.  Associated Field Records
d.  Types of Objects Not Collected
e.  Future Collections Activity

2. History
a.  Uniforms & Garments
b.  Furnishings
c.  Nike Missile Site Collection
d.  Architectural Features
e.  Cannon and Historic Ordnance
f.   Personal Artifacts, Tools & Equipment
g.  Art
h.  Types of Objects Not Collected
i.   Future Collections Activity

3. Archival and Manuscript Collection
a.  Army Records
b.  Photographs and Negatives
c.  Oral History Collection
d.  Building Documentation
e.  Special Collections and Park Archives
f.   Types of Materials Not Collected
g.  Park Records Management Program and Transfer to Park Archives
h.  Future Collections Activity

4.  Ethnology

B. Natural History Collection

1.	Biology

2.  Paleontology

3.  Geology

4.  Future Collections Activity

III.  ACQUISITION

IV.  DEACCESSION
A.  Interpretive and Education Collections
B.  Exhibit Aids and Partner Collections
C.  Outside of Scope Collections

V.  USES OF THE COLLECTION

VI. RESTRICTIONS

VII. MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

APPENDICES
Appendix I – Enabling Legislation
Appendix II – List of Golden Gate NRA Cultural Resources
Appendix III – Previous Interpretive and Collecting Themes
Appendix IV – General Management Plan (2014) and Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014) Themes
Appendix V – Architectural Elements……………………………………………. 37

I.  INTRODUCTION
A.  Background

The purpose of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Golden Gate NRA) is to offer national park experiences to a large and diverse urban population while preserving and interpreting its outstanding natural, historic, scenic, and recreational values.

The history, archives, archeological and natural history collections together comprise the park’s museum collection, which exists to document and support the park's significant resources, enabling legislation, the mission statement, National Register documentation, and established themes developed in park planning documents such as the General Management Plan (2014) and the Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014). Objects in the collection must be related to resource management objectives and interpretive themes of the park.

History collections include such things as original FBI evidence from the 1962 Alcatraz escape; original uniforms, accoutrements, and everyday objects from the U.S. Army; swim suits and advertising materials from Sutro Baths; architectural features from historic structures; Nike Missile Site collections; and California-related materials from the former Presidio Army Museum.

The archival collection includes subjects related to lands governed by the park covering the span of history from the mid-19th century through the present, and includes all media types, such as architectural drawings, maps, photographs, documents, books, and oral history recordings. Representative topics include:  Alcatraz and penal history in the Bay Area; Sutro Baths, Sutro Heights and Cliff House properties and history;  military fortifications from the early 19th century forward; U.S. Army infantry, cavalry and coastal artillery on the Presidio of San Francisco and at multiple other sites around the mouth of San Francisco Bay; Pacific Theatre of military operations originating in the San Francisco Bay Area; military life in the 19th and 20th centuries; historic structures and cultural landscapes; farming and ranching in the Marin Headlands; Muir Woods and the early conservation movement. Archival collections support ongoing park management as well as diverse uses by staff, partners, and the public.

Archeological collections include formally and informally recovered prehistoric and historic artifacts derived from parkland locations and from specific sites listed in the National Park Service (NPS) Archeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS). These historic properties include three of five National Historic Landmarks (Presidio of San Francisco, Fort Point National Historic Site, and Alcatraz Island), as well as many sites listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The natural history collection is divided into three disciplines: biology, geology, and paleontology; and includes a small herbarium, insect collection, and invertebrate specimens. The park’s Natural Resources staff, cooperating scientists and the San Francisco Bay Area Network Inventory and Monitoring program document a variety of plant and animal species collected from scientific research as well as paleontological specimens. The 2014 Golden Gate NRA BioBlitz, in partnership with National Geographic, doubled the number of specimens in the natural history collection. The park maintains only a small representative collection onsite. Golden Gate NRA natural history specimens are also maintained in other repositories, a list of these locations is available in the Natural History section (II.B). Repository agreements with institutions holding Golden Gate NRA materials are in negotiation as of 2015. The purpose of natural history collections is to support scientific research, resource management and education, provide baseline data of park resources, and document changes these resources may undergo in response to changing park conditions and external stressors, such as climate change. These collections preserve locally significant species collected in response to specific research or interpretive needs, and guarantee the protection of important specimens whose preservation cannot be assured. 

B.  Purpose of the Scope of Collections Statement

This Scope of Collections Statement (SOCS) defines the scope of present and future museum collection holdings of Golden Gate NRA that contribute directly to the understanding and interpretation of the park’s purpose, themes and resources, as well as those objects that the Service is legally mandated to preserve.  It is designed to ensure that the museum collection is clearly relevant to the park.

C.  Legislation Related to National Park Service Collections

The National Park Service’s legal mandate for acquiring and preserving museum collections is contained in the Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 USC 431-433); the Organic Act of 1916 (16 USC 1 et. seq.); the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 USC 461-467); the Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955, as amended (16 USC 18f); the Reservoir Salvage Act of 1960, as amended (16 USC 469-469c); the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 USC 470 et seq.); the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, as amended (16 USC 469-469l-2); the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended (16 USC 470aa-mm); and the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (16 USC 5901).

D.  Park Significance and History

The park was authorized by Congress on October 27, 1972, ("An Act to Establish the Golden Gate National Recreation Area" PL #92-589).  It was established "…In order to preserve for public use and enjoyment certain areas of Marin and San Francisco Counties, California, possessing outstanding natural, historic, scenic and recreational values and in order to provide for the maintenance of needed recreational open space necessary to urban environment and planning...." Certain areas within San Mateo County were added later under separate legislation.  Included in the preservation of those resources is the preservation of objects, artifacts, specimens, and archival materials associated with significant cultural and natural resources; materials required to illuminate and provide further information about those resources; materials which serve the purposes of interpretation; materials which serve as research collections; and objects and specimens, which are resources and have value in and of themselves.

On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established Muir Woods National Monument by Presidential Proclamation (Proclamation #793) for "extraordinary scientific interest and importance because of the primeval character of the forest."  Muir Woods was incorporated into Golden Gate NRA in 1972 and is an integral part of the park with the same themes and objectives.  

On October 16, 1970, just two years before the establishment of Golden Gate NRA, Fort Point National Historic Site was created by PL #91-457.  Fort Point was incorporated into Golden Gate NRA in 1972.  In addition, Fort Point was historically part of the Presidio of San Francisco, a unit within Golden Gate NRA.  

Reference to the enabling legislation and subsequent legislation is located in Appendix I. Following is a partial list of additional legislation that has had a significant impact on the museum collection at Golden Gate NRA:

•	PL #100-348 (June 27, 1988) which created San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (San Francisco Maritime NHS) and transferred the museum and historic ships, including all maritime museum collections and staff from Golden Gate NRA to the new park.

•	PL #100-526 (December 29, 1988) "Base Closure and Realignment Act," which resulted in a report, prepared by a special commission and submitted December 29, 1988, to the Secretary of Defense, containing a list of military bases recommended for realignment or closure.  The Presidio of San Francisco was included on that list.  In April of 1989, Congress approved the report.  Closure would be completed no later than September 1995. The Presidio of San Francisco was included within the boundaries of Golden Gate NRA in its authorizing legislation but was excluded for acquisition until such time as it was no longer an active military installation.  The base closure action allowed for its transfer to the park.

•	PL #104-333 (November 12, 1996) “Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996” (Presidio Trust Bill) which, among other actions, created the Presidio Trust, a federal corporation for the management of the Presidio of San Francisco.

      E. Themes

The park’s General Management Plan (2014) and the Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014) thematically organizes large scale ideas and meanings related to the park’s resources and values (See Appendix IV for a listing of themes from these two documents). The SOCS themes are derived from these documents, but are written to assess and evaluate tangible items and how they may contribute to theme interpretation and the history of park lands. The theme statements in the current SOCS encompass earlier cultural themes, but do not fully reflect the broad scope of our collections which are outlined in detail throughout this document. The thematic approach to collecting has a drawback in that it obscures the relative significance of site-associated objects. Collecting site-associated objects should take top priority, especially when they support interpretive themes. Those objects that only support a park theme and do not have site association are of less relative significance.

1.	Geologic Systems:  The park’s fundamental natural geologic systems and processes, and the resulting effects on people and the environment, link the park to the highly visible and significant geologic forces around the world. Ex: Paleolithic samples, collected minerals and rocks, fossils from park lands
2.	Biological Diversity: In a world of diminishing biological diversity and threatened natural resources, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area preserves islands of biodiversity within and near a large urban area. The acceleration rate of global climate change threatens even these islands. Collected specimens and data record pre-existing conditions for future study. Ex: BioBlitz samples and data, ongoing Natural Resources monitoring projects

3.	Military History:  Seacoast fortifications, the army posts that supported them, and the culture of the soldiers that served there are at the heart of the park lands. Every major type of military fortification and architecture represented here demonstrates evolving military technology, from the bronze cannon of the Spanish colonial era to the Nike missiles of the Cold War. Ex: military insignia, drawings and blueprints of fortifications

4.	Alcatraz:  The layers of history so evident on the island present visitors with a chance to understand the 155-year span of Alcatraz history—from the U.S. Army period, through the federal penitentiary era and the Native American occupation to the current NPS management of the island. Ex: furniture used on the island, pamphlets from the Indian Occupation

5.	History and the Human Experience: Many rich periods of history are represented at this iconic entrance to one of the world’s great harbors, from early native cultures to the recent past. The lands surrounding the Golden Gate are associated with and still convey the feelings of the epic stream of history that flowed between its headlands. Ex: excavations from Merrie Way, a Lighthouse keeper’s photographs, a dairy rancher’s diary

Topics include:
•	Spanish exploration and settlement (1776-1821)
•	Mexican settlement (1821-1846)
•	Westward expansion/maritime travel including early explorers and the Gold Rush (1776-1876)
•	Military/Political affairs including Mexican War, Civil War, the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Wars (1776-1995)
•	Transportation including ships, lighthouses, shipwrecks and air travel (1776-present)
•	Architecture and landscape architecture (1776-present)
•	American ways of life including immigration, urban life, farm life and prison life (1776-1994)
•	Technology and engineering including the Golden Gate Bridge, military fortifications and lighthouses (1776-1972)

6.	Conservation and Recreation: The Golden Gate NRA began as a grass roots conservation movement with goals to preserve open space for recreational activities. Today, the park’s proximity allows an urban population to connect with nature and history through diverse recreational and conservation opportunities.  Ex: personal papers of park founders

7.	Indigenous Peoples & Places: Coast Miwok and Ohlone people occupied Golden Gate parklands before Europeans arrived. Indigenous sites and their content are an important heritage asset for these indigenous peoples. These places not only provide unique historical and scientific data on the lives of people and the environment before documented history, but may still be used today in cultural practices.  Ex: archaeological site data, contemporary woven Ohlone basket

8.	Changing Landscapes: Park lands are changed through natural processes and human actions. Documentation of these alterations to the landscape assists in park planning and the development of restoration projects. Ex: aerial photograph collections, park records  

F.  Laws, Regulations, and Conventions Related to Museum Collections

Archeological collections, except inalienable and communal property (as defined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 [25 USC 3001-13]), recovered from within park boundaries through systematic collection are federal property and must be retained in the park’s museum collection in accordance with 43 CFR 7.13 and NPS Management Policies (2006).

In accordance with the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System, permits to collect natural resource specimens state that retained specimens remain federal property. These collections are incorporated into the park museum collection and, as required by 36 CFR 2.5g, must bear official National Park Service museum labels and their catalog numbers will be registered in the National Park Service National Catalog.

Other laws, regulations, directives and conventions pertinent to the acquisition of museum collections at the park include: the Lacey Act of 1900 (18 USC 43-44); the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC 703-711); the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, as amended (16 USC 668-668d); the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 USC 483[b]); the Paleontological Resource Preservation Act 2009 (Public Law 111–11); the Federal Records Act of 1950, as amended ("Records Management by Federal Agencies" [44 USC 3101 et. seq.]); the Freedom of Information Act of 1966, as amended (5 USC 552); the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 USC 1361-1407); the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531-1543); the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a); the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 USC 101 et seq. [1988 & Supp. V 1993]); the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (42 USC 1996); the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (25 USC 3001-3013); the Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR), 41 CFR 101; 410 Departmental Manual, Interior Property Management Regulations (IPMR); 411 Departmental Manual, “Managing Museum Property,” Chapters 1-3; “Curation of Federally- Owned and Administered Archeological Collections,” 36 CFR 79; NAGPRA Final Regulations, 43 CFR 10; “Disposition of Federal Records,” 36 CFR 1228; “Protection of Archeological Resources,” 43 CFR 7; “Preservation of American Antiquities,” 43 CFR 3; “Preservation Arrangement, Duplication, Exhibition of Records” (44 USC 2109); “Disposal of Records” (44 USC 3301 et seq.); Director’s Order #11D: Records and Electronic Information Management; Director’s Order #24: NPS Museum Collections Management; Director’s Order #28: Cultural Resource Management; Director’s Order #44: Personal Property Management; the 1983 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (implemented in the United States by P.L. 97-446 in 1983, 19 USC 2601).
G.  Structures, Landmarks, and Other Park Resources Listed on National Registries

Golden Gate NRA lands comprise one of the richest arrays of cultural resources in the National Park Service.  The park includes five National Historic Landmarks, 13 National Register properties, and seven National Register-eligible properties.  Detailed listings of the individual historic features within each of these National Register properties are recorded in the park’s three cultural resource inventories: the List of Classified Structures (LCS), the Cultural Landscapes Automated Inventory Management System (CLAIMS) and the Archeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS).  The park’s inventories correspond substantially with, but are slightly more inclusive than, the lists of historic features documented in the various National Register forms.  The inventories therefore constitute the most complete and thorough record of the park’s cultural resources (see Appendix II for a list of National Register properties and a synopsis of the three cultural resource inventories).  Properties listed in these inventories include over 1,200 historic structures, nine documented cultural landscapes, and over 500 recorded archeological sites.  Among the themes and property types encompassed by the park’s historic resources are Spanish colonialism, military history and architecture, conservation history, ranching history, pre-contact and historic archeology, shipwrecks and maritime history, prison history, and recreation and urban history. 

The park’s museum collection and its cultural resource holdings are inextricably bound.  A significant measure of the 6.5 million museum items that make up the park’s collection are directly associated with this wealth of historic properties.  In order to maintain the integrity of the collection and strengthen it, future collecting efforts should be focused upon items that have direct association with these historic properties, as well as with additional properties within the park that may be determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or added to one of the park’s cultural resource inventories in the future.  On occasion, isolated archeological finds are unearthed on parklands that are outside of the boundaries of National Register of Historic Places properties, and these are sometimes also worthy of accession into the park collection.  Maintaining the strong connection between the park’s historic resources and its collection will, in turn, serve important aspects of the National Park Service mission in preservation, interpretation and education. 

H. Golden Gate NRA Museum Advisory Committee

Golden Gate NRA established a Museum Acquisition Committee in October 2004 to collectively evaluate and approve potential acquisitions for the permanent museum collection. The committee name was changed to Museum Advisory Committee (MAC) in January 2008 as the roles and responsibilities of the MAC broadened beyond acquisition. 

The MAC is comprised of staff from the Museum Management branch and representatives from other divisions such as Interpretation, Cultural Resources and Natural Resources. The committee’s primary focus is to assess potential acquisitions, ensuring that only appropriate material is accessioned.  Appropriate materials may be identified in, but are not limited to, the following categories:
1.	Object falls within the park’s Scope of Collections Statement 
2.	Material is in a safe and stable physical condition, and does not pose a health hazard, nor require extensive conservation treatment at high expense
3.	Item(s) is identified as being more appropriate to the collection at Golden Gate NRA than another park or repository
4.	Object is unique and does not replicate Golden Gate NRA museum collections

Other committee responsibilities include evaluating existing collections for possible deaccession, and arriving at a consensus on a variety of museum management issues, which are outlined in the Museum Advisory Committee – Role and Function Statement and Procedural Guideline, SOP 611 (2012). All decisions made by the committee are predicated on the information found in this approved park Scope of Collections Statement.

I.  Museum Collections and the Presidio Trust  

The Presidio of San Francisco was placed within the legislative boundaries of Golden Gate NRA when the park was established in 1972. Congress identified the site for closure in 1989 and the property was transferred to the NPS in 1994. The Presidio is administered jointly by Golden Gate NRA and the Presidio Trust. The Presidio Trust is a government agency established in 1996 with jurisdiction over the structures and land in the Presidio (Area B), while Golden Gate NRA manages the bay and coastal areas (Area A). The Presidio Trust Act of 1996 further established the Board of Directors. 

The Presidio Trust Board has approved a Museum Collections Policy stating:
 
The Trust does not seek to develop a permanent, accessioned museum collection of historic objects and archives related to the Presidio. Such collections would be competitive and redundant with those of the National Park Service, which are held at the Presidio. Donors interested in permanent donation will be directed to the National Park Service as an appropriate repository for historic Presidio collections. (2013)

The Trust will, however, continue to accession and maintain archaeological collections recovered from lands within the boundaries of Area B. Trust staff will also preserve structural elements from Presidio managed buildings for potential reintegration. Representative furnishings from Presidio buildings will continue to be accessioned into the Golden Gate NRA’s museum collection so that they are protected and available for use.

The Presidio Trust has created a Heritage Gallery at the Presidio Officers’ Club, Building 50. The Heritage Gallery features a permanent exhibit space, rotating gallery and areas for programs and events. The Heritage Center is managed through the Presidio Trust’s Heritage Program, which develops exhibitions of cultural and natural heritage using loaned collections from the NPS and other repositories.

J.  San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park  

Golden Gate NRA was established by PL #92-589 in 1972.  It incorporated a number of historic vessels and related archives and library holdings from private collections through the 1970s and 1980s.  These were collectively known as “the Maritime Unit of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.”  In 1988-89, this portion of the park and collections became a new unit called San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (SAFR). SAFR staff continued responsibility for managing and caring for Golden Gate NRA collections under an interagency agreement between the two parks until Golden Gate NRA reestablished its museum program and could care for its own collections.

The collections of the two parks continued to be housed together for many years. Throughout this time, collections once thought related one park’s mission were deemed better suited to the other park and were transferred in to their custody in small batches. During this time of transfer and re-transfer, documentation became scattered and incomplete, and in some cases more complicated.  Only after the incorporation of the Presidio into Golden Gate NRA were arrangements made to establish a museum/archives program for the park. The Golden Gate NRA library was transferred from SAFR to Golden Gate NRA in c.1995-1996; Golden Gate NRA archives collections were transferred c. 2001-2002.  Golden Gate NRA object collections were brought over from SAFR as space in Golden Gate NRA storage areas allowed. As of 2015 the object collections continue to be physically co-mingled but efforts are being made to separate them completely.

 II. TYPES OF COLLECTIONS

The significant park resources, interpretive themes and resource management goals and objectives stated in the introduction provide direction for the acquisition of museum objects. The following guidelines for each type of collection will ensure that the materials accepted are appropriate and relevant to the park’s mission.

A. Cultural Collection

The purpose of this collection is to increase knowledge and inspiration among present and future generations through exhibits, research, and interpretive programs.  Objects and archival collections with direct association to the park are more desirable for inclusion within the collection than materials that are similar but without such primary significance; all potential collections will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Museum Advisory Committee.  The cultural collection is subdivided into three disciplines: archeology, history, and archives and manuscripts. The following list identifies, by discipline, object types appropriate to the park's museum collection and, as needed, notes the current representation in the collection.

1. Archeology

Archeological collections result from discovery, park historical research, and the regulatory management of cultural resources. Monitoring of ground-disturbing projects, response to criminal investigations, field finds by park staff and visitors, and formal archeological test excavations are among many undertakings in the park that produce archeological field collections. 

a.  Artifacts and Other Specimens  

1) Indigenous Materials. There are currently 55 indigenous sites identified within parklands that contain irretrievable scientific and historical information, and/or are considered to have heritage values. Current collections include formally recovered fishing, hunting, and processing tools made from flaked and ground stone, as well as bone and shell remains. Indigenous sites span from 100 AD to the Spanish occupation of the late 18th century.   

2) Historic Materials. The collection at Golden Gate NRA contains historic archeological remains from every episode of its history (1776-1958).  As of 2015 there are 310 historic period archeological sites identified in the park.  Eighteen of those sites are historic shipwrecks. The museum collections contain military artifacts recovered from Spanish Colonial, Mexican Republic, and U.S. Army historic sites, representing household, corporate, institutional, and/or specific functions.  

3) Other Specimens: The park manages soil samples and other pertinent environmental residues recovered from archeological monitoring or geotechnical studies. Collections also include historic shipwreck, structural, and building fabrics recovered from significant archeological or historical settings. 

b.  Surface and/or Field Finds

While staff and visitors are prohibited from picking up surface artifacts, such objects and documentation regarding their discovery location are often collected at Golden Gate NRA due to a concern for the loss of these often rare items in an urban environment. Finds may be discovered on the ground surface or within buildings and structures. Staff and visitors are informed of the intrinsic value of even isolated discoveries and directed to report these items to park cultural resources staff. 

Regardless of whether a field discovery is made by the general public or park staff, it is important to carefully report information about such findings so the park can preserve any artifacts recovered, and investigate those locations to record, assess, and protect newly found historic places. A Field Discovery Form, developed by the park archeologist and Museum Advisory Committee, is available to park staff, and to the public by way of park staff, to document field discoveries. The Field Discovery Form records who recovered the artifact, when it was recovered, why it was recovered, a description of the find, and any other pertinent data. The form also includes a map of the specific park area to indicate where the artifact was discovered. Field finds that are archival in nature (e.g., documents or ephemera) require notification of the park curator or archivist for handling instructions. 

All cultural field finds are evaluated by the park archeologist to decide whether materials should be deposited in the permanent museum collection. Once the field discoveries are determined to be of archeological or historical interest they are accessioned into the collection and cataloged. Field finds that have insufficient data or are determined to have no historical connection to park lands are not accepted into the collection. 
c.  Associated Field Records

All original records associated with archeological collections are retained as part of the museum collection. These records include field notes and catalogs, daily journals, drawings and maps, photographs and negatives, slides, sound recordings, raw data sheets, instrument charts, remote sensing materials, collection inventories, analytical study data, conservation treatment records, and computer documentation and data, as well as any other documents generated through archeological activity. 
d.  Types of Objects Not Collected

Hazardous materials, unexploded ordnance, and any other items that pose risks to health and safety will not be accepted into the collection. All field collections are assessed to determine whether materials need to be deposited into the museum collection.  The Golden Gate NRA Archeology Lab evaluates each field collection by culling unnecessary artifacts or other materials before they are cataloged for permanent retention.  Records on the culling process and photographic documentation are kept on all removed objects.  These records are retained as part of the Associated Field Records of the archeological program.
e.  Future Collections Activity

The primary focus of the park is to develop and maintain archeological collections derived from sites within Golden Gate NRA.  Partnering with other organizations or agencies in managing non-park provenienced archeological collections will be considered if these actions are feasible and will promote the preservation of otherwise threatened artifacts and data of relevance to significant resources.  

All park projects that include ground disturbing activity must incorporate a budget item to  fund related accessioning and cataloging  for recovered archeology collections.

2. History 

The history collection currently includes objects that represent the U.S. military, coastal fortifications, California history, the Lighthouse Service, architecture, prison life, farming and ranching, and westward expansion.   
a.  Uniforms & Garments 

The park has many uniforms, clothing, and other articles in the collection related to the U.S. military, as well as other organizations and professions found within the park.  While many of these are valuable due to age and rarity, those with better provenance to individuals, particularly individuals associated with the nine military posts or other parklands located within Golden Gate NRA boundaries, are of more value to the park. Future collecting in this area will focus on uniforms, parts of uniforms, and other articles that have documented provenance. The park will refrain from collecting general issue (GI) uniforms not directly associated with park historic sites. 
b.  Furnishings

The park collects furniture (or furnishings) that have direct provenance with Golden Gate NRA sites such as bowling alley materials and gym equipment from Fort Baker. Those furnishings lacking provenance that were inherited from the Army Museum exhibits, or furnishings used in the museum’s public spaces will be deaccessioned. The park refrains from accessioning and cataloging general issue (GI) furnishings not associated with park historic sites. GI furnishings are limited to representative samples of each, while large quantities of bunks, trunks, and mattresses (for example) are maintained as interpretive props. Also in this category are materials that were collected specifically for historically furnished spaces such as the barber chairs for the Alcatraz cell block, and stoves for the barracks at Fort Cronkhite. Interpretive props are addressed in the Deaccession section below.
c.  Nike Missile Site Collection

Large historic weapons such as Nike missiles are rare and valuable, particularly because there are only select institutions that both want them and have the facilities to care for them. The bulk of the Golden Gate NRA Nike collection was assembled by park volunteers during the early 1990s when Nike sites were being decommissioned throughout the country. A large uninventoried amount of Nike materials were accessioned and cataloged into the collection knowing they would be used consumptively, and without culling representative samples. The excess property was mixed with Nike Site and other museum collections. 

The park has conducted a 100% inventory of the extensive artifact collection, and has separated excess property from accessioned and/or cataloged collections. Materials that were found to be duplicative or that are to be used consumptively have been deaccessioned and separated from the permanent collection. The Nike Missile collection now contains representative examples of different object types. The Museum Program has worked closely with the Nike volunteers to coordinate stewardship of this collection while supporting the park’s unique site specific interpretive program.
d.  Architectural Features

Select representations of building and landscape architectural elements are cataloged into the collection. When original fabric is removed from any historic structure during rehabilitation, such as at Fort Baker, representative character-defining features of the removed fabric will be preserved in the museum collection along with any associated documentation. At present the collection includes statuary from Sutro Heights, historic doors from Fort Point and architectural features from Alcatraz. There are also duplicates of oversized doors from Fort Mason. New accessions in this area will be carefully considered and will avoid duplicating types of historic fabric already represented in the collection. In the future, the park curator, historical architect, and other appropriate staff will collaborate with maintenance during rehabilitation projects to identify what character-defining features ought to be retained for the collection, which features can be relocated to a non-museum area for future use, and what should be discarded. Guidelines written by the Northeast Museum Services Center and found in Appendix V can aid in the evaluation process.
e.  Cannon and Historic Ordnance

The park has a collection of 29 ordnance located throughout the park. Of these, many are cannon and fixed in place on permanent bases. The NPS Museum Handbook, Part II, 4:22, states that we do not catalog fixed outdoor monuments because the List of Classified Structures defines these as structures. Using these guidelines, the park will deaccession and transfer fixed monuments (or cannon) located in Area B of the Presidio, and consider relocating ordnance that can be moved for display to Area A of the Presidio, or other parts of the park. 

f.  Personal Artifacts, Tools & Equipment

The park’s history collections include a great variety of items used in everyday life; these materials encompass many periods of history and multiple SOCS themes. Examples of items collected by the Golden Gate NRA in this category include medical equipment from Letterman Hospital; objects related to the military presence in the park, like recreation equipment and maintenance tools; milk bottles from dairy ranches; kitchen items from Alcatraz; and souvenirs from the Victorian Cliff House or Sutro Baths. 

Personal artifacts in the park’s collection are often directly related to an individual who is associated with the lands now in the Golden Gate NRA or by events that took place here. Examples of objects belonging to an individual may include eyeglasses, swagger sticks, commemorative ribbons, watches, shoe wax, etc. 

g.  Art 

The Golden Gate NRA collects works of art when the subject is related to the lands within the park, is created by an organization or person directly associated with areas of the Golden Gate NRA (ex. Alcatraz inmate, U.S. Military), or has been commissioned by the park for a particular use or project such as in wayside exhibits. 

The current art collection includes landscapes of park lands, such as the Cliff House, Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods; pieces created by Alcatraz inmates while incarcerated; and works by participants of the Indian Occupation on Alcatraz. The Golden Gate NRA also holds portraiture of  individuals from the park’s history like William Kent and John Muir; as well as portraits collected by the Presidio Army Museum, which were then transferred to the National Park Service.
h.  Types of Objects Not Collected

The park refrains from collecting contemporary objects such as T-shirts or coffee mugs with park graphics featuring the Michael Schwab images, as these materials are not unique. When these kinds of materials are deemed significant, they are collected with discretion. This includes replicas of museum collection items reproduced for sale in the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy gift shops. An important distinction is made between the contemporary materials described above and commemorative materials that document an anniversary or significant event (such as a grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony) and which are selectively collected. As mentioned in Section a., the park will refrain from collecting military General Issue items for the collection, except for a representative sample of significant materials. 
i.  Future Collections Activity

Future collections activity for History materials will concentrate on the acquisition of outstanding examples of objects currently not represented in the collection, which meet the criteria referenced above and clearly correct an interpretive or research deficiency noted in the park’s General Management Plan (2014), Long-Range Interpretive Plan (2014), future exhibit plans, or other planning documents. This will ensure that the history collection is relevant to the interpretive and research needs of the park.

3. Archival and Manuscript Collection
The archival and manuscript collection is housed and managed at the Park Archives and Records Center (PARC) located in the Presidio of San Francisco at Building 667. The archival collection is made available to park staff, partners, contractors and the general public through open reference hours or by appointment.  

Policy and procedures for archival collections are outlined in NPS Management Policy (2006), Museum Handbook, Part II, Appendix D: Archives and Manuscript Collections, Director’s Order 11D: Records and Electronic Information Management (2012); as well as the Records Management Handbook (2005) and Appendix B: Records Disposition Schedule (2005), which have been superseded by Director’s Order 11D but are referred to for materials created and managed prior to current policies.  In general, NPS archives follow the Basic Manual Series published by the Society of American Archivists for archival policy and procedure.  

In addition to the accessioned and cataloged park archives collections, the PARC houses the Park Records Management Program.  This program receives inactive park records from staff all over the park.  Many of these records are temporary per the General Records Schedules published by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and are maintained at PARC for the designated retention period and then destroyed.  Many records transferred from park staff are permanent in nature per the National Park Service Records Management Schedule, Director’s Order 11D, which supersedes NPS-19-Appendix B. 
a.  Army Records

A major portion of the archives holdings of Golden Gate NRA consist of U.S. Army records transferred to the NPS under the series of Legislative Subagreements during the transition of the Presidio of San Francisco to the NPS, 1989-1994.  Records identified by NPS staff as significant to future management of former army facilities and interpretive themes were received from the Army during the transition period.  This resulted in a physical transfer of approximately 3000 cubic feet of textual records and 60,000 maps and architectural plans.  These records are related to the Presidio of San Francisco, Forts Mason, Baker, Barry, Cronkhite, Funston and Miley; Nike missile sites in the San Francisco Bay Area; medical facilities including the Letterman Army Medical Center, the Letterman Army Institute for Research, and the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, and other related topics.  Many records have ongoing value to the study of historic structures, management of cultural landscapes, and documentation of past conditions and military activities at various sites.  
b.  Photographs and Negatives

The Park Archives has thousands of image materials in its holdings, ranging in date from c. 1860 to the present.  Some of these are stand-alone photograph collections, assembled by various entities including the Army, the Presidio Army Museum, park interpretive staff, and other photo collectors and creators.  These photo collections represent every type of still image media, from glass plates to digital images.  There are also many photographs incorporated into mixed collections of personal papers, organizational and business archives, as well as small collections consisting of one or two images from various sources.  The photo collections are one of the richest resources of the park archival holdings and support many uses both within the park, and from the outside researcher.  Photos dating from c. 1860s to 1972 are incorporated for reference use in a photo binder system, by topic or geographical area for ease of researcher use.  Photos dating from 1973 forward are not included individually in the photo binders, but may be incorporated by reference under a specific topic cross-reference page so the researcher may locate them for use.   
c.  Oral History Collection

The park Oral History Collection dates back to the 1970s, beginning with extensive recordings of interviews with Alcatraz Correctional Officers, former prisoners, and members of Alcatraz staff families who grew up on the island.  There are over 200 individual interviews pertaining to Alcatraz in the collection.  The park archives also houses many other oral history interviews on magnetic tape relating to various topics appropriate to the park.  All interviews are abstracted and are available for research use.  Selected interviews have been fully transcribed and the transcription is also available for use in the archives reading room.  The park continues to create oral history interviews for deposit in the archives.  More recent topics recorded include:  Presidio social and organizational life, especially at the time of base closure; coastal defense; lighthouse keepers and families; Nike Missile Site staff; and exit interviews with longtime resource management and park administration staff.   
d.  Building Documentation

By far the largest portion of the archives holdings is building documentation in the form of architectural plans, textual project files, and photographs.  These records are predominantly from the Army and make up the bulk of the oversize collection.  This is also the most heavily used component of the collection.  While these are considered active records by definition of the National Archives, they are managed and housed as archives.
e.  Special Collections and Park Archives

The PARC accepts manuscript and archives collections from private donors and organizations, and park-generated permanent records pertaining to resource management.  Many of these collections are Field Collections; items and materials found in the park and turned over to the archives for management.  Park permanent resource management records accessioned into the museum collections are identified as Field Collections.  The Park Archives also acquires under this category specific research collections, i.e., research materials identified and obtained in the course of a park resource management project.   
f.  Types of Materials Not Collected

The park refrains from accessioning and cataloging widely available published materials, unless directly associated with an eminent figure or event in the park, such as an author-autographed copy of a document or film. Copies of materials found in other archival repositories are evaluated based on their associative value to the collection and the benefit to researchers.  These materials are not necessarily accessioned and cataloged into the collection but may be kept in catalog record files or in the subject “vertical file” maintained by PARC staff.  The vertical file typically houses copies of articles from published sources, brochures, programs of an informational nature, etc.     
g.  Park Records Management Program and Transfer to Park Archives

Permanently valuable park records, including records documenting administrative and legal actions and resource management records, will transfer out of the Records Center at an appropriate time in their life cycle.  Resource management records are accessioned and cataloged into the permanent museum collection and remain in the park where they are readily accessible to park staff for the ongoing management of resources. A large portion of the Golden Gate NRA’s records were accessioned into the permanent collection in 2011 and designated appropriate for archival processing. These records were related to resource management activities and events in the park and were dated no later than the year 2000.

Staff should consider the content of the records in making determination of what is temporary and what is permanent, regardless of the media on which the documents are created or stored. Many permanently valuable park records are now created and exist and function only in electronic form. Museum staff is undergoing training and seeking guidance in how to manage these new formats of materials meriting permanent retention under federal law. The NPS Records and Electronic Information Management Guideline, DO-11, provides additional guidance on records in electronic format. Staff will be pursuing new protocols to handle this important record media into the future, to ensure records safety and security, and to preserve permanently valuable federal records in a usable format into the future. 

An additional component of the Park Records program includes the acquisition and development of a permanent collection of park publications, reports, and ephemera related to management of parklands.  Many of these documents have become rare and difficult to obtain, and are appropriate for the permanent collection as they inform the process and development of park planning and management. 

h.   Future Collections Activity

Significant areas for future collecting include resource management records, such as cultural and natural resource project records, held by partnering organizations like the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, digital image files, and the research collections of retiring staff.

4.  Ethnology 

The Golden Gate NRA currently has little to no representation of this discipline in the permanent collection. Park staff will contact and consult the appropriate group(s) associated with offered ethnographic materials before making any acquisitions.

NAGPRA Compliance: The park's museum collection does not include associated funerary objects, sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony as defined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA).

a.	Future Collections Activity
The Golden Gate NRA collection will seek to add ethnologic items to the permanent collection by working with park associated groups and individuals of cultures that have contributed to the history of park lands; examples include Native American tribes, the Portuguese dairy ranchers, and Japanese tenant farmers. These future items may include contemporary examples of traditional crafts and skills (ex. the beginning of an Ohlone basket), or may be the raw materials used in their creation (ex. Soaproot plant). Each potential object will be evaluated on a case by case basis to ensure the item is representative of the indigenous group(s).

B. Natural History Collection

These collections include materials from the disciplines of biology (herbarium, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and fish), geology and paleontology.  

As of 2015 natural history specimens represent 0.05% of the Golden Gate NRA museum collection. Considering the size of the park at 80,624 acres as of 2013 with 91 miles of bay and ocean shoreline, seven distinct watersheds, 19 separate ecosystems, and 1,287 certified plant and animal species with 80 of them sensitive, rare, threatened or endangered, the park’s natural resource collection is small and inadequate. Additionally, Golden Gate NRA has the fourth largest number of federally protected species of any unit in the National Park System.  

Prior to 2009, the museum management’s attention had been focused primarily on the cultural resource collection.  As a result, the natural resource collection was not well managed. A Natural History Collection Survey was conducted in 2010. The survey identified existing collections, collection management needs, gaps to address in future collecting, and assisted in tracking data generated from NPS Golden Gate NRA collections, as well as locating where Golden Gate NRA specimens are stored in outside repositories. 

Golden Gate NRA Museum Management staff is beginning to work more closely with the Natural Resource staff to identify collection management needs, monitor collections associated with research permits, establish relationships with repositories that hold Golden Gate NRA collections, and care for the small collections that are retained in the park. 

The development of the natural history collection plays a potentially important role world-wide. A well-documented natural history collection would illustrate the park’s lead in the preservation of its highly diverse natural resources. The collection would also provide an important source of data to evaluate potential climate change effects on regional biodiversity, species ranges, preservation efforts and the survival of rare species. The 2014 National Geographic BioBlitz greatly increased the knowledge and awareness of Golden Gate NRA’s natural diversity and significantly enhanced the park’s biological discipline within the natural history collection. The event added over 1,600 specimens to the park’s cataloged collection, most of which are being cared for by other repositories.

The Golden Gate NRA has partnered with a number of institutions to house natural history specimen collected on park lands. As of 2015, new repository agreements are being drawn up with organizations that house a large number of materials, such as the California Academy of Science and The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley. 

Repositories holding Golden Gate NRA specimens include (but are not limited to):

•	California Academy of Science, San Francisco
•	Carl W. Sharsmith Herbaria, San Jose State Univeristy
•	The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley
•	Personal Herbarium of D.M. Wright, Arcata, California 
•	Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, Claremont, California
•	University of California, Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
•	University of California, Los Angeles, Herbarium
•	University of California, Santa Barbara, Herbarium
•	University of California, Berkeley, Natural History Museum
•	Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
•	Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens Herbarium, California 
•	Humboldt State University Herbarium, Arcata, California
•	University of California, Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology (UCMP)
•	Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
•	U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
•	Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

1.	Biology

The biological collections held at the park are few. Most materials serve as samples for education, exhibit, and representational purposes. The 2014 National Geographic BioBlitz raised knowledge and awareness of Golden Gate NRA’s natural diversity. The activities of the event significantly increased the park’s biological discipline within the natural history collection adding over 1,600 specimens to the park’s cataloged collection. 

2.  Paleontology

Paleontological resources (fossils) are any remains of past life preserved in a geologic context. The park paleontological collections contain only one specimen as of 2015, a Cretaceous bivalve from Alcatraz Island (GOGA 18502); however recent studies and additional interactions with visitors have resulted in additional specimens for the collection. The Paleontological Resource Inventory and Monitoring San Francisco Bay Area Network (2008) and the draft Paleontological Inventory Report (2014), found abundant fossil resources, many of which have provided valuable information about the geological history of the area. Notably, tropical and sub-tropical species of zooplankton found in the chert of the Marin Headlands indicate that these rocks formed between 100 and 200 million years ago, and traveled to their current location from as far away as the equator.

There are currently no plans to house additional fossils found in the park in GOGA park facilities. An agreement with the University of California, Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology to house future collections made in the park could solve space issues and improve access for scientific research. A park photographic archive of paleontologic specimens from the park could be a valuable resource for education and research, however. 

There are additional fossils found on lands now administered by GOGA that are housed at outside institutions. These repositories include the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP), Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California Academy of Sciences (CAS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. As far as is known, all specimens held at outside institutions were collected prior to the establishment of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with the exception of six localities held at CAS.

3.  Geology

While baseline geological and paleontological information is being gathered for the NPS National Inventory and Monitoring Program and the NPS Geologic Resources Division, very few specimens have been collected and cataloged into the park museum collection. 

Currently the park has 146 geology specimens listed on the 2014 Collection Management Report.  The majority of these specimens are either from a private mineral collection made before establishment of GOGA and donated to the park, or material collected at new road cuts made during the Marin Headlands Transportation project (2010 to 2011)

Other geological collections may include soil samples and other pertinent environmental residues recovered from archeological or geotechnical studies. 

4.  Future Collections Activity

Natural history specimens must support the following goals to ensure that only well-documented and appropriate specimens are retained. Future growth of the collection should be restricted to specimens and associated records generated through:

a.  Authorized scholarly research and selective acquisition based on:

•	Needs identified in the park’s revised General Management Plan (2014),  and other applicable park planning documents and resource studies
•	Servicewide initiatives such as Climate Change
•	Understanding, education and stewardship of the park’s ecosystem

b.  Inventorying and monitoring activities

c.  Regulatory and compliance activities such as those mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended.

Scholarly research may be conducted by park or non-park scientists. All collecting activities must be in compliance with 36 CFR 2.5, the Research Permit and Reporting System, Director’s Order #77: Natural Resource Protection (under development), and NPS Natural Resources Management Guideline (1991). All researchers must comply with applicable State and Federal laws regulating collecting, documenting collections, and other associated activities. No researcher can collect in the park without first obtaining a signed permit. The collections section of the permit application must be completed, documenting where collections of specimens and associated records will be housed. Questions related to collecting within the park are addressed to the park’s Research Coordinator.

Projects generating collections must fund related accessioning and cataloging to document and provide access to and use of Natural History collections. This activity informs park resource management and advances science.

5. Types of materials not collected

In general, the park will refrain from adding Natural Resource specimens that have not been collected under an NPS permit, and/or that have not been collected in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Specimens will also be evaluated for potential accessioning based on their scientific value.

Specimens that are to be used solely in educational and interpretive activities will not be accessioned into the permanent museum collection. These items will remain in the care of the division that is using them. 

III.  ACQUISITION

The park acquires objects for its museum collections by gift, purchase, exchange, transfer, and field collection.  Acquisition of museum objects are governed by the park’s ability to manage and preserve them according to NPS Management Policies (2006), Chapter 5; the standards for managing museum objects in Director’s Order #28, Cultural Resource Management (in development) and Cultural Resource Management Guideline (1997); revised Special Directive 80‑1, “Guidance for Meeting NPS Preservation and Protection Standards for Museum Collections,” (Mar 90), and the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I, Museum Collections (2005).

In accordance with NPS policy the park discourages gifts with restrictions or limiting conditions.  Incoming loans are acquired only for a particular purpose such as research or exhibition, and for a specified period of time. Museum objects are acquired, accessioned, and cataloged in accordance with the NPS Museum Handbook, Part II, Museum Records (2005).  

Donors of collection items must demonstrate that he/she has full legal title to the object(s) and has full power and authority to donate the object(s) to the NPS; by signing a Deed of Gift (NPS form 10-830) the donor agrees that this is true. There can be no liens or other encumbrances of any kind against the gift or title to it. 

The acquisition of firearms included on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) list of prohibited/restricted weapons requires concurrent review by the regional curator and regional law enforcement specialist.

The park Superintendent, by delegation, represents the Director and the Secretary of the Interior in accepting title to and responsibility for museum objects.  The Superintendent bears the ultimate responsibility for the acquisition and proper care and management of the museum collection.  The Superintendent has delegated the day‑to‑day care of the collection to the Supervisory Curator.

All acquisitions are reviewed and evaluated by the Museum Advisory Committee for their suitability to the themes as outlined in the SOCS and must receive formal approval from the Superintendent or their designee, before they can be accepted into the museum collection.  Upon receipt, all newly acquired objects and related documentation must be turned over to the Museum Management Program.  The Registrar prepares all instruments of conveyance; and letters of thanks, acceptance, or rejection, for the Superintendent’s signature and transmits them as appropriate, to the donor, lender, vendor, or other source of acquisition.

IV.  DEACCESSION

Deaccessioning is meant to be a cumbersome task that is not to be taken lightly. There are objects currently in the Golden Gate NRA collection that were accessioned in error. Consequently, each item, or grouping of artifacts needs to be evaluated for deaccession on a case-by-case basis by the Museum Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC is working to remove the following types of artifacts from the collection and continues to do so as reviews of stored objects are performed.

A.  Interpretive and Education Collections  

Most items created and/or used in interpretive functions should not be accessioned or cataloged into the permanent museum collection unless the cost and value of the object meets the guidelines outlined in the NPS Museum Handbook. This may include replicas made for interpretive demonstrations and materials that park staff acquire for display (in the Alcatraz hospital or the Nike Missile Site, for example) to enhance the visitor experience. Items such as these that were cataloged in the past will be systematically deaccessioned.  However, although these items are not part of the collection, many of these props are valuable and should be maintained and accounted for by detailed photography and 100% inventory lists by the division using the materials, not the Museum Management Program.  

These materials should not be confused with historic period pieces (not replicas) that are acquired to furnish exhibit and historic spaces. Items that are deemed historic period pieces will not have direct provenance to any site within the GGNRA but are representative of the time period in the display. These items may be accessioned and cataloged into the collection after discussion and approval by the Museum Advisory Committee.

B.  Exhibit Aids and Partner Collections

All exhibition aids, i.e. display panels, photographs, dioramas, and other display art produced in connection with an exhibit, will no longer be accessioned and cataloged as museum objects. In the past these types of collections were accessioned in error (from the former Army Museum) and now need to be deaccessioned.  This category of materials also includes items that the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (or other Golden Gate NRA partners) commissioned for movie props, or purchased solely for exhibit. Instead of cataloging these materials into the park museum collection, partners will have sole responsibility for the care and security of these materials. 

     C.  Outside of Scope Collections

Some objects were brought into the permanent museum collection under varying circumstances but do not have a connection to the current themes of the General Management Plan, Long Range Interpretive Plan, or SOCS. When these materials are found the item will be researched, documented, and then reviewed by the MAC. If approved, the MAC will sign a recommendation of deaccession and the package will be forwarded to the Superintendent for final approval. 

 V.  USES OF THE COLLECTION

The park’s museum collection may be used for exhibits, interpretive programs, research, publications, or other interpretive media. The primary consideration in the use of museum objects is the conservation of each object in question and of the collection as a whole.

All uses, including photography, of Native American and ethnographic objects and materials must be addressed and consulted with the corresponding tribe or group before approval can be given. In some cases sketches may have to be produced to represent the item in place of a photograph.

Researchers and other specialists may examine objects and archival materials under the conditions and procedures outlined in the Golden Gate NRA Museum Collections Access Request and One Time Use Agreement, and the Archives Research Use and Access Policy.

Any interpretive use defined as consumptive must be authorized in advance, as outlined in Director’s Order #28, Cultural Resource Management (in development), Cultural Resource Management Guideline (1997), and Director’s Order #6, Interpretation and Education (2005).  The use of reproductions is preferred to the consumptive use of original objects.
 
Destructive analysis is a legitimate use of museum collections for approved research purposes when the impact is minor or when the object is common, in which case approval by the Superintendent is required.  If an object is rare or significant, a request for destructive analysis should be reviewed by the Regional Curator and must be approved by the Regional Director, as outlined in Director’s Order #28, Cultural Resource Management (1998) and Cultural Resource Management Guideline (1997).

Objects may be loaned out to qualified institutions for approved purposes in accordance with NPS Museum Handbook, Part II, Chapter 5, Outgoing Loans.  Institutions must meet minimal museum standards for security, handling, and exhibition of NPS museum objects.  Sensitive materials may require additional conditions prior to a loan commitment.  Expenses related to loans of museum objects, including shipping and insurance, will normally be assumed by the borrower.

Photographs of museum objects are made available on a limited basis to provide an indirect use of the museum collection through publications and exhibits.  Many of the park’s artifacts have been illustrated in publications (electronic and paper).

Exhibits containing museum objects must have proper security, appropriate environmental controls, and proper mounts to ensure the long-term preservation of the objects.

All uses of the museum collection should be properly credited and/or documented as to their source. Credit formats will be negotiated between the borrower and the Golden Gate NRA Curator. 

VI. RESTRICTIONS

Restrictions in addition to those applying to the use of the museum collection outlined in Section V of this statement are as follows:      

In accordance with NPS Management Policies (2006) 7.5.6. “Consultation” and 5.3.5.5 “Museum Collections,” and DO #24: NPS Museum Collections Management (2008), curatorial staff should consult with traditionally associated peoples and other cultural and community groups for whom the collection has significance. Archeological objects in the museum collection shall be made available to persons for use in religious rituals or spiritual activities in accordance with 36 CFR 79, Section 79.10(c), “Curation of Federally-owned and Administered Archeological Collections.” Requests to borrow non-archeological material for religious ritual or spiritual activities will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

The park will not approve research on human remains and associated funerary objects without the consent of the affected group(s).

The park will not knowingly be a partner to or encourage in any way the trafficking in illicitly or unscientifically collected materials.

NPS Management Policies, (2006), Chapter 5, states that:

Under certain circumstances, and to the extent permitted by law, information about the specific location, character, nature, ownership, or acquisition of cultural resources on park lands will be withheld from public disclosure.

To the extent permitted by law, the Service will withhold from public disclosure (1) information provided by individuals who wish the information to remain confidential, and (2) the identities of individuals who wish to remain anonymous and who are protected from release by exemption under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Inquiries to the park of this nature will be referred to the Pacific West Region’s FOIA and Privacy Act Officer for consultation and possible review.

Restrictions may be placed on the publication of images or manuscripts in the museum collection if these materials are subject to copyright, and this right has not been signed over to the National Park Service.

All endangered, threatened, or rare plants and vertebrate and invertebrate animals will be collected only when accidentally killed or when dead from natural causes.  The collection of threatened, endangered, or rare plant and animal species will comply with NPS Management Policies (2006), be in accordance with the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and will be strictly limited according to the applicable rules of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  

Final disposition of type specimens will be determined at the Servicewide level and will adhere to recognized conventions established for specific disciplines.

VII. MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

This Scope of Collections Statement must be reviewed at minimum every five years and, when necessary, will be revised to remain supportive of and consistent with any changes in the park's mission or conditions.

The park has identified the need for a number of planning documents in the NPS Checklist for the Preservation and Protection of Museum Property. These include:

•	Collection Management Plan
•	A variety of Collection Condition Surveys
•	Collection Storage Plan 
•	Integrated Pest Management Plan
•	Archeological Overview and Assessment 
•	Archaeological Culling Protocols

APPENDICES

Appendix I	Enabling Legislation
Appendix II	List of Golden Gate NRA Cultural Resources
Appendix III	Previous Interpretive and Collecting Themes
Appendix IV 	General Management Plan (2014) and Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014) Themes
Appendix V	Architectural Fragments

Appendix I – Enabling Legislation
Legislation for 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area as of October 2000

Public Law #	Title	Summary	Date	
92-589	Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Calif.	This act establishes the purpose of the GGNRA, delineates the composition and boundaries, describes the acquisition policy and administration, creates an advisory committee, and discusses appropriations.	10/27/1972	
93-544	Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Calif., additional land	Amended the act of 10/27/72  to include the acquisition of contiguous lands in southern Marin, Muir, and Stinson Beaches.  (Oakwood Valley, Tennessee Valley, Wolfback Ridge, and Haslett Warehouse)	12/26/1974	
94-389	California Tule elk population, preservation	
Establishes a Federal objective in preserving Tule Elk population in California.  Mandates cooperation between federal agencies in making land available and suggests Point Reyes as a viable location	8/14/1976	
95-625	National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978	Expanded boundaries in Marin and San Francisco (Lagunitas Creek watershed, Devils Gulch, Cheda, McIsaac, Zanardi, and Rogers ranches).  Strengthened continued use and occupancy provisions for agriculture, and limited new construction.  It also established the ability to obtain proceeds from rental space in the warehouse, Cliff House, and Louis' restaurant.  It increased the park's advisory commission from 15 to 17. (Note:  references conflict with re: to which law has the acquisition of Samuel P. Taylor)	11/10/1978	
96-199	National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978, amendment	Expands park boundaries including Samuel P. Taylor Park, Gallagher, Ottinger, and Giacomini ranches.  Included the waters of Tomales Bay and increased park's acquisition ceiling while reducing its development ceiling 	3/5/1980	
96-203	Hot Springs, Ark., land conveyance	Authorizes the Interior Dept. to acquire whaling artifacts for the Maritime Museum	3/10/1980	
96-344	Historic Sites, Buildings and Antiquities Act, administration improvement	Added the acreage of the McFadden, Genazzi and Martinelli ranches.  Extended the terms of the advisory committee from three to five years.  Recommended Sweeney Ridge for addition to GGNRA	9/8/1980	
96-607	National Park System, amendment	Adds Sweeney Ridge and increased membership of the advisory committee from 17 to 18	12/28/1980	
98-28	Golden Gate National Recreation Area, dedication to Congressman Phillip Burton	Dedicates GGNRA to Congressman Burton	5/10/1983	
99-395	National Maritime Museum	Authorizes the Interior Dept. to use funds from rental of drydock to fund restoration and maintenance of the National Maritime Museum collection	8/27/1986	
100-348	San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Act of 1988	Establishes the SF Maritime Museum as a separate entity reducing the boundary for the GGNRA	6/27/1988	
100-526	Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act	The Presidio is slated for closure as an active military base and will be transferred to the NPS	10/24/1988	
	Central California Coast Biosphere Reserve			
102-299	Golden Gate National Recreation Area Addition Act of 1992	Addition of the Phleger Estate	6/9/1992	
102-525	Advisory Committee	
Extension of Golden Gate National Recreation Area Advisory Committee	10/26/1992	
102-580	Presidio Transition	
Authorization for technical assistance in transition process and search for opportunities	10/31/1992	
103-160	Defense Authorization	
Restrictions on land transaction relating to the Presidio	11/30/1993	
103-175	Letterman-LAIR Complex at Presidio.	
Authorization to negotiate for all or part of the Letterman-Lair complex at the Presidio	12/2/1993	
103-337	Defense Authorization	
Repeal of restrictions on land transaction relating to Presidio	10/5/1994	
106-113	Consolidated Appropriations for FY ending 9/30/2000	
Exemption of all taxes and special assessments, except sales tax. Such areas of Fort Baker shall remain under exclusive Federal jurisdiction	11/29/1999	
106-291	Dept of Interior appropriation	
Authority for fee-based education, interpretive and visitor service functions within the Crissy Field and Fort Point areas of the Presidio	10/11/2000	
106-350	Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act of 2000	Additions as depicted on map "numbered NPS-80,076, and dated July 2000/PWR-PLRPC"	10/24/2000	
109-131	Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act	Amends PL 92-589 to add Rancho Corral de Tierra lands, with limitation to acquire this land only from a willing seller	12/20/2005	

Appendix II – List of Golden Gate NRA Cultural Resources

National Register Properties
(Note: In addition to the properties listed below, those features listed in the park’s cultural resource inventories--List of Classified Structures, Cultural Landscapes Automated Inventory System and Archeological Sites Management Information System--comprise the entirety of properties managed as cultural resources within the park). 

National Historic Landmarks
The Presidio of San Francisco
Fort Point National Historic Site
San Francisco Port of Embarkation
Alcatraz Island
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site

Properties on the National Register of Historic Places     
Dipsea Trail
Forts Baker, Barry and Cronkhite
Fort Mason Historic District
Point Lobos Archeological Sites
Six-inch Gun No. 9 (Baker Beach)
Fort Miley Military Reservation
Muir Beach Archaeological District
Muir Woods National Monument
S.S. Tennessee Shipwreck site and remains
King Phillip/Reporter site and remains
Camera Obscura
Point Bonita Historic District
Olema Valley Historic District
Pumping Station #2

Properties Formally Determined Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places   
Golden Gate Bridge
Sara Seaver Randall House
Hill 640 Military Reservation
Golden Gate Dairy
Hillwood Camp
Merrie Way Stands Site
Mile Rock Tunnel
Historic Miwok Ranch A/B
Point Bonita Lifesaving Station

Description of Park Cultural Resource Inventories
(Note: Access to, or information from, these databases should be obtained by first contacting the Chief of the Division of Cultural Resources) 

List of Classified Structures (LCS)

The LCS is a computerized inventory of all historic and prehistoric structures, in which the NPS has, or plans to acquire, any legal interest. These structures must have historical, architectural or engineering significance. Structures listed on the LCS must meet one of the following criteria: either the structure is listed individually or is eligible for the National Register or the structure is a contributing element of an historic site or district that is listed or is eligible for the National Register. In addition, the LCS includes other structures; ones that have been moved or reconstructed, commemorative structures, and structures which have achieved significance within the last 50 years that are managed as cultural resources.

Cultural Landscapes Automated Information System (CLAIMS)

CLAIMS is a comprehensive inventory of all historically significant landscapes within the National Park System.  It is an evaluated inventory that provides baseline documentation for cultural landscapes. It documents general descriptive information, existing documentation, and management information. CLAIMS looks at the physical development and historical significance of the landscape, including eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Existing and historic characteristics that contribute to the significance are described and evaluated. They include characteristics such as natural systems, spatial organization, land use, vegetation, circulation, structures, and views. The inventory program also assesses the integrity and condition of the landscape. Information is gathered primarily from secondary sources and through field surveys of the landscape.

Archeological Sites Management and Information System (ASMIS)
ASMIS is the National Park Service's database for the basic registration and management of park prehistoric and historic archeological resources. ASMIS records contain data on site location, description, significance, condition, threats to, and management requirements for known park archeological sites. It serves as a tool to support improved archeological resources preservation, protection, planning, and decision-making by parks and support offices.

Appendix III – Previous Interpretive and Collecting Themes

Themes used in the 2009 SOCS:

1.	Geologic Systems:  The park’s fundamental natural geologic systems and processes, and the resulting effects on people and the environment, link the park to the highly visible and significant geologic forces around the world.
2.	Biological diversity: In a world of diminishing biological diversity and threatened natural resources, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area preserves islands of biodiversity within and near a large urban area. The acceleration rate of global climate change threatens even these islands.
3.	Military Fortifications:  Coast defense posts are at the heart of the park lands, and a major reason the park is preserved. Every major type of military fortification and architecture represented here demonstrates evolving defense technology.
4.	Alcatraz:  The layers of history so evident on the island present visitors with a chance to understand the 155-year span of Alcatraz history—from the U.S. Army period, through the federal penitentiary era and the Native American occupation to the current NPS management of the island.
5.	History: Centered on the entrance to one of the world’s great harbors, the lands of the park facing the Golden Gate are associated with and still convey the feelings of the epic stream of history that flowed between its headlands. Many rich periods of history are represented at this iconic spot, from early native cultures to the present.  
6.	Diverse Park Settings: The park provides diverse recreational and educational opportunities. It’s proximity allows an urban population to connect with nature and history.
7.	Indigenous Archeological Sites: Coast Miwok and Ohlone people occupied Golden Gate parklands before Europeans arrived. Indigenous archeological sites and their content are an important heritage asset for these indigenous peoples. These sites also provide unique historical and scientific data on the lives of people and the environment before documented history. 

Themes used in the SOCS prior to 2009:
•	Indigenous American populations (Prehistoric through Present)
•	Spanish exploration and settlement (1776-1821)
•	Mexican settlement (1821-1846)
•	Westward expansion/maritime travel including early explorers and the Gold Rush (1776-1876)
•	Military/Political affairs including Mexican War, Civil War, the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Wars (1776-1995)
•	Transportation including ships, lighthouses, shipwrecks and air travel (1776-present)
•	Architecture and landscape architecture (1776-present)
•	American ways of life including immigration, urban life, farm life and prison life (1776-1994)
•	Technology and engineering including the Golden Gate Bridge, military fortifications and lighthouses (1776-1972)
•	Environmental and cultural conservation including the history of the National Park Service and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, and Fort Point National Historic Site (1864-present)  
•	History of recreation (1858-present)

Appendix IV – General Management Plan (2014) and Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014) Themes

General Management Plan (2014) Themes:

1.	Recreational and Educational Opportunities. 
The park provides diverse recreational and educational opportunities from contemplative to active pursuits including participation in stewardship and volunteer activities. Its proximity allows an urban population to connect with nature and history.

2.	Coastal Corridor. 
In a world of diminishing biological diversity and threatened natural resources, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area preserves islands of biodiversity within and near a large urban area. The accelerating rate of global climate change threatens even these remnants.

3.	Military Installations and Fortifications.
Coast defense posts are at the heart of park lands and are a major reason the park is preserved today. Although no hostile shot was ever fired, every major type of military fortification and architecture represented here demonstrates evolving defense technology. War, peace, and the nature of protection have shaped and will continue to shape the country.

4.	Alcatraz Island. 
The layers of history so evident on the island present visitors with a chance to contemplate the 155-year span of Alcatraz history—from the U.S. Army period through the federal penitentiary era and the American Indian occupation to the current NPS management of the island. As a site of international notoriety, Alcatraz Island provides a powerful opportunity to encourage visitors to confront their personal views on crime and punishment, the judicial system, and freedom.

5.	Scenic Beauty. 
The powerful positive influences that park land and undisturbed open space can exert on urban settings and residents constitute an important interpretive message. The scenic beauty of the park’s historic and natural undeveloped landscapes inspired a grassroots movement that led to their protection. Proposed development that would have destroyed these lands sparked Bay Area community members to organize and ultimately preserve the open spaces that contribute so much to their quality of life.

6.	Physical Landforms. 
The park’s underlying natural geologic systems and processes, and the resulting effects on people and the environment, link the park to the highly visible and significant geologic forces around the world.

7.	Coast Miwok and Ohlone People. 
The natural features and resources of the park, along with its location on the San Francisco Bay estuary, sustained the Coast Miwok and Ohlone people who lived on the lands comprising the park for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Archeological sites in the park link to these pre-European inhabitants and to their descendants who retain a vibrant culture to this day.

8.	Muir Woods National Monument
The majestic, primeval old-growth redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument invite visitors, in the words of namesake John Muir, to “come to the woods, for here is rest.” The forest ecosystem of these towering trees and the creek beneath them supports an abundance of life. This remnant of the Bay Area’s once abundant redwood forests inspires visitors through its seminal conservation story, today welcoming travelers from around the world to have what is, for many, their first wildlands experience.

Long Range Interpretive Plan (2014) Themes:

1.	Geological forces
The park’s unique, significant geological forces create a dynamic environment of exceptional scientific value.
2.	Islands of refuge
In a world of diminishing natural resources, the GGNRA preserves “islands” of biological refuge, providing opportunities for threatened species to not only survive but thrive within or near an urban setting.
3.	Ohlone & Coast Miwok
Ohlone and Coast Miwok peoples, as the traditional inhabitants of these lands, partner with the park to share their stories of the past and how they retain their vibrant cultures today.
4.	Military legacy
As a gateway to the Pacific, the strategic location of the Golden Gate sparked a continuum of military responsiveness for more than 200 years.
5.	Freedom, Justice & Equality
Layers of history within the park challenge us to contemplate the meanings of freedom, justice, and equality.
6.	Scenic landscapes
The scenic landscapes of the GGNRA exert a powerful influence on the complex interactions of people and place that define the Bay Area.
Appendix V – Architectural Fragments

Northeast Museum Services Center 
Briefing Paper 
Architectural Fragment Collections

Issue 	
According to NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guideline, Chapter 8, B2c (p. 120): “…all field notes, primary documents, original maps, drawings, photographs, material samples [of architectural elements], and oral histories generated during the resource management are organized and preserved as archival material or museum objects in consultation with the park or support office curator.” Most parks in the Northeast Region maintain historic architectural elements removed from historic structures. While most of the architectural materials and associated documentation are maintained as museum collections, others are found outside of the museum collection awaiting reuse or policy decisions. Park-defined procedures are required to properly maintain and protect these collection items. 	

Action 	

1. Include information in the park’s Scope of Collection Statement about the significance of historic structures within the park. Provide examples of items to be selected for the museum collection and clearly distinguish between those materials that will be retained for reuse. Address the need for documentation of fragments to be an integral component of the collection material. 

2. During work on historic structures, convey the collecting criteria stated in the scope of collection to contractors and others who conduct the work to ensure the smooth transition of architectural fragments into the museum collections. Indicate that all documentation must accompany historic building materials when they are conveyed to the curator. 

3. In conjunction with the historical architect, curator, craftsmen and park maintenance staff, assess new and existing architectural fragments to determine priority items and representative samples that need to be maintained in the museum collection. Questions to consider during the analysis: 

- Is the fragment a character-defining feature? 

- Is the fragment unique? Or, is the fragment an additional sample of a typical architectural feature? 

- Is the fragment documented? If not, is there sufficient information extant to document the material? 

- What is the condition? Can it reasonably be preserved or is the condition too deteriorated? 

- Is documentation of the object sufficient if retention is not recommended or feasible? 

4. If material can be conclusive determined to fall outside the scope of collections or park collecting criteria, document the items and then deaccession or dispose of the material. 

5. If the material fits within the scope of collections or park collecting criteria, accession, catalog and store the fragment and associated documentation based upon NPS policy. 

Prepared by Giles Parker (NMSC Deputy Director) – October 2002