Beware donating your collection to a library or university, or museum
without doing your homework!

It would be most prudent if one wished to donate a collection, to
do a thorough research of the institution as to their past behavior
regarding such collections.  Past behavior is usually a good predictor
of future behavior.  If you encounter a bad attitude anywhere along
the line, beware.  Arrogant bastards are to avoided at all costs.

If you settle on an institution for your collection, a  very specific
writing should be generated outlining what you have in mind for access
to the collection, under what circumstances they may or may not disperse
or sell off the collection, etc., and agreed to in writing by the
institution.  If they balk, go elsewhere.

Of course, nothing is foolproof, and even in the face of a very
specific writing, when an institution changes personnel, things could
still go awry.  One dog-in-the-manger little snot-nose bureaucrat could
put a large stick in the wheels of research at any time.

At least with a written agreement, a researcher might have a fighting
chance of getting around this type of situation and still gain access
the collection.

The institutions that have locked up piano rolls and granted no access
whatsoever, even to bona fide researchers or archivists, are guilty of
the worst type of arrogance and are not worthy of their charges.  To
leave a collection with this type of institution is no better than
throwing it in the dump.  Better to sell it off on eBay.

At least that way it would be going to someone who appreciates it for
what it is, and will continue to get some enjoyment from it.

Tom Lear
San Francisco, CA