Holding Status
Reviewed field entry.
This page explains a term used by Anatomy Steward’s digital museum and teaching resources.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Entry context: Anatomy Steward Wiki › Collection Documentation › Holding Status
Holding status indicates whether the institution holds a physical object, a partner record, a digital-only record, or no physical object.
Why It Matters
Section titled “Why It Matters”It is central to transparency for digital museums that use reference records or educational illustrations.
Museum Use
Section titled “Museum Use”Anatomy Steward Version 1 often states that no physical object is held for a digital teaching record.
Teaching Use
Section titled “Teaching Use”Ask learners why holding status changes how they interpret a record.
Cautions
Section titled “Cautions”Do not confuse public display of a record with physical custody.
Diagram to Add
Section titled “Diagram to Add”A future diagram for this entry should show:
- Holding status diagram showing physical object held, partner collection, public reference, digital-only record.
- Make clear that public record does not always mean physical custody.
Diagram notes: use calm educational line art, clear labels, alt text, image credit, and rights status.
Related Terms
Section titled “Related Terms”Use with Museum Pages
Section titled “Use with Museum Pages”This wiki entry is designed to support these Anatomy Steward museum pages:
Related Museum Pages
Section titled “Related Museum Pages”Sources and Further Reading
Section titled “Sources and Further Reading”The following public sources support this entry. They are provided for definition review, teaching context, museum documentation language, or rights/digital preservation context.
- Collections Trust — Acquisition and Accessioning — Public museum resource for distinguishing entry, acquisition, and accessioning context.
- NPS Museum Handbook, Part II — Museum Records — Public museum records guidance for accessioning, loans, and collection documentation.
- NPS Museum Handbook, Part II, Chapter 2 — Accessioning — Public PDF guidance on accessioning; useful for explaining why holding status and accession status are distinct.
Source Review Note
Section titled “Source Review Note”These sources are public references for educational and museum documentation use. They do not replace professional, legal, conservation, taxonomic, or collection-specific review.
Key Observations
Section titled “Key Observations”- What is visible?
- What can be compared?
- What documentation is needed?
- What uncertainty should remain?
Common Misunderstandings
Section titled “Common Misunderstandings”- A visible feature should not be over-interpreted.
- A teaching category is not the same as confirmed identification.
- Public access does not remove the need for rights, source, and context review.
Mini Teaching Activity
Section titled “Mini Teaching Activity”Ask learners to write one observation, one cautious interpretation, and one question about missing evidence.
Contribution Ideas
Section titled “Contribution Ideas”This entry can be improved with:
- Public references
- Teaching-use notes
- Terminology improvements
- Public-domain image leads
- Interpretation cautions
Search Keywords
Section titled “Search Keywords”holding status, physical object held, digital-only record, museum ownership
Teacher Use
Section titled “Teacher Use”Use this entry to explain why a digital record does not automatically mean a physical object is held by the museum.
Diagram Placeholder
Section titled “Diagram Placeholder”A future diagram for this entry should include:
- Holding status comparison chart
- Labels: physical object held, partner collection, digital-only record, public reference
- Use: clarify that not every page means physical ownership
This placeholder is intentionally non-sensitive and does not require biological material images.
Suggested Citation
Section titled “Suggested Citation”Anatomy Steward Wiki. “Holding Status.” Anatomy Steward Wiki. https://wiki.anatomysteward.com/documentation/holding-status/
Improve This Entry
Section titled “Improve This Entry”Help improve this reviewed wiki entry.
See a clearer definition, better public source, correction, teaching use, or image lead?
📝 Suggest a Correction, Source, or Teaching Use
Suggestions may include:
- a public source
- a correction or safer wording
- a related museum page
- a teaching activity
- an image or diagram lead with clear rights information
- a question that would make this entry easier to understand
Reviewed Status
Section titled “Reviewed Status”Version 1 field entry. This page is part of the reviewed Anatomy Steward Wiki and is not open for direct public editing.