Scotty Greene made some good points about dispersing a collection to
other private collectors or even some "museums".  I recently learned
that many small museums formed as non-profit 501c3 organizations are
not completely safe as a place to donate your collection.  In forming
the not-for-profit status, they are required to provide a disbursement
plan in case the organization fails financially or any other reason.

When moving to a retirement community, we had to disperse our
collection of antiques and had a well-respected museum interested in
acquiring it.  However, upon checking their disbursement plan, they had
only named Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, as beneficiary of
their entire inventory.  On checking farther, I discovered that another
museum which _had_ failed, and Smithsonian was named as beneficiary,
had their inventory sold at auction and the proceeds collected by
Smithsonian.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am older, and want my instruments
to go to somewhere to be enjoyed and protected.  Most of my friends
that have similar interests are older too, so giving the collection to
them probably would just postponing their final dispersal.

It's a problem all of us older collectors and musicians struggle with.
For me the trick is to find a younger person who is genuinely interested
in the hobby, and then gift their favorite instrument to them while
I am still living.

Al Good
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

 [ "Disburse" always refers to money, and "disperse" is used in reference
 [ to the distribution, scattering or spreading of other things, such as
 [ the dispersal of a collection.  -- Robbie