A Review of Deacessioning Policies in American University and College Archives/Special Collections

During the Spring semester of 2025 the author conducted a review of 23 deaccession policies from United States based university and college archives/special collections. The first study of its kind, the author wanted to know, of the policies that existed, what are their similarities and differences. Utilized the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Guidelines for Reappraisal and Deaccessioning, the policies collected were examined for inclusion of authority/approval processes, methods of disposal, allowable uses of funds from sale if applicable, and how to manage found-in-collection objects. Any other similarities or differences of significance were noted. The author found that while most policies examined included some of the SAA’s recommendations, few followed similar structures or emphasized the same deaccessioning guidelines. With a literature that backs deaccessioning as sound collections management practice, the policies examined show that ethical deaccessioning is possible, and the resources exist to help archives that are in the process of creating their own deaccession policy.