"Erotic Art" (Smithsonian)

Dear Mr. Smathers,

Below please find a message from Ms. Annette Fancher-Bishop acknowledging your records request with the Smithsonian Institution.

Sincerely,

Tim Murphy
Paralegal Specialist
Office of General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution
1000 Jefferson Drive, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20560-0012
OGC MRC 012
(v) 202-633-5115 (fax) 202-357-4310

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL: requests@muckrock.com

September 19, 2011

Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 825
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

RE: Your Records Request with the Smithsonian Institution.

Dear Mr. Smathers:

The Office of General Counsel acknowledges your request for Smithsonian Institution records, received September 19, 2011, pertaining to "a copy of all Smithsonian Institution or Museum specific policies regarding exhibition, curation, handling , display or depiction of Erotic Art." You also ask for a copy of a "list of all artworks in the Smithsonian Institution holdings that are designated as Erotic Art."

OGC staff will consult staff at various Smithsonian museums to determine whether responsive documents exist and to initiate a search for documents.

The Smithsonian answers requests consistent its written policy, Requests for Smithsonian Institution Records, when providing information to the public. A copy of the policy is posted on the Smithsonian website at si.edu/about/foia. Consistent with its policy, the Smithsonian Institution conforms to the principles of the FOIA, the Privacy Act, and other relevant law when answering requests. OGC will produce all responsive documents, subject to applicable exemptions stated in its policy.

The Smithsonian Institution makes every effort to provide documents within a reasonable time, taking account of the scope and depth of your request, and the number of requests ahead of yours. Staff may contact you to discuss clarifying your request, if it appears to be written too broadly to initiate a reasonable search.

Feel free to contact me if you have not received documents within 90 days, or if you have questions about your request. You can refer to your file by your name or ID #, which is 36415.

Best wishes,

Annette Fancher-Bishop
(fanchera@si.edu<mailto:fanchera@si.edu>)
Attorney Administrator
Smithsonian Institution
1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20560-0012
fax 202-357-4310

This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete and destroy all copies.

Dear Mr. Smathers,

Below please find a letter from Ms. Annette Fancher-Bishop responding to your request for Smithsonian Institution records.

Sincerely,

Tim Murphy
Paralegal Specialist
Office of General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution
1000 Jefferson Drive, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20560-0012
OGC MRC 012
(v) 202-633-5109 (fax) 202-357-4310

Via Electronic Mail: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

October 6, 2011

Jason Smathers
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 825
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

RE: Your Request for Smithsonian Institution Records.

Dear Mr. Smathers:

Below is the Smithsonian Institution's response to your request for records dated September 19, 2011.[1] You asked for "a copy of all Smithsonian Institution or Museum specific policies regarding exhibition, curation, handling, display or depiction of Erotic Art" and a copy of a "list of artworks in the Smithsonian Institution holdings that are designated as Erotic Art."

The Office of General Counsel forwarded your request to staff at Smithsonian Institution museums and to the Smithsonian's National Collections Program. All staff reported that their museums and program do not have a specific policy regarding the exhibition, curation, handling, display, or depiction of Erotic Art, nor do they maintain a list of artworks designated as Erotic Art.

This concludes the Smithsonian's response to your request. Thank you for your interest in the Smithsonian Institution.

Best wishes,

Annette Fancher-Bishop
Attorney Administrator
Smithsonian Institution (MRC 012)
1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20560-0012
fanchera@si.edu<mailto:fanchera@si.edu>
(fax) 202-357-4310

This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete and destroy all copies.

You have the right to appeal a partial or full denial of your request. An appeal must be in writing, addressed to the Smithsonian Institution Office of General Counsel, and made within 60 days from the date of the response letter. The request must explain your reason(s) for the appeal. The Smithsonian Under Secretary for Finance and Administration will decide your appeal in writing specifying the reason(s) for the granting or denying of the appeal.

________________________________

[1] The Smithsonian Institution follows the principles of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as articulated in its written policy Request for Smithsonian Institution Records, when providing information to the public. The policy is posted on our website, at the address www.si.edu/FOIA<http://www.si.edu/FOIA.>.