Undocumented object: an object in a museum’s physical possession or control that is unsupported by any documentation and/or lacks sufficient evidence to prove museum ownership. Also commonly called objects "Found in Collection," "FIC's," or "the Registrar's Nightmare." By Melinda Simms
	Essential to a museum’s collection management system is the ability to account for the objects in its collection. Standardized record keeping almost always assures that objects entering our institutions are properly accounted for and documented. At best, these standards guarantee that an object in the museum's possession is either owned by the museum or can be directly traced to another owner. They ensure that objects are uniquely numbered and described—methods by which they can be tracked and linked to their documentary information. They also ensure that should the need arise, the museum can judiciously remove the objects from the collection.
	Objects that lack sufficient documentation can raise complex issues surrounding their ownership and disposition. Reconciling undocumented items, what many museum professionals sometimes refer to as objects "found in collections," or "FIC's"  can potentially be a time consuming, confusing undertaking. In some states, legal statutes help regulate the resolution of these types of items. However, the laws vary significantly from state to state in their complexity as well as in the breadth of materials they cover and they can be difficult to decipher without legal aid.
	FIC object reconciliation can present a host of unique issues that are not pertinent to other museum objects, and thus are not as easily or readily addressed. As there is little information gathered in a single format available on reconciling FIC items, the following reference guide is intended as a starting point and supplies procedural recommendations and resource appendices to be used by collections personnel (both amateur and professional) who are trying to reconcile FIC objects in their museums:
	"Found in Collections": A Reference Guide for Reconciling Undocumented Objects in Historical Museums