Summary: The Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress have competed for historic artifacts at least four times during the past five years, with one agency prevailing in each instance. The items at stake included manuscripts from Duke Ellington and other jazz artists as well as 19th century architectural renderings by James Renwick. In three of the four cases, one agency was willing to pay more than the amount being negotiated for an artifact--essentially "outbidding" its competitor. In the fourth instance, one agency unsuccessfully tried to raise money to match the amount offered by its competitor. Neither agency has formal policies to guard against interagency competition. The two agencies were in contact with one another concerning all four acquisitions, but only after negotiating independently with the sellers. The Library of Congress tried without success to reach a formal agreement with the Smithsonian on collecting roles. To prevent future competition, the two agencies need to adopt policies against such practices and to clarify collecting roles, particularly in the area of music where substantial overlap exists.
