Here's the KKG historian's polite message to the seller, just to clear up any misperceptions or misunderstandings that might arise from using the word "donate" in quotes.
I am the staff archivist and museum curator for Kappa Kappa Gamma. I recently learned of your auction and was immediately intrigued by the badges and their connection to a Civil War veteran. Is there a chance you would be willing to sell the badges directly to our organization? Their historical significance to Kappa Kappa Gamma is great as we work to interpret the history of our organization in the context of the women's movement. We have two Victorian house museums in which we display pieces like these badges to share the history of women and how traditional roles in society began to shift at the close of the Civil War. As a nonprofit organization we are unable to devote great resources to acquire objects for our exhibits and rely heavily on donations. But as we prepare to celebrate our 150th Anniversary in 2020, we do have some resources that can be put towards the purchase of objects intended for display and interpretation. Thanks for considering, Kylie Towers Smith, Archivist/Cura
The insurance company will definitely be interested in recovering stolen property. Why haven't they been contacted to get involved?
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"One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision." Bertrand Russell, The Triumph of Stupidity
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