dispersed collection
[/dɪˈspɜːrst kəˈlɛkʃən/]
nounpl: dispersed collections
coleção dispersa
1. A collection of items, documents, or artifacts that are scattered across multiple locations rather than being housed in a single place
The dispersed collection of medieval manuscripts is held across several European libraries.
A coleção dispersa de manuscritos medievais está distribuída entre várias bibliotecas europeias.
2. In library and archive contexts, materials that belong together conceptually but are physically separated in different institutions or storage facilities
Scholars studying the artist's work must consult a dispersed collection housed in museums across three continents.
Os estudiosos da obra do artista devem consultar uma coleção dispersa em museus espalhados por três continentes.
3. Items that have been separated from their original grouping due to sale, inheritance, war, or institutional decisions
The once-intact library became a dispersed collection after the estate was auctioned off.
A biblioteca antes intacta tornou-se uma coleção dispersa após a venda da propriedade.
This term is significant in the cultural heritage field, particularly in discussions about museum collections, library archives, and the challenges of studying historical materials. In Brazil, questions about dispersed collections often arise in discussions of colonial-era documents and artifacts held in Portuguese institutions, reflecting Brazil's historical relationship with colonial powers. The concept is also relevant in discussions about repatriation and the return of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin.
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