Donate Artifacts

Hyrum Museum Collections Policy

The museum accepts donations that can be used effectively for research, education, and exhibits. Generally, items must be in good condition, needing little to no repair before being displayed. Exceptions for extremely relevant or scarce pieces will be made by the museum director. The item must have direct bearing on a significant part of the community’s heritage.

Determination of Scope

Items will be considered for donation if they are relevant to our geographic region, are at least twenty-five years old*, would fit into the subject of an existing or planned exhibit, or represent an antiquated procedure or technology.

Usability

Once donated, the museum director will determine how the object is used, whether in an exhibit, in interpretive activities, put into storage, or any other scenario. Readily available materials, with little or no monetary value, should be collected even if they duplicate items already in the collection with the idea of lending them to schools or other museums. It is acceptable to accept objects purely to prevent their loss or destruction with the intention of exchanging them or transferring them to another collection where they can be used more effectively.

Technical Problems of Ownership

Recognizing that the museum is not a community attic, the museum cannot accept items that do not adhere to this Collections Policy or may pose a threat, perceived or otherwise. Additionally, the Hyrum City Museum will not accept any donation accompanied by restrictions or other conditions regarding usage, storage, or disposal. The museum retains the right to dispose of any donation by sale, trade, or through whatever other means deemed appropriate by the museum director.

Care Procedure

Once an item is donated, it will be photographed and accessioned into the museum’s software program and any necessary documentary research will be completed. It will then be added to an existing exhibit or housed in museum storage. If at any time the museum director determines that the museum no longer wishes to retain an item, she or he will propose its removal to the museum board. If the board concurs, the museum director will submit the item’s removal to the city council and upon its approval, the museum director will determine how to dispose of the item. It will also be deaccessioned.

*Items that represent great social and/or economic changes over the last twenty-five years will be considered, not everything needs to be an antique, just relevant.