For an item to be considered for donation to the museum, it is important that it fit within the mission and collecting scope of the ISM. Reaching out to our curatorial and/or archival staff either in person or email is the first step in finding out if it fits. Assuming, it does and you wish to make the gift, then we will need to execute a deed of gift. This is a short legal document officially transferring both the title and the item itself to the museum.
Like any gift, however, we are not able to accept restrictions on the use, disposition, restoration, etc. of the item. ISM follows museum professional standards closely and so is very thoughtful in what it accepts and how it manages its collections. During the deed of gift process, you may specify how you would like your gift to be recognized by the institution. This can be “Gift of Joe and Jane Smith” or as a remembrance “Given in memory of Joe Smith by Jane Smith.”
Once the deed of gift is completed, the item will be reviewed by our Chief Curator, CEO and the Independence Seaport Museum Collections Committee. Once it has been approved for acceptance, the item will be cataloged and either stored or put on exhibition depending exhibit schedules. Once officially accepted, all items are available for research, study, exhibition and loan to other museums.