Support the Archives and Museum
We build our collection through the generous donation of archival materials and artefacts from individuals, organizations, businesses and municipalities. Through your donations, we are able to preserve and provide public access to the history of Northumberland County for research, education and enjoyment.
Donate an item
As we focus on preparing for our move to NCAM’s new location, donation assessments and transfers are temporarily suspended until we are settled in our new space in fall 2025. We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming new contributions into our collection hall that meets Category A preservation standards.
If your collection is at immediate risk of loss or damage, please email us.
Make a financial contribution
You may provide a financial contribution to the Archives and Museum in one of the following ways:
Contribute by cash or cheque |
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Contribute by debit or credit card |
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Frequently asked questions
What can I donate? |
Personal and family items
Business records
Organization, association or club records
ArtefactsObjects with strong local provenance that support our existing or anticipated collections Still not sure?Contact us. We will work with you to identify what materials we may be interested in adding to the collection. |
How do I transfer municipal records? |
Member municipalities can transfer inactive, permanent archival records through a formal service agreement to the Archives and Museum. Contact us for details. |
How do you decide which donations to accept? |
We examine the uniqueness, provenance and condition of each potential donation, and consider its research value for future generations. When determining whether we will accept your donation, we will ask a number of questions including:
We cannot accept items on long-term deposit or loan due to the investment of resources required in the care for the collections. |
What are your collecting priorities? |
We want to develop an inclusive and diverse collection that tells the history of communities from all across Northumberland County. We prioritize the collection of materials from currently under-represented municipalities, groups and subjects including:
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How should I prepare my items for donation? |
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What happens with my donation? |
Transferring ownershipAfter we assess and accept your donation, you will sign a Deed of Gift legally transferring ownership of materials to the Archives and Museum. Together, we will determine copyright terms and access restrictions as part of the Deed of Gift agreement. CopyrightWe encourage donors to transfer their ownership of copyright to us upon donation. It is not a mandatory condition for donation, but it allows more open and streamlined use of your materials. Otherwise, users – including us – must seek your permission every time we wish to use your donation other than for private study or research. Please note that as a donor, you can only transfer copyright for records you authored or those where copyright ownership was assigned to you. RestrictionsAny private or sensitive contents within your collection can be made restricted to the public for a specified period. Conservation workIf there is an item that is very fragile and requires conservation work, we will decide on the appropriate course of treatment through consultation. SafekeepingWe clean, describe, arrange, catalogue and prepare finding aids for your items and store them in our secure, climate controlled storage rooms. |
Can I still access my items if I donate them? |
Yes, you can access your donation by visiting us during operating hours or by appointment. To ensure the continued preservation and accessibility of your materials, we cannot loan items received by donation back to you. |
Who will see my donation? |
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Can I bequeath items to the archives? |
Yes, please contact us prior to making any decisions to ensure your gift meets our collecting mandate. |
Can I receive a tax receipt for my donation? |
We provide tax receipts by request for donations with a minimum appraised value of $25.00. An accredited professional outside of our organization conducts appraisals at the cost of the donor. |