Donating Materials to the Matawan Historical Society

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Donating Materials to the Matawan Historical Society

The Matawan Historical Society (“MHS”), a 501(c)(3) organization, is always interested in adding more materials related to Matawan’s history to its Burrowes Mansion Museum, library, and archives collections.

If you have objects, ephemera, archival material (letters, diaries, etc.), or photographs you would like to donate to the Society, please take a few moments to read our Collection Policy below. We would be happy to discuss your donations with you as well. Please email museum@matawanhistoricalsociety.org and include the following information:

  • Physical description of item(s)
  • General condition of item(s)
  • Item’s significance to the history of Matawan (To whom did it belong? How was it used?)
  • Photos of the item (if possible)
  • Your contact information, including phone number

As documented in our Deed of Gift form (see below), appraisals on the monetary value of items are the responsibility of the donor.

 

MHS Collection Policy

  1. Purpose

To collect and preserve materials connected with the history of Matawan and its residents.

  1. Scope

The collection may include materials of interest and/or of enduring value to the Matawan community.

  1. Acquisition

All members of the Matawan community, or those with an interest in the Matawan community, are invited to donate materials that help to illuminate the history of the people, places or events concerning Matawan or its residents. Materials not relevant to the history of the Matawan and/or its residents, past or present, are currently not being accepted. Both loans and donations of appropriate materials will be accepted by the Curator and recorded in writing.

Except where specifically authorized by the Curator or Board of Directors, no materials will be accepted except as unrestricted gifts. The Curator will review all offers of materials; however, when questions arise as to the appropriateness of a gift or loan, the Curator may consult the Board of Directors.

Donated items that have been formally accessioned into MHS’s collection cannot be returned to the donor. Upon approval by the Curator, donors are asked to sign a Deed of Gift, which legally transfers ownership of the item, as well as any associated rights, to MHS.  A PDF copy of our Deed of Gift form can be found at this link: MHS-Deed-of-Gift

  1. Use

The collection will be stored and in the discretion of the Curator exhibited at the Burrowes Mansion Museum. The Curator is authorized to make the collection available for research or educational use, or for loan.

  1. Loans (Incoming)

Upon acceptance into the Burrowes Mansion Museum, the Curator will inventory incoming loan materials, physical condition will be noted, and a loan receipt given to the lender. A copy of the receipt will also be kept permanently in the Curator’s files. Loan items will be accepted only when the materials are required for use in an exhibit or program and/or there is a written agreement signifying that the loaned materials will be donated to the museum as unrestricted gifts within a specified period of time.

  1. Loans (Outgoing)

No materials from the collection will be loaned for outside use except with the approval of the Curator and the Board of Directors.  The borrower must complete the Loan Request Form.  A PDF copy of the form can be found here: MHS-Item-Loan-Form

  1. Conservation, Restoration and Repairs

Conservation, restoration, repairs and/or other alterations to collection materials will be performed by appropriate professionals only upon the recommendation of the Curator, with the approval of the Board of Directors. Alterations must respect the original integrity of the item(s) and, when possible, will employ techniques and materials that are reversible.

  1. De-accessioning

The Matawan Historical Society reserves the right to dispose of any materials it owns that are deemed by the Curator to be inappropriate and/or out-of-scope. Ultimate disposition may take the form of sale, exchange, or discard, subject to the judgment of the Curator, acting with the advice of the Board of Directors.

 

Accepted by Board of Directors:  January 9, 2023