Do you have artifacts related to Trumbull County that you would like to donate to TCHS? We would love to consider them for our permanent collection! Please send photographs and a description of the items to Collections &. Research Manager Savannah Moss:
savannah@trumbullcountyhistory.org.
Do you have items to donate to the Warren G. Harding Alumni Band Collection? For more information on this collection, please visit their project website
Donate to Support the Collection
If your donated item is particularly large or in need of restoration, please consider donating funds toward its preservation and maintenance.
It costs museums annually to maintain climate control in collections storage and archival areas, to pay for acid-free storage materials, and to catalog, track, and digitize items for public benefit.
Leading museum associations estimate this cost at $75 to $250 per item annually. Such donations will be earmarked for use in the museum’s restricted collections fund only.
Additional earmarked donations for the collections fund to accompany donated items are gratefully accepted, as the museum has over 40,000 individual artifacts and archival items.
Please Note
TCHS has limited storage space, and size restraints may cause us to decline a donation. Other factors considered when accepting new artifact donations include exhibit value, research value, condition, and duplicates we may already hold.
We collect a wide variety of items, including:
First, let us know what you would like to donate. The best way to do this is by completing the Potential Donation Form below. The more information you provide about your item(s), the easier we’ll be able to decide whether or not to add it to our collections.
Or you can contact our Collections Manager directly at: savannah@trumbullcountyhistory.org or by calling (330) 394-4653.
Because of its standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as an interested party, TCHS cannot appraise or assign a monetary value to items. Those looking for appraisal services may wish to consult their local Yellow Pages.
Some do, although only a small percentage of the TCHS’ collections are on exhibit at any one time. That’s because we have limited gallery space, and long-term display can negatively affect preservation. Items in the TCHS’ collections that are not on exhibit are kept in secure, climate-controlled storage for optimal preservation.
Yes. Depending on the type of item, different arrangements may be necessary for viewing. Books, journals, newspapers, articles, business and organizational records, personal papers, family history materials, and photos may generally be viewed at the Morgan History Center during open hours. Viewing photographs, objects, and other items may require scheduling an appointment in advance with a staff member. Over 20,000 items are available for view on our digital database here.
In most cases, we do not collect:
To ensure our collection remains focused and impactful, TCHS prioritizes filling gaps and expanding areas of particular interest. Generally, we avoid accepting duplicate items unless they hold unique significance.
Before submitting a Potential Donation Form, we recommend searching our Online Database to check for similar items already in our collection. The database includes records of printed materials (books, journals, newspapers, articles), organizational records, personal papers, family histories, photographs, and more.
If you have questions or need assistance with your search, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re happy to help!
Each item is different, but factors we consider include the item’s historical or cultural significance in Warren, Ohio, physical condition, whether or not TCHS already owns a similar item, and the item’s ownership and use history.
Donations to the TCHS are generally tax deductible. Consult with a tax specialist to determine your eligibility. In most cases, an appraisal of the donated item is required to receive a tax deduction.
Items that have been formally accessioned into the collections cannot be returned to the donor or their descendants. At the end of the donation process, donors are asked to sign a Deed of Gift, which legally transfers ownership of the items and all associated rights and interests to TCHS.