Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village is grateful for your interest in donating to our Collections. Donations to our Museum Collections support and assist us in fulfilling our mission to preserve, interpret, and exhibit the agricultural history and rural heritage of the Buffalo Niagara region.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions to help guide you through the process. Please contact curator@bnhv.org to receive more information or to receive a Prospective Donation Offer Form to fill out.
Frequently Asked Questions: BNHV Artifact Donations
How do I offer to donate an item to the BNHV Collection?
Donation offers must be submitted in writing. They may be received by email at curator@bnhv.org or by mail at 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst, NY 14228.
Prospective donors are required to submit the Prospective Donation Offer Form, which requires:
- Photos of the item(s)
- Provenance details
- Item dimensions
Upon receipt of the Prospective Donation Offer Form, donation offers will be reviewed (performed quarterly) for possible accession into the BNHV Collection. Items may be accepted for accession into the Artifact Collection or the Userfact Collection. Submission of Prospective Donation Offer Form for consideration does not guarantee acceptance.
When will I hear back regarding my donation offer?
Prospective donations are reviewed by the Collections Committee. Offers accepted for accession into the Museum Collections are determined on a quarterly basis. Following this review process, you will be notified regarding the determination made on your donation offer. If your donation offer is accepted for accession, you will receive further instructions on how to proceed.
What criteria must an item fulfill to be considered for accession into the BNHV collection?
BNHV follows a policy of selective acquisition. All donation requests are thoughtfully considered to ensure that donated objects complement our collecting focus and aid in fulfilling our mission as an educational institution. Due to limited funds, storage space, and concern for the required preservation needs of each object, we are only able to accept donations that are in line with the Museum’s mission and collecting focus.
- Items must support BNHV’s mission to preserve, interpret, and exhibit the agricultural history and rural heritage of the Buffalo Niagara region.
- Duplicates of items already present in the Collection cannot be accepted.
- Items must be in stable condition.
- All items are considered on a case by case basis and are subject to approval.
What sort of items is BNHV interested in?
The Museum is actively collecting artifacts with provenance, such as:
- Agricultural Tools
- Representations of Agriculture and Rural Life, including:
- Art
- Ephemera
- Oral History
- Photographs
What sort of items is BNHV not actively accepting?
Due to storage constraints, the Museum is not actively collecting the following items:
- Items without provenance
- Cameras
- Contemporary Clothing Textiles
- Contemporary and/or Reupholstered Furniture
- Historic Structures
- Looms
- Military Uniforms
- Newspapers
- Radios
- Sewing Machines
- Spinning Wheels
- Stoves
- Televisions
- Wedding Textiles
Will BNHV staff come to my home to evaluate a prospective donation?
No. Due to safety policies, Museum staff are unable to do in-home visits. All prospective item donations must be submitted in writing per the above protocol.
Will BNHV pick up an item from my home for donation?
No. BNHV is unable to facilitate donation pick ups. Donors must drop off approved item donations to the Museum at a mutually agreed upon time.
Can BNHV appraise my item?
No. BNHV is not able to provide an appraised value for items.
Can I take a tax deduction for my donation?
Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and donations to the collection are generally tax deductible. The Museum recommends you consult with a tax professional to confirm. BNHV cannot offer tax advice.
Will my donation be returned to me upon my request?
No. BNHV cannot return donated items to a donor or their heirs once the items have been legally accessioned into the collection. By signing the Acquisition Form and Deed of Gift, a donor transfers legal ownership of donated items to the Museum.
Will my item be exhibited?
BNHV is unable to guarantee that an item will be exhibited.
Can items be removed from the BNHV collection?
Yes. BNHV may, with approval from the Collections Committee and the Board of Trustees, remove artifacts from the collection by deaccessioning. The deaccession process adheres to strict standards as prescribed by the American Alliance of Museums. Items may be deaccessioned if they no longer fit the museum’s collecting goals, if their condition is poor and/or poses a danger to the public, staff and/or the collection, or are duplicates in the collection. Deaccessioned items may be transferred to another museum or cultural institution, destroyed, or sold. As ownership of items is transferred to the Museum upon completed donation, the Museum is not obligated to inform donors of such action.
Can I mail or drop off a donation?
No. BNHV is unable to accept unsolicited donations that are left or abandoned on our property without prior approval. All prospective donations must be reviewed and approved by the Collections Committee per the above protocol. BNHV reserves the right to dispose of unsolicited items.
