Donating Objects to the
National Watch & Clock Museum
The Museum is always happy to consider donations that will enhance the breadth and depth of its collections, and we look forward to meeting prospective donors and adding wonderful objects. The following points will help explain our collection procedures.
- If you have an object you are considering donating, please contact the Museum Director, Noel Poirier, either via e-mail: npoirier@nawcc.org, regular mail or by phone at (717) 684-8261. Please review our Collections Needs List and see how your donation may fill an identified need.
- Please do not drop-off or send objects without first contacting the Museum Director - we want to make sure that your potential gift is properly identified and cared for.
- Please provide as much information as possible about the objects - for example, manufacturer, who owned the object and where it was sold/used. It is especially helpful if you first send photographs of the pieces for consideration since we cannot accept all the objects offered to the collections. A receipt for the deposit of objects is issued whenever pieces enter the Museum building.
The Next Step: The Accessioning Process
(This process can take four (4) to six (6) weeks.)
- After the initial contact with the Director, Museum staff will meet to review the objects. If an object is approved by the Museum staff for accession, it is presented to the Board Museum Collection Committee for approval.
- Those objects not accepted will be returned to the donor or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the donor's wishes. Limited storage space, duplication of objects in the collection and the condition of the offered piece affect our decision to accept an object.
- The National Watch and Clock Museum is a 501(c)3 charitable cultural and educational organization, and all non-cash donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Upon receipt of a non-cash gift, the Museum will issue a gift acknowledgement form to be signed by the donor, but cannot issue an appraisal. Potential donors should obtain a third-party appraisal of items to be gifted to the Museum, prior to their donation. For further details concerning the tax laws governing the donation of property, potential donors should consult the IRS web site and/or publications 561 ("Determining the Value of Donated Property") and 526 ("Charitable Contributions").
- If accepted, the donor will receive Certificate of Gift paperwork which transfers legal title of the gift to the Museum.
- Every object accepted is listed, treated if necessary, numbered and catalogued. Each is carefully stored in the Museum’s collection storage areas.
The costs of storage, care and maintenance are part of our ongoing responsibility when we accept objects into the collection. We would greatly appreciate your help toward meeting these expenses and hope that you will accompany your gift with funds necessary to help us preserve it. Your deed of gift reflects your total contribution of in-kind gifts and support funds.
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