Donate to Collections
Your Story is Wisconsin's Story
Since 1846, our collections have grown steadily, in part thanks to generous donations made by people like you, sharing images, papers, records, even physical artifacts. Find out how you can help make history.
Growing the Collections
History is made every day. And our vast collections continue to grow.
New items are added to our collections in several ways, including through donation. Every item offered to the Society goes through a review process to determine if it fits our collecting priorities. We welcome all inquiries, however we may not be able to accept every item offered, for a variety of reasons.
We Collect
- Books, newsletters, and pamphlets
- Historic objects and art
- Film, video, and sound recordings (analog and digital)
- Maps
- Letters, diaries, and photographs
- Newspapers and periodicals
How to Make a Donation
First, let us know what it is you’d like to donate by filling out the Wisconsin Historical Society Donation Consideration form. The more information you provide about your item(s), the more quickly and easily we’ll be able to decide whether we’re able to add it to our collection.
A Society staff member will contact you about your submission. We endeavor to review items within 2-4 weeks, but please allow up to 90 days before contacting us again. Some items are subject to approval by a Collections Committee, which meets monthly to review acquisition proposals. If the donation is accepted, Society staff will arrange with you to take custody of the items and sign the appropriate paperwork if necessary. This process may take several months.
No. We do not have the resources to handle unsolicited donations. If you’d like to donate something, the first step is to fill out the Wisconsin Historical Society Donation Consideration form. A staff member will follow up. The Wisconsin Historical Society may review specific items in person to determine appropriateness for the collection.
Each item is different, but weight is given to the item’s historical or cultural significance, connection to Wisconsin, uniqueness, physical condition, and the item’s ownership and use history. Most donations are also subject to a vote by a Collections Committee.
Generally we do not collect:
Awards and plaques
Family Bibles and hymnals
Genealogy research collections that are not complied into a narrative family history
Human Remains
Newspaper and magazine clippings
Scans or photocopies of original materials
School yearbooks
Postcards
Unidentified photographs
In general, the Wisconsin Historical Society does not accept duplicate items, however on rare occasions we may choose to add a duplicate to our collection.
Yes, but only in exceptional cases. On these occasions, ethical practices dictate that we cannot suggest or set the purchase price but can only react to prices set by the seller.
The Wisconsin Historical Society, as a state agency, non-profit organization, and a party involved in the donation, is not able to assess collections for financial value or advise on tax deductions. Those looking for appraisal services may wish to contact one of the following organizations for a referral:
Donations to the Society are generally tax-deductible. Consult with a tax specialist to determine your eligibility. In most cases, an appraisal of the donated item will be necessary to receive a tax deduction.
Like most museums, the Society typically has less than 10% of its historic object collection on display at any given time. Items may be rotated on and off exhibit, but we cannot guarantee a donated object will be immediately exhibited.
However, exhibits are not the only way your donated material may be used. Collections may also be used for scholarly research, educational programs, school tours, community outreach events and marketing and promotion.
Although the Society regularly digitizes collection materials, we cannot guarantee your donation will be digitized.
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 materials, as well as all associated rights and interests, to the Society. NAGPRA eligible items are subject to the separate NAGPRA repatriation process.
The Society only accepts loans for specific, short-term exhibit purposes. We do not accept long-term loans or hold materials on deposit.
Find Your Story
Our Collections are one of the most expansive and important collections documenting North American history in the world, and it’s all here for you. Whether you’re online or visiting in person, you’ll find your story here.
Explore Our Collections
