Donate Artifacts

The TR Site is pleased accept donations of objects and documents that are related to the Site mission.

Collecting Priorities
The TR Site collects objects and documents known to be associated with TR's 1901 inauguration and the Wilcox residence at the time of TR's inauguration; TR's life, and specifically, his presidency (1901-09); Ansley Wilcox, his immediate family and their residence at 641 Delaware Avenue; President William McKinley's assassination and death; Kathryn Lawrence’s Dining Rooms (circa 1937-1960); Buffalo's Pan-American Exposition

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I donate objects or documents? 
Please contact the TR Site's curator by phone at (716) 884-0095 or via e-mail with detailed information about the objects you wish to donate. The curator will schedule an appointment with you to bring the objects in, or will make other arrangements to view them.

All items submitted undergo a review process before a final decision is made by the TR Site's Collections Committee, which meets several times each year.

Can I mail or drop off a donation? 
If you have material that meets the TR Site's collecting priorities, please contact the curator by phone at (716) 884-0095 or via e-mail to schedule an appointment. Please do not bring or send any donations of material without first contacting the curator.

Can I make a donation for someone else? 
If you are contacting us on behalf of a friend or relative, we will need to communicate directly with him or her regarding the donation process.

Can I make a loan instead of a donation? 
The TR Site does not accept long-term loans. While it does accept loan materials on a short-term basis in conjunction with exhibitions and other programs, the museum prefers to commit its resources to the storage and preservation of collection materials.

Can you tell me how much my material is worth? 
Federal (IRS) regulations prevent TR Site staff from providing identification services or monetary appraisals of items offered for donation. However, professional appraisers will perform this service for a fee. One of the following organizations may be able to help you find a licensed appraiser in your area: American Society of Appraisers (800) 272-8258 or at www.appraisers.org; International Society of Appraisers (312) 981-6778 or at www.isa-appraisers.org; Appraisers Association of America (212) 889-5404 or at www.appraisersassoc.org

Can I take a tax deduction on the material I donate? 
Donations to the historic collection may be tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor and refer to IRS publications 526 & 561, as well as form 8283.

When will my donation be on exhibit?
While the TR Site values all material accepted into its collection, it cannot guarantee when/if objects will be displayed. Only a fraction of the collection is on view at any given time; objects not on exhibit are carefully preserved in our storage area.

Can objects be removed from the TR Site collection? 
The TR Site may, after careful review and with approval from the Board of Trustees, remove objects from the collection through a process called de-accessioning. Artifacts that are damaged beyond repair, have condition issues that put other parts of the collection at risk, duplicate other items in the collection, or are outside the scope of the collection may be considered for deaccessioning. If materials are deaccessioned, they may be donated to another museum or cultural/educational organization, destroyed, or sold. Proceeds from the sale of these materials are placed in a restricted collection acquisition fund.

If I donate material to the TR Site, will it be returned to me at my request? 
The TR Site cannot return accessioned collection materials to the donor. Once the Collections Committee accepts your donation, you will be asked to sign a Deed of Gift, which legally transfers ownership of the materials to the museum.

How can I make a contribution to support the cost of caring for my donation?
Collections stewardship requires considerable resources of space, materials, and personnel. We are very grateful to donors who understand this "big picture" and contribute funds to support the preservation and accessibility of collections. Please contact the TR Site's Curator if you would like to make such a gift.

Additional information is available in the TR Site's Collections Management Policy.