Gifts to the Collection
The New Hampshire Historical Society welcomes every opportunity to discuss potential gifts to the collection. Donations increase the breadth and depth of our resources to better serve our patrons from New Hampshire and around the world. With climate-controlled facilities and professional staff, the Society is well equipped to save, preserve, and share its collections for generations to come.
The first step in making a gift to the collection is to contact the Society. Staff will want to learn about the items you are interested in donating and how they relate to New Hampshire history. Staff also will want to see the items. After the Society agrees to accept items, the donor signs a deed of gift, which transfers ownership of the items; or a promised gift form, which transfers ownership through one’s estate. In most cases, gifts, with the exception of recently published material, are not accepted unless the ownership and copyright are transferred or promised to the Society.
The Society collects objects, manuscripts, diaries, account books, business records, church records, photographs, published materials, maps, broadsides, and ephemera of individuals, institutions, and organizations associated with New Hampshire history, including:
Personal and family papers
- Letters, diaries, scrapbooks
- Speeches, research notes, lecture notes
- Photograph albums, photographs
- Genealogical and biographical information
- Professional files
- Video and audio tapes
- Other types of documents
Organization and Institutional Records
- Articles of incorporation, bylaws, annual reports
- Correspondence, meeting minutes, legal documents
- Financial documents, planning documents, press releases
- Publications, photographs
- Video and audio tapes
- Other types of documents
Objects related to
- Advertising
- Agriculture
- Art
- Buildings and Architecture
- Business, Industry, Manufacturing, and Technology
- Clothing and Accessories
- Cultures and Communities
- Domestic Life
- Education
- Family and Social Life
- Food
- Government, Politics, and Reform
- Health and Medicine
- Leisure, Entertainment, and Sports
- Military
- Music and Musical Instruments
- Photography
- Religion
- Textiles
- Transportation
- Work
Copyright usually belongs to the creator of original materials (letters, diaries, photographs, artwork, etc.). The Society strongly encourages donors to consider transferring copyright of donated items. Transfer of copyright greatly assists researchers who might wish to quote or cite references to materials in the collection.
Donors may be able to take a tax deduction for their donation. Donors wishing to have more information on this matter should speak with a tax advisor or an attorney. Society policy prohibits staff from providing monetary valuations of collections. Donors wishing to hire an appraiser can contact the Society’s staff for a list of for-hire professional appraisers.
The cost of caring for and providing access to rare and historic materials is significant. Once accepted, items will be cared for in perpetuity. Please consider making a monetary donation with your gift to the collections to help care for the items in perpetuity.
Nonprofit Information
The New Hampshire Historical Society is an independent, nonprofit membership organization. The Society is a registered 501c3 nonprofit; Taxpayer Identification Number 02-0233250.
Contacts
Sarah Galligan
Director of Archival & Library Collections
New Hampshire Historical Society
30 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-856-0643
sgalligan@nhhistory.org
Jonathan M. Olly
Director of Museum Collections
New Hampshire Historical Society
30 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-856-0605
jolly@nhhistory.org