The Kittitas County Historical Museum began its collection in 1961 with the donation of items from individuals, families, and businesses interested in preserving local history, heritage, and culture in Kittitas County. Since then, the collection has steadily grown. We continue to accept items to ensure that we remain relevant and representative of our ever-changing community today and into the future. We also seek to tell a more complete story of all people, places, and events and activities in Kittitas County, past and present.
If you are interested in donating to our collection, we encourage you to
contact us with the information outlined below in the Donation Process –
The Donation Process
Anyone interested in donating is asked to about the item(s), ideally by email. Please provide as much information as possible about the item(s) as known, which may include item history, item use, family history, etc., and photographs if possible. Please do not bringing the item(s) into the Museum as storage is limited for any item(s) that we are not certain will go into the Museum’s collection.
Our Collections Committee reviews and evaluates items that are proposed for the Museum’s collection. The information that is provided with an item is very important as it will help provide context and provenance, and may also help the committee to decide whether the proposed donation meets the requirements for the donation. The information provided will also be used for our files and eventual display if it is accepted.
Please note, not every item proposed is accepted due to limited storage. The Museum will also not accept/collect items that are: by their nature unsafe (such as items in an advanced state of loss or deterioration that to accept them would place an undue burden on the Museum Staff and/or Museum); objects that are suspected of being illegally obtained; or objects too large or cumbersome to display, store, or transport safely and efficiently. Some items may not be accepted into the collection due to duplicating material already in the collection; undue restrictions or conveyances upon the item; or items not being related to Kittitas County (or like something like that which was used here).
Once the intent to donate has been made, Museum Staff will follow up to make sure that the paperwork is complete and will route a copy of all documentation to the Collections Committee for review. If additional documentation or research is needed, Museum Staff will coordinate that. The donor will hear back from the Museum within a reasonable time of the Collection Committee’s decision and any further steps needed, such as additional paperwork and physically transferring the item to the Museum, if accepted. Depending on the originating location of the item, it may be shipped via USPS, UPS, FEDEX, or other postal carrier. If the item is declined, there may be suggestions of other repositories (museums, archives, etc.) that the item(s) may be better suited for and a list of contacts provided.
Please note as well that there is no guarantee of acceptance by the Museum for any item(s) intended for donation; and there is no guarantee that any item(s) accepted for the permanent collections will be displayed at any given time.
Other Ways to Donate An Item
Items may also be donated to the Museum through bequests (through a will/estate), but we appreciate the opportunity to work with a donor before the gift is being made. If you are interested in including the Museum as a recipient in your will/estate, please
contact us for more information.
For those interested in just providing a digital copy of their items to the Museum collection and retaining the original, Museum Staff would be happy to assist. Depending on the nature of donation and condition of original material, scanning processes may take quite some time to accomplish, and a use agreement will need to be established (which is also conditional to copyright ownership and use conveyance).
For More Information
If you are interested in donating an item, whether now or at some point in the future, please
contact us.
Volunteers are also needed! We are seeking individuals to help at the Museum to process recently donated items, inventory items, catalog items, scan photos and archival material, and much more! If you’re interested in learning more, including how to get involved, please
click here.
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