Donating an Artifact to Midway Village & Museum Center

Midway Village & Museum Center is fortunate to have so may people in the area who are willing to help us preserve the heritage of Northern Illinois by donating objects to the museum. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions that people have in regard to making a donation.

Q.  Does the Museum accept all donations?
A.  Unfortunately, limitations of space and resources prohibit us from accepting many items.

Our first consideration is whether the object supports our mission to interpret the history of Rockford and Northern Illinois. The physical condition of the object and similarity to other items in the collection are also importation issues. Careful selection of donations allows us to give the best possible care to every object in our collection.

Q.  What kind of objects is the Museum currently interested in?
A.  Although there are many wonderful objects offered to us, we focus our attention on things unique to Rockford and Northern Illinois including (but not limited to) Rockford-made products, photographs, company archives and items belonging to early settlers of the area. We cannot accept unidentified items or those not associated with this area. 

Q.  How do I begin the process?
A.  A phone call is the best way to ask about a possible donation.  To discuss your object, please contact Curator of Collections Laura Furman at 815-397-9112 ext. 108. This initial conversation can often determine if your object is appropriate for our collections.

If it is decided that the object might be appropriate, we will accept it on a temporary basis. You will be asked to sign a “Preliminary Acquisition Form” in which you will indicate if you would like the object returned if we decide not to accept it into the permanent collection. The donation will then be reviewed and a decision will usually be made within a month.

Q.  What happens if my donation is not accepted?
A.  If you do not want your item returned, the museum might use it for hands-on education, give it to other museums or find other purposes which benefit the museum or community.

Q.  What happens once my donation is accepted?
A.  You will be asked to sign and return a legally binding “Donor Form”. The object then becomes a permanent part of our collection and will be numbered, cataloged and stored in a secured and environmentally controlled area.

Q.  Will my donation be exhibited?
A.   At any given time, only a very small percentage of the Museum’s collection is on exhibit.

Because exhibits require extensive resources of time and labor, we are limited in our ability to change them often. Some items are too fragile and may be damaged by exposure to light and the environment. There is no guarantee that your donation will be exhibited but we would be happy to discuss how we might use your particular object with you. However it is used, your donation will receive proper care and handling to ensure that it will be preserved for future generations to exhibit or study.

Q.  Is my donation tax deductible?
A.  Yes, but you will need to have the value determined by an independent appraisal.

The Museum is grateful to all of our donors for their generosity and willingness to share their objects with the community through us.