Do you have something you’d like to donate?
Because we have limited resources for purchasing objects and artifacts, we rely upon the community at large to donate those precious items for research and display. If you have something you’d like to donate, please take a minute to read our mission statement (below). It will help you understand our collecting focus.
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“To preserve and interpret the history of Clyde and its place in Ohio and America.”
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Please note that we primarily are interested in collections or single objects reflecting the history, heritage, culture or interests of the people of Clyde. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, and it is best to contact the curator directly when in doubt. A visit to the museum, or a look at our website pages involving exhibits and displays, may provide more insight. We urge you to contact us because your generous gift may help to fill a gap in our collections.
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Here are some of the things we collect:
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Transportation
Military history relics and artifacts
Military uniforms and related objects
Native American artifacts
Books on a very limited basis.
Artwork
Pioneer era objects
Business and Industry related objects of Clyde
Toys
Ephemera
Artifacts and relics of notable individuals, i.e. Gen. James B. McPherson, Sherwood Anderson, Karl Anderson, Rodger W. Young, Charles H. McCleary, George Burton Meek, Senator George W. Norris.
Archival items such as personal papers and business documents (unpublished letters, diaries, business ledgers, letterhead, and etc.)
Maps
Architectural Drawings
Photographs and some audiovisual materials.
Man-made objects of all sorts and types.
Natural objects (meteorites, rocks, fossils, etc.) and other archeological materials (natural objects and other archeological materials must come from a local site, or be collected by a Clyde resident or individual with connections to Clyde).
If you have something really special, but want to keep it for yourself, we can scan photographs, maps, and manuscripts to make their content available to researchers (subject to possible copyright restrictions).
If it is something not listed here, please call and talk with us to see if we are interested.
To make an offer of a donation
If you have an item you think is appropriate for our collections, please contact one of the following:
For all items listed above, including three-dimensional objects, printed and published materials, photographs, personal letters, diaries, business records, maps, architectural drawings, etc., please contact Gene Smith, curator@clydemuseum.org or call (419) 547-7946.
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If you prefer to write, please address your letter to: Clyde Museum, P.O. Box 97, Clyde, Ohio 43410.
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Please do not mail or ship unsolicited donations of objects to the museum without prior approval!
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The curator will evaluate all items offered to the museum. The evaluation process may take up to two months. The more information you provide us on the history of an object or collection, the better. If we decide to add it to our collections, we will send you a Deed of Gift agreement to sign and return; this transfers ownership of the object or collection to the Clyde Heritage League.
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Appraisals
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We are sorry, but we are unable to provide appraisals for objects or collections. If a value is needed for tax purposes, potential donors should seek a professional appraisal service. No goods or services are ever offered for donations either, i.e. trading, gift shop items or etc.