The Mount Prospect Historical Society is always looking for photos, documents, and objects that help tell Mount Prospect’s story. We currently have over 7000 artifacts in the collection that shed light on the town’s past, ranging in date from approximately 6000 years ago to 2020. All of these artifacts are held in trust for the public.
We can only consider accepting artifact donations that meet the Historical Society’s Collection Policy, including but not limited to the following criteria:
- Relevant to Mount Prospect history
- In good condition
- Not already represented in the Historical Society collection
If you have something that may meet the above criteria, please fill out the form below. The Museum Director will then contact you about your prospective donation. Please do not drop off items at the Historical Society without making prior arrangements with the Museum Director.
Thank you for helping us preserve and share Mount Prospect history!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the donation process work?
The first step in the donation process is submitting the form on this web page. The Director will contact you about the items in question and to discuss the next steps. All donations must be approved by the Board of Directors before they can be added to the collection.
Can I donate copies of photos and documents, or do you only accept originals?
We do accept digital and physical copies of photos and documents. Please make sure the copies are legible. All scans should be at a resolution of 300DPI or greater.
When will my donated items be on display?
We cannot guarantee when donated items will be on display because only a small fraction of the collection can be displayed at any given time. Items may also be shared on Historical Society social media accounts, in digital exhibits, and made available to visiting researchers. Whenever items are not on display, they are stored with archival materials in one of our storage areas.
Can I loan you my photo, document, or object?
The Historical Society will accept short-term artifact loans, usually for special exhibits. Long-term loans will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Can donated items be removed from the Historical Society collection?
The Mount Prospect Historical Society holds its collection in trust for present and future generations. However, all museums occasionally remove artifacts from the collection under certain conditions in a process called deaccessioning. Deaccessioning may be done when an object has deteriorated beyond preservation or if the object is no longer or never was relevant to the purpose, activities, or scope of the Historical Society’s mission.
Deaccessioned artifacts may be transferred to another museum or non-profit organization, sold, or, as a last resort, destroyed. All profits from sold artifacts will be placed in restricted funds to be used to benefit the existing collection.
Is my donation tax deductible?
The Mount Prospect Historical Society is a non-profit organization organized legally as a 501.C.3. Therefore, donations to the Historical Society are tax deductible. The responsibility for the appraisal of the value of a donated item rests solely with the donor.
For more information, please contact the Museum Director.
Emily Dattilo
edattilo@mtphistory.org
(847) 392-9006