Donating Object(s) to our Collections

Slide
Object Donations

The Collection of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Thank you for considering the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center as a repository for your historical materials. We greatly value your generosity as we build an inclusive collection that reflects our diverse communities locally, regionally and nationally.

To submit your item(s) for Acquisition Review, please fill out the form below. Photographs of the material(s) must be uploaded with the form. Please upload any related documentation that you have with the form.

Donation offers are reviewed by a curatorial team. All donation offers are reviewed based on historical interest as outlined in our Call for Donations, condition, our ability to make the material available to the public and the availability of resources to properly store and care for the material.

The curatorial team requires 30 days to review donation offers.

If your material is accepted into the collection, you will receive a Deed of Gift transferring ownership to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

If you are not notified within 30 days of your offer, we have reviewed the material(s) and decided they are duplicates or outside the scope of our collection and mission. If time allows, we may recommend a different repository for you to consider.

Questions? Please contact museumcollections@nurfc.org.

Please Note:

  • Under no circumstances should you physically send us your material(s) without prior written curatorial approval.
  • The staff at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center staff are not able to authenticate or appraise objects. If you are seeking either of these services, we recommend contacting a professional appraisal company.

Request an Acquisition Review

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 2 files.
Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 7 files.
Please attach images of the object(s)