THANK YOU for your interest in donating artifacts to the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. The Museum has a standard procedure for accepting artifacts into its collection. The best way to let us know what you have and what you are interested in donating is to fill out this Artifact Donor Inquiry Form and submit it to us. Please review the following information before you contact the Museum.

***The Museum cannot be responsible for any materials that are mailed or dropped off without prior notification and approval.

WHAT TYPES OF ARTIFACTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience collects artifacts and archival materials it can properly care for and that will further our mission. The following is a non-exhaustive list of items that we are interested in collecting.

• Judaica with connections to Southern Jewish history
• Photographs and scrapbooks showing religious ceremonies and events, Jewish owned businesses, synagogues, Jews participating in civic and cultural events
• Business Items, like ledgers, store memorabilia, signs, salesman samples, first dollars
• Personal correspondence, journals, and diaries, especially if it relates to or describes Southern Jewish events and experiences
• Political ephemera, like buttons, posters, speeches
• Fine art and folk art by Southern Jewish artists or with connections to Southern Jews

TOPICS OF SPECIAL INTEREST:
 
• Southern Jews in each of our 13 states (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA)
• Southern Jews and Slavery
• Southern Jews and the Civil War
• Southern Jews and the Civil Rights Movement
•      Anti-Semitism in the South
• Southern Jews and Military Service
• The Role of Jewish Women in the South
• Southern Jews in Politics
• Southern Jews in Entertainment
• Southern Jews in Civic Life and Philanthropy
•      Jewish Summer Camps in the South
 
The following is a non-exhaustive list of items that the Museum does not usually accept.
 
• Newspapers and newspaper clippings
• Books (of non-historic significance)
• Magazines
• Personal photographs
• Record albums
• Furniture
• Firearms

The Museum can provide a list of other museums and archives that may be interested in your artifacts.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS DONE WITH ARTIFACTS DONATED TO THE MUSEUM?

We use artifacts for exhibits, loans to other museums, and for research.  We do not accept items we feel we will not be able to use or properly care for.  

WILL MY DONATION BE ON EXHIBIT?

The Museum does not guarantee artifacts will ever be exhibited.  Our collection is catalogued and may be used for exhibition purposes, and by researchers and educators for a number of reasons.  If we place your donation on exhibition, we will notify you by mail.  We hope to have our collection available online in the near future.  We do not place artifacts on “permanent display” or accept long-term loans.

HOW WILL MY DONATION EVER BE CREDITED IF PLACED ON EXHIBIT?

When making an artifact donation to the Museum, donors can stipulate how they want their donation to be credited, within reason.

DO ARTIFACT DONORS GET SOME SORT OF RECEIPT OR PROOF OF DONATION?

Yes, artifact donors must sign a Deed of Gift describing their donation. The Museum also signs and provides a copy for the donor’s records. A sample Deed of Gift is found in this packet.

WILL THE MUSEUM STAFF APPRAISE ARTIFACTS FOR DONORS?
 
The Museum cannot make appraisals, but these organizations may be able to help you:
• Appraisers Association of America, Inc., www.appraisersassoc.org 
• American Society of Appraisers, www.appraisers.org
• International Society of Appraisers, www.isa-appraisers.org 

If you plan to get an appraisal for artifacts, it is best to get them photographed, photocopied and/or appraised before donating them.  

WHERE ARE THE ARTIFACTS KEPT THAT ARE NOT ON EXHIBIT?

Most of our collection is stored off-site in a climate-controlled storage facility.  Artifacts are housed in appropriate acid-free containers and archival-quality materials.  Donors are welcome to make an appointment to view their donations when not on exhibit. Please arrange appointments at least two weeks in advance.

CAN I LEND OBJECTS TO THE MUSEUM?

We only borrow items when producing an exhibit for which we cannot supply enough artifacts of our own.  If you have a loan offer, please send the Artifact Donor Inquiry Form with photos and indicate the objects are for loan only.  We will keep your offer on file and exhibit planners will have access to it.

>>>> Please proceed to the next section to tell us about yourself and the items you are interested in donating.