ARTIFACT DONATION

Artifact Donation Policy

The Yuba County Museum of History gratefully accepts donations that help preserve and share the story of Yuba County. Donations from community members are essential to building a meaningful and representative collection.

Our goal is to ensure that all donated materials are:

  • Historically relevant to Yuba County

  • In stable condition or able to be preserved responsibly

  • Consistent with our mission and collecting priorities

  • Able to be properly stored and cared for within our current facility

What We Collect

We collect materials connected to Yuba County’s history, including:

  • Photographs

  • Documents and records

  • Artifacts and objects

  • Oral histories

(See our Collections page for full descriptions.)

Donation Review Process

All potential donations are reviewed before acceptance.

  1. Donor submits information about the item(s).

  2. Museum staff or volunteers evaluate relevance and condition.

  3. If accepted, a Deed of Gift form is completed.

  4. Items are cataloged and properly stored or prepared for exhibit.

Please note:

  • Not all items can be accepted.

  • Acceptance depends on relevance, condition, storage capacity, and duplication.

  • Once accepted, donations become the property of the museum.

Ownership & Rights

Donors must be the legal owner of items they wish to donate.

Upon acceptance and completion of a Deed of Gift:

  • Ownership transfers to the Yuba County Museum of History.

  • The museum reserves the right to display, store, loan, or deaccession items in accordance with professional museum standards.

How to Donate

If you have materials related to Yuba County history, please contact us before bringing items to the museum.

📧 yubacountymuseum@gmail.com

We are especially interested in items that reflect diverse voices and underrepresented stories within our community.

WHAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT

What We Are Unable to Accept

To ensure we can properly care for our collections, the Yuba County Museum of History may decline items that:

  • Are not connected to Yuba County

  • Are severely damaged or pose safety concerns (mold, pests, hazardous materials)

  • Duplicate items already well represented in our collection

  • Require specialized conservation beyond our current capacity

  • Are household goods or modern mass-produced items without local historical significance

  • Are weapons, explosives, or hazardous materials (unless approved in advance under specific conditions)

We encourage donors to contact us before delivering items so we can determine whether the materials align with our mission.