Making a donation to the museum's permanent collection
Thank you for your interest in donating materials to the Naperville Heritage Society. The museum regularly acquires new artifacts and archival pieces for its permanent collection for display and study at Naper Settlement through the generosity of individuals, businesses and estates. Nearly all items acquired by the Naperville Heritage Society for the permanent museum collections are donated or part of a bequest. All acquisitions assist in enhancing our collections and fulfilling our role as caretakers and interpreters of our city's rich heritage and history.

Types of artifacts collected
The Naperville Heritage Society's permanent collections include over 25,000 two- and three-dimensional items, including the following:

1. Household and industrial objects

2. Furniture, clothing and textiles, paintings and sculptures, architectural fragments, transportation artifacts and agricultural implements

3. Prints, photographs, films, audio and videotapes

4. Business, institutional and personal archives consisting of original manuscripts and documents (such as diaries, letters, ledgers, journals, etc.)

The Naperville Heritage Society collecting scope currently emphasizes the following considerations:

1. Produced or used in Naperville

• Materials that pertain directly to Naperville businesses, churches/religious organizations, schools, city government/services and social or residential life, since the town's founding
• Materials that pertain to personages who were residents of Naperville, as well as those who frequented Naperville for commerce, educational, religious purposes and the like
• Materials that are representative of typical Northern Illinois community life

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Collections wish list
The Naperville Heritage Society is actively seeking the following items for its permanent collections:

• Products and materials related to Naperville businesses, such as the Naperville Lounge Company, later known as Kroehler Manufacturing Company; Naperville Bag Company; Knoch Cigar Store; and Stenger Brewery
• Photographic images that document Naperville from its founding until present day
• Objects and two-dimensional items related to sporting events, activities and sites in the town, such as baseball, basketball, Burlington Park, etc.
• Copies of home movies documenting Naperville families during holiday and celebratory events, such as birthdays, baptisms and christenings, first communions, bar and bat mitzvahs, confirmations, graduations, etc.
• Everyday garments and accessories worn by Napervillians, such as clothing of the middle- and working-class during the 19th and early 20th centuries
• Materials related to political activity within the City of Naperville

Frequently asked questions about donations to the collections

How do I donate an artifact?
If you are interested in making an artifact donation, please contact the Registrar at 630.548.1115 or buhligs@naperville.il.us to discuss your potential donation and/or to set up an appointment for item review.

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What does the Naperville Heritage Society collect?
The Naperville Heritage Society collects both two- and three-dimensional materials depicting the first 100 years of the development of Naperville (1831-1931), including materials related to Naperville businesses, schools, families, etc., from 1831 to the present. To date there are over 25,000 items in the Museum Collections, including over 4,500 photographic images. The materials accepted into the museum's permanent collection are held in public trust and are preserved in perpetuity according to prevailing museum standards.

What happens after I contact the Registrar?
Once you have made an appointment with the Registrar, to meet either at your home or at Naper Settlement, and your materials are taken for consideration, a Temporary Custody Receipt is completed for every potential donation. On it are spaces to note donor name and contact information, object name(s) and description(s), any known history of an item, a space to check whether or not you want your item(s) back if it is declined, and a space to sign and date the receipt form, by both the donor and the Registrar. A completed copy of this form is given to potential donors at the time items are dropped off or picked up.

If you do not live in the Naperville area it is recommended that you mail or e-mail images of the proffered material(s) to the Registrar. Once an item is offered for potential acquisition, it is added to a list of items to be discussed at an Acquisition Committee Meeting. If an item does not fall within scope for the Museum Collection, it potentially could be added to the Reference, Study or Education Collections.

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How are proffered materials reviewed by the museum?
Proffered donations are reviewed by the museum's Acquisition Committee, which consists of staff members from the museum's Preservation Services and Visitor Services divisions, as well as a Naperville Heritage Society Board appointed member, and the Executive Director and Board president, all of whom are knowledgeable about the museum's collection holdings. The Committee's decision is guided by the criteria specified in the collecting scope (highlighted to link to it), but also considers proffered materials with respect to condition, duplication to current holdings, as well as the required resources to properly store and care for the object in perpetuity. The sensitive nature of certain materials and objects or ownership and copyright issues may also determine the ability to collect them. Each item is decided upon by majority vote.

How long will it take for the museum to review my donation?
On average, the Acquisition Committee meets every six weeks. After the meeting you will be notified by the Registrar of the decision about your proffered donation(s). It should be noted that certain proffered donations require some research prior to Acquisition Committee review, which will delay the decision regarding the acquisition.

Will the Naperville Heritage Society provide an appraisal for my donation?
The Naperville Heritage Society cannot provide appraisals for donated materials due to a potential conflict of interest. The IRS views museums as interested parties and any monetary appraisal prepared for donors by the museum are subject to question or disqualification. The museum is happy to refer donors to licensed appraisers in the area or you can find a qualified appraiser by contacting the American Society of Appraisers at http://www.appraisers.org.

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Can I take a tax deduction for my donation?
The Naperville Heritage Society is recognized as a qualified charitable organization and donations may be considered for tax deduction under the Society's 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status. Typically the fair market value of donated materials is generally tax deductible. To be eligible for the tax deduction for your donation, you must file tax form 1040. For donors wishing to take a tax deduction on donated materials valued over $500 within the year the deduction is taken the Society will complete IRS Form 8283 (Non-cash Charitable Contributions), Part IV, Donee Acknowledgment. It is also recommended that donors consult with their own accountant, attorney and the IRS to ensure the maximum benefit of the tax deduction is realized for donated materials.

Will the Naperville Heritage Society exhibit my donated items?
NHS cannot guarantee that any donated materials will be exhibited, unless collected and accepted explicitly for that purpose. The museum is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation of donated materials, displayed or preserved in storage. Based on various factors and criteria such as condition and display needs for the museum, many donated materials are available for scholarly research and on occasion loaned to other museums and cultural centers for special displays and exhibitions.

If I donate materials to the Naperville Heritage Society will they be returned upon my request?
NHS cannot return accessioned items to donors. Once the Acquisition Committee approves the acceptance of your proffered donation into the museum's permanent collection a Deed of Gift is issued by the Registrar and signed by the donor. This document provides transfer of legal ownership of the item to the Naperville Heritage Society.

If the museum will not accept my item as a donation, will they accept it as a long-term loan?
NHS does not generally accept long-term or permanent loans. While various materials are accepted on a short-term basis related to special exhibitions, programs or events, the institution chooses to commit its resources to the storage and preservation of objects within its own permanent collection holdings.

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How do I donate other types of materials?
For items that do not fall within the collecting scope of the Museum, Reference, and Study Collections, you may contact one of the following staff members:

• Contact the Director of Preservation Services at 630.305.7063 or at grinnelld@naperville.il.us for historic fabric salvage materials, such as doors, windows, trim, etc.
• Contact the Education Manager at 630.420.6010 or smithn@naperville.il.us for non-historic items, such as punch bowls, yarn, cloth, costuming, wool, etc.
• Contact the Facilities Manager at 630.420.4111 or hinkles@naperville.il.us for non-historic items, such as like lawn mowers, rakes, wood, garbage cans, etc.
• Contact the Organizational Resources Manager at 630.305.5252 or bretagc@naperville.il.us for non-historic office equipment, such as coffee pots, microwaves, copiers, fax machines, etc.
• Contact the Marketing/Communications Manager at 630.420.6017 or ellynej@naperville.il.us for audio-visual equipment, such as cameras, video equipment, slide carousels, projector screens, radios, TVs, VCRs, darkroom equipment, etc.
• Contact the Development Secretary at 630.305.5253 or clintonk@naperville.il.us for any other items not fitting in the above categories