About 10 or 12 years ago I had this same question put to me. I happened to be doing consulting work for the individual on getting the property in some sort of trust but there was also a collection that was to be donated and two of three sisters still were around to do an oral history-they were 93 and 97 respectively.  
What we found was a local school and a state school that were doing oral history and archival classes and they helped with the project as a class assignment. 
I think that both Rutgers and Princeton teach such courses and maybe some other colleges too. You might want to check with the archives list as well for suggestions, they may know of some projects that could add this. Also check with U. of Delaware and the Hugley collection, they may have people in their program that need projects to do and you are not too far from them and they have a good knowledge of the artifacts.
Just some suggestions, hope it works out and you get the collection. Joan, used to be in the museum field and worked at living history locations.
Joan Goodbody
Reference/Instruction Librarian
Government Documents Coordinator
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
906-487-2698
fax: 906-487-2357
email: [log in to unmask] 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Lynn Laffey
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 11:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Large Collection/Possible Donation


As this list has been so helpful in the past...any ideas, thoughts or 
recommendations to this new situation would be helpful.

Our institution has been contacted about a "large collection of early 
Americana covering every conceivable implent of farming, industry and 
domestive life dating from the 1850's on (with a few possible objects from 
the 1600s, 1700s and early 1800s)."  At this time I do not know just how 
many objects we are talking about, but was told several hundred.

While the current owner decides what to do with her collection, she has 
asked for recommendations about how to start dealing with her collection in 
preparation for it's eventual and possible donation.  It has already been 
recommended to start with a complete computerized inventory of the 
collection (which would be in preparation for an appraisal) with digital 
photographs.  Just a note: The owner can not do this herself (she just 
turned 90) and there are no family members in the area to help with this 
task.  In addition, an oral history has also been recommended.

This leads to the question...what would you suggest to do in preparation 
for this possible donation?  Should the initial inventory be done by an 
appraiser or an outside consultant?  

Also, any recommendations for someone who does oral histories and/or 
inventoring of collections in New Jersey would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Lynn Laffey
Supervising Preservation Specialist
Morris County Park Commission

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