At History San José we don't have a designated program for adopt-an-artifact, but we have thought about it is on our long list of projects to try.  We have on occasion raised funds to conserve a specific artifact.  For example, we found an 1850 cattle brand book that we didn't know we had.  (Don't ask.)  It was in desperate need of conservation so we included an article about it in our newsletter with a request for donations.  Checks came flying in and within a week we had more than we needed to have it conserved.  We have done this with a few other objects and had great success. I think the donors like to know that they are directly involved in preserving an artifact.

 

Good luck!

 

Melissa Johnson

Curator of Interactive Media

history|san josé

408.918.1051

 

www.historysanjose.org/cannerylife

 

________________________________

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Lane
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Adopt-an-Artifact

 

Esteemed colleagues - 

Has any of your institutions tried an adopt-an-artifact or similar program as a way of raising money for collections care? If so, was it successful, either in terms of fundraising or in other, less tangible ways such as publicity for your museum or attracting more artifact donations? Would you mind sharing how you publicized and managed the program? We are thinking of launching something of that sort in conjunction with an exhibit we are opening in May that will feature seldom-seen items from our collection as well as items significant to Charlotte's history that we are borrowing from private lenders.

Many thanks, 

 

Anne 

Anne T. Lane

Collections Manager

704.568.1774 x110 phone

704.566.1817 fax

[log in to unmask]

 

The Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite

Where  History Has a Home

3500 Shamrock Drive

Charlotte, NC  28215-3214

www.charlottemuseum.org

Featured Exhibits:

ToyTime: Larger-than-Life Folk Toys, September 8, 2007 to March 9, 2008

Flags Across The Nation: Quilts of Patriotism, September 11 to November 11, 2007

Charlotte Neighborhoods: Brooklyn to Biddleville, Now through January 25, 2008

 

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