We get drop-offs all the time and, over the years, we have evolved a simple
policy.

Our collections are divided into a "National" collection and a "Living History"
collection. Items in the national collection are deemed to be artifacts and are
subjected to the full range of curatorial and conservation controls.
Deaccession of any artifact in that collection requires approval by our Board
of Trustees.

Items in the LHC are not deemed to be artifacts and may be disposed of by a
variety of means. They are used to support our education, outreach and
re-enactment programmes, or in exhibits where the light or other ambient
conditions would be too damaging to items of artifact quality. Uniforms in open
displays are an example.

ALL ITEMS donated to us, including drop-offs, go initially into the LHC.
Curatorial chiefs review these periodically and have first claim on any items
for the National Collection. Those they don't want (the majority) remain in the
LHC. If we don't want to keep them, we get rid of them - into sales of miltaria
(to raise funds to buy items that are really needed) or simply into the
garbage. ALL our donation receipt forms give the museum an unrestricted right
to dispose of any donated item by any means it deems appropriate. If a doner
wants to attach strings, we refuse the donation. Period.

We particularly accept every firearm donated or left at the door and,with our
stiffening gun control laws, the number of these is increasing sharply. Often,
these include sporting arms, which are of no interest to us whatever. Our
policy is to transport these immediately to the regional police headquarters,
where they are destroyed. The objective is to get as many street weapons off
the street as possible - the same aim as that of our federal firearms act.

It is important to have a policy that clearly covers all manner of donations
(including drop-offs) and their disposal. You also need a good receipt form,
that gives the museum unrestricted ownership AND right of disposal. Your policy
and receipt should be approved by your highest review authority, such as a
board of trustees and should be regularly subjected to audit. In the absence of
legislative or regulatory authority, this is about the best you can do.

If anyone would like a copy of our policy on "donations at the door", send an
email to:

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Harry Needham
Director, Programmes & Operations
Canadian War Museum