HOW DO YOU COLLECT?
How do we get objects for the collection?

Most of our collections come to us as gifts. People and institutions have been donating to the Museum for almost 100 years. Sometimes we purchase collections objects for a specific exhibit or program. In the late 1970’s, we received a grant to purchase contemporary Native American arts, such as baskets, beadwork and jewelry.

Most people donate to the Museum because they would like to share their treasures with others. Sometimes, people just can’t care for everything they have, and they know that we will take good care of their things.

To decide if an object will become part of the collection, we check to see if we already have that type of object in the collection. Next, we check to see if it is in good condition and that if we can fit it into our storage space.