Donations to the Museum Collection

The park gratefully accepts donations to the museum collection. Our collecting policy focuses on the Vanderbilt Hyde Park property and all aspects of the estate history. We collect documents, photographs, textiles, artworks, furnishings, and other objects owned by the Vanderbilts, especially those with a substantial connection to Hyde Park.

All proposed gifts to the museum collection must be recommended by the curatorial staff and approved by the Collections Advisory Committee and the Superintendent in accordance with the provisions of National Park Service Management Policies. In determining whether to accept a proposed donation, the park considers (1) whether the proposed gift is related to the park's mission, (2) the costs associated with receiving and maintaining the proposed donation (including costs of shipping, storage, and preservation), and (3) any restrictions on the use of the proposed gift.

Please contact the park's curator with the subject line Object Donation Inquiry and include the following information:

• Description of the object(s)
• Biographical information about the original owner of the object, if known
• Provenance (Who was the original owner of the object? How did you obtain the object?)
• Images of the object(s)
• Your contact details, including phone number and email address

Do not send any items to the Museum without first speaking to our museum collection staff to make appropriate arrangements.

Acknowledgement of Museum Collection Donations and Tax Law

The park shall acknowledge all gifts in writing and, upon a donor’s request, the completion of the donee statement of IRS Form 8283. Donors are responsible for obtaining appraisals of gifts where required for the donor s tax return. The park does not select the appraiser, hire the appraiser, or pay for such appraisals. Donors are responsible for seeking independent legal and tax advice in advance of making a gift to the park.