Collections Policy

The Oregon Historical Society is a regional institution incorporated by the State of Oregon to acquire, preserve, and interpret materials that illustrate the history and development of the Pacific Northwest, especially Oregon.

1. All title for gifts to the Research Library or Museum collections is conveyed to the Oregon Historical Society.

2. Library Collections: comprised of materials whose primary purpose is for research. Acceptable material will generally be related to documentation of the history of the Pacific Northwest and will include manuscript and printed records, photographic negatives and materials, moving images, prints, maps, and other historical source materials.

Literary Rights: Unless otherwise restricted by copyright or by the donor and agreed to by the Society at the time of acquisition, all literary rights are conveyed to the Oregon Historical Society. The Library cannot assume responsibility for misuse of literary or copyright restrictions by users of unrestricted material beyond normal professional library ethics and standards. Material placed in the Library is primarily for research and, unless restricted, will be used for that purpose.

Research Library material may on occasion be used in Museum exhibitions or other educational programs.

3. Museum Collections are used for exhibit, research, and educational purposes. Acceptable material will consist of artifacts of cultural, historical, or technological significance in the illustration of Pacific Northwest history. The Museum reserves the right to determine when and how such material will be used. Because the Museum has a flexible exhibit policy for educational and preservation purposes, artifacts on exhibit can be expected to change frequently.

4. Gifts to the Research Library and Museum are considered outright and unrestricted donations to be used in the best interests of the Oregon Historical Society. Usually, accepted gifts are considered extremely important or the best available at the time acquired. However, no individual or institution can predict or govern the changing attitudes of future generations, nor guarantee permanency beyond the best available preservation procedures.

It is sometimes impractical to evaluate all materials at the time of acquisition. Upon evaluation, some material may be declared expendable. In addition, certain material already in existing collections may become expendable by acquisition of better examples. Expendable material includes surplus, duplicate, and non-relevant material as well as material of deteriorated condition or limited use. Such material will be used in the best interests of the Society, including, but not limited to, sale and exchange programs to acquire other needed materials, loans to schools and other institutions, and disposal if the condition or value so warrants. Any material declared expendable must be approved in accordance with the Society's deaccession policies which are subject to review by the Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society.

5. Donations may be tax deductible. However, the Oregon Historical Society cannot appraise donations for tax purposes. For the protection of the donor, a qualified tax accountant should be consulted and any necessary appraisals completed before title to the material is conveyed to the Oregon Historical Society.