If you are considering donating any items to the library or museum, please read these guidelines. Please call before visiting with or sending any material to the Society. Include your name and address for acknowledgement with any materials that you send.
Collections PolicyBethel Historical Society
P.O. Box 1776
Bethel, CT 06801
203-743-5893
Note on Appraisals
For the protection of the donor, BHS can not conduct appraisals for tax purposes, nor can staff appraise items as a service to visitors. It is the responsibility of the donor to have the donation appraised before any material is donated to BHS.
Guidelines
All Acquisitions must be compatible with our stated mission, to preserve the heritage and history of Bethel, Connecticut.
Documents and artifacts will be accepted if they are relevant to our collecting criteria, as outlined in the Society’s , and do not duplicate a document or artifact already in the collection. The relevance to the collection should be shown through its provenance, defining its association to Bethel's history. Materials may be collected that have documented associations to individuals, residences, businesses and other organizations that are or have been active within Bethel.
The more known about the object, such as "where and when was it made, and by whom?" and "who owned and/or used it and what was it used for?" the more likely it is that the object will find a home at the Bethel Historical Society. It is extremely helpful to have all information relevant to the object's history and use in writing.
The museum holdings include costumes and textiles, decorative arts, Native American artifacts and archaeological material, political memorabilia, military acts, and domestic artifacts reflecting upon life in Bethel. The diverse collection serves as the foundation for the Bethel Historical Society exhibition program.
Library holdings include, but are not limited to, books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, maps, diaries, census data, brochures and ephemera in all format/media including microfilms, video tapes, and CD ROM.
Preference is given to acquisitions in the following areas: works of non-fiction concerning Bethel history, biography and genealogy; works that document and interpret Bethel's regional content, particularly in connection with New England; reference works that assist in the research, documentation, and interpretation of all aspects of Collections; and selective historical fiction relating to Bethel.
Special Collections may also include manuscripts, archives, photographic materials, prints, broadsides, scrapbooks, maps, architectural and engineering drawings, and paper ephemera relating to the history of Bethel and its people. Ideally, artifacts should be stable and in good condition, and BHS must be able to provide adequate care for it as determined by established, professional standards.
Gifts to the Society will be made without restrictions, and the owner must have clear and legal title to that artifact, and that title must be transferred to BHS.
Contact Information - Museum Items
Bethel Historical Society
P.O. Box 1776
Bethel, CT 06801
203-743-5893
If you are considering making a donation, or have questions, please have the object information and supporting materials available when you call. We will discuss the material with you, review donation procedures, and in some cases make an appointment to see the material in person, or arrange for you to send a photograph of the material offered.