The National
Museum of Play® welcomes donations that advance the Strong’s mission
to collect, preserve, exhibit, and research objects, photographs, advertising, and
other materials that illustrate and document the role of play in learning and
human development, and the ways in which it illuminates cultural history,
particularly but not exclusively, in America.
Frequently asked questions about donating materials
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Is the National Museum of Play actively collecting additional toys, games,
dolls, and other play-related materials?
Yes. The National Museum of Play is actively seeking and
acquiring additional examples of play-related materials.
What types of materials are of
interest?
From
individual items to comprehensive collections, the National Museum of Play
seeks a broad range of materials. The museum’s definition of play includes
adult hobbies and leisure activities as well as the types of play most
frequently associated with children. The museum’s collections reflect play from
past centuries to modern times. Materials of particular interest include toys,
games, dolls, sports equipment, souvenirs, amateur crafts, and holiday
decorations. Artifacts accompanied by stories that show how donors used them
are especially important. Personal photographs and videos of people at play are
also desired for documenting play.
Must donated materials be in mint
condition?
Items
or collections offered to the museum should be complete (not missing
significant parts) and in stable condition, but they do not have to be
mint-in-box or look the way they did when new. It is not necessary to clean objects
prior to offering them to the National Museum of Play. Curatorial and conservation
staff members examine each artifact to assure that its condition will allow it
to be preserved for future exhibition, research, and educational needs.
What happens
when the museum considers a donation?
The
museum considers each potential acquisition carefully. Individual curators evaluate
each item or collection to make sure it supports the museum’s mission and does
not duplicate objects already in the collections. When items or groups of items
appear to fit those criteria, the curator responsible for the initial review presents
a written justification for acquisition to the Strong’s Acquisitions Team. If
that group agrees with the curator, a Deed of Gift form is prepared for the
donor.
What is a
Deed of Gift?
A Deed of Gift is a formal
document that transfers legal ownership of the donated item(s) to the Strong.
Provisions within the document allow donors to choose how they want their
donation acknowledged, to define or assign intellectual property rights, and to
specify preferences for research access.
What are the
financial implications of a donation?
The Internal Revenue Service has
determined that the Strong qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization. In keeping
with professional standards and accreditation requirements of the American
Association of Museums, neither the Strong nor the National Museum of Play
appraises items offered for donation. Donors are encouraged to seek the advice
of counsel before claiming deductions for the purpose of computing income and
heritance taxes under state and federal laws.
How are donations displayed?
Only a small percentage of the museum’s collections can be
shown in its exhibits and displays at any one time. However, donations are
shared with a worldwide audience by way of the museum’s Online Collections database
and serve as an on-site resource for curators and outside researchers.
How can individuals or organizations donate to the National Museum of Play
collections?
The National Museum of Play encourages queries from
individuals and organizations that have toys, games, dolls, or other play-related
materials that merit a permanent home where they can help inform future
generations. To inquire about donating play-related objects and other
materials, contact Lauren Sodano, Collections Manager at the Strong, at lsodano@thestrong.org
or 585-410-6320.
