Donations of Artefacts

The Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre is privileged to have people donate items to us on a regular basis. We appreciate those donations as that is the only way we are able to do our job, namely, to collect, preserve and display items relating to the history of Canmore and region. The Alberta Museums Association's Standard Practices Handbook for Museums states that "a museum's primary responsibility is to serve the public through the preservation, study and interpretation of natural and cultural heritage". The international Council of Museums defines a museum as: "...a non-profitmaking, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment."

When it comes to donating items to the Museum, people often don't understand the importance of proper documentation for Museum donations. The Certificate of Gift Agreement that we ask you to fill out is a legal document that ensures we are able to take care of the donated items properly. Without that signed agreement, we are unable to do anything with the donation (so if you've donated anything in the past anonymously or without filling out a form, please let us know and we'll try to get a form filled out properly). You can pick up a form here at the Museum beforehand, or you can download one from our website: http://www.cmags.org/files/giftagreement.pdf.

To facilitate the growth of our collections, and to help our members and the public understand the process more clearly, here are some Guidelines for Donations:

-Always remember the mandate of the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre: To tell the stories of our mountains and our communities for present and future generations. That means that we try to cover the area between (not necessarily excluding) Banff and Morley. This means that, unless the items belonged to a Canmore/ Bow Valley resident, we probably won't accept it. An old dress from Saskatchewan or something from the Maritimes do not fit our mandate. We will, however, help you to find an appropriate place to donate those items.

-If you're unsure whether something is appropriate, ask us. We'd love to puzzle it out with you.

-When you bring in an item or items to donate, it is probably best to call ahead. That way we will have the time to fill out our Certificate of Gift Agreement and talk more about the history of the items. Essentially we want to know any relevant information about the object that will help us tell its story and how that relates to Canmore and area. We are information sponges. We want to know things like the historical context of the item(s). Who was the original owner (if not the donor)? How old is it? Where did it come from, or where was it found? What was it used for, and how it was used? Of course, we want any other relevant information that "tells the story" of that object.

-At a later date, the Curator and/or Collections Committee will determine if the object meets the collection's needs and standards. Usually it's pretty obvious if something is of value and should be added to our collections, but sometimes we need to have other input. Therefore, we have a Collections Committee to help with those decisions. If it is accepted, it will be given an Accession number, and a copy of the completed Certificate of Gift Agreement will be mailed to you. If not, you will be contacted and the item returned to you (unless we've made other arrangements with you).

What in the world do we collect? A museum is only as good as its archives and collections, and the museum needs to continue to build them. We could always use more images (whether photographs, negatives or slides) or other archival materials (letters, maps, books, photo albums), as well as artefacts (tools, personal objects, domestic items, textiles and clothing). Our areas of collection include: First Nations, exploration. railroad. Northwest Mounted Police, coal mining, 1988 Olympic Games, mountaineering, earth sciences, natural history (fauna/flora), Bow Valley history, art/ handicrafts, clothing, communication, government/ school, household items, immigrant experience, sports, wartime experiences.

Our goal is to be an institution that meets professional museum standards, pursuing excellence in our collecting activity, and protecting the objects that tell the story of our heritage. As our collection grows we will become a resource for both the public and researchers. We hope to improve our ability to represent the variety and richness of our community and heritage. We want to be a destination for both locals and other visitors. But we can't do it without you and your investment in us. I look forward to seeing you at the museum,

-Edward van Vliet, Curator