How do I offer something to the Stockton Borough Council Museum Service Collections?
The collections of Stockton Museum Service have been built up over the years and although extensive some gaps still exist. It is important that we do not duplicate material or acquire objects that either fall outside our collecting policy or that we are unable to care for and in view of this we are not able to accept everything that is offered to us.
You may be wondering why we don't just accept straight away but we need to know more about the item being offered before we can decide whether or not it is both required and suitable for the collection also that your donation can be correctly cared for right from the start and receives the full attention of the curatorial staff.
If you would like to offer something to the museum please contact the museum in writing or by telephone before bringing in objects offered as donations, since relevant staff may not always be available at short notice. If you are not able to visit the museum in person, it would be useful if you could send a snapshot so that we can see what the objects look like.
It may be that your donation is needed for the collection in which case it will be accepted into our permanent collections although it may not be put on display for some time but will be available for research or may be lent to another registered museum. It may be that your item would be of use with educational groups as part of the handling collection, in which case your permission will be sought, but the item will not be accessioned into the permanent collection.
However it may be for a variety of reasons that we cannot accept your offer but please do not be offended. If appropriate other museums, that may be interested, will be suggested.
If you would like to offer any material to the Stockton Museums Service or would like to see a copy of our collecting policy please direct your enquiry to:
The Collections Manager
Preston Hall Museum
Yarm Road
Eaglescliffe
Stockton – on –Tees
TS18 3RH
Tel: 01642 526467
Fax: 01642 527571
E-mail julian.herbert@stockton.gov.uk
