Loans or donations to museums

[mrozie21]

I'm considering some long term options for some of my sports collection, anyone have experience loaning or donating to museums? Any tips or insight would be appreciated.

Mike

[Dave Grob]

I have loaned items to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and the National Museum of American Jewish History. Also in the continued process of making regular artifacts donations to the Cincinnati Reds.

Please feel free to contact me directly at:

davegrob1@aol.com

Dave Grob

[bgar3]

I made a large literary book collection to a university. The university had an existing collection of similar material and the donation was a perfect supplement, filling in needed gaps with minimal duplication. The material was valuable for research, as well as collectible and was made up primarily of unique or original material. Major considerations should be : is it wanted, does it fit the setting, how will they treat it, i.e. Will it be a separate, fully described archive, an exhibition etc, and you will need a full written appraisal for tax purposes. I did not ask for it, but in this case the university catalogued it as my named collection, with a detailed descriptions etc. Warning, once donated, they will hound you for more.

[bnorth]

I donated several cards to a local museum. Donated one card for each decade from 1900 to present plus the only 3 cards from the only person born here to make it to the majors. It was a horrible experience and I wish I had never done it. I spent a lot of time finding a major HOFer or someone connected to our town/state for each decade. It would have been different if I had went to the museum but the director came to me for the donation.

Another thing to think about is they will tell you anything to get your items and then anything they told you goes out the window when they receive them. After I donated mine I started hearing horror stories from others who have donated to museums. It is like that guy that begs you for a discount because it is for their personal collection so you break down and give them a great price. Then a few days later see it on eBay for twice what they paid you for it.

[packs]

I have not donated to a museum but I would be wary of doing it if I ever acquired something that was "museum quality". We all know the long history of the HOF and NYPL having a blase attitude toward thefts from their collections. The HOF also has an extensive inventory that they never display.

[Scott Garner]

I was approached in 1997 by Steve Harding, the curator of The Nolan Ryan Center which was to be built in Ryan's hometown of Alvin, TX. He had heard from other Ryan advanced collectors that I had the most complete collection of Nolan Ryan milestone tickets. He felt that this would make for an interesting wall display in the new museum and wanted to know if I would consider loaning my collection to the museum.

The opportunity to share my collection with thousands of visitors to The Ryan Center made it a no-brainer for me. I immediately agreed as long as the collection was insured and I had documents in hand that guaranteed against loss and that I would loan them for one year. This was agreed to and I physically handed them off in person in 1997 to the curator Steve over dinner while on a business trip to Houston.
Over the course of the next couple of years (The Ryan Center finally opened April of 1999) I was allowed to collaborate on the design of the Ryan Milestone Ticket Wall. This was great fun & it also led to conversations about other items that I might loan out of my personal collection that would add value to the exhibit. In total I loaned or donated approximately 75-80 items to The Ryan Center. The loan actually led to them being on display for a total of three years from 1999-2003. I was also invited to attend a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony and dinner associated with The Opening of The Ryan Center.

The overall experience was very positive for me. An opportunity to share what was a hobby labor of love over 25 years of collecting (in 1999)- now over 40 and counting.

I have shown these items before, but when The Ryan Center sent my collection back, Nolan and Ruth Ryan sent along two very unexpected gifts.
A facsimile Ryan jersey with Nolan's personal thank you & a limited production bronze statue by artist Toby Mendez (17") of the same statue of Ryan that is on display at The Ballpark at Arlington in TX.

Mr & Mrs. Ryan are obviously very thoughtful, classy people. Please feel free to reach out to me as well if you have any questions.

[Jayworld]

I have donated 25+ pieces out of my Southwest Conference collection to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas, and it has been a pleasurable experience. The loan is long-term, and I put a dollar amount in insurance on each item in the unlikely event that an item(s) is lost, stolen, museum burns, etc., then I will be reimbursed that amount. Could not have been more pleased with the way things went down, and the items are on long-term loan in revolving 2-year renewals.

Not to plug my collection, but if you are ever in Waco a stop at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is a must if you have any interest in the defunct Southwest Conference. In the large SWC room of the museum, each of the nine schools has its own section highlighted by game-used memorabilia, pennants, books, mascot costumes, historical artifacts, etc., with a replica of the Cotton Bowl facade as you enter the large room.

I would suggest you get all your ducks in a row with whatever museum(s) you are considering loaning your items and make sure to read through the loan contract to your satisfaction.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I was approached in 1997 by Steve Harding, the curator of The Nolan Ryan Center which was to be built in Ryan's hometown of Alvin, TX. He had heard from other Ryan advanced collectors that I had the most complete collection of Nolan Ryan milestone tickets. He felt that this would make for an interesting wall display in the new museum and wanted to know if I would consider loaning my collection to the museum.

The opportunity to share my collections with thousands of visitors to The Ryan Center made it a no-brainer for me, & I immediately agreed as long as the collection was insured and I had documents in hand that guaranteed against loss and that I would loan them for one year. This was agreed to and I physically handed them off in person in 1997 to the curator Steve over dinner while on a business trip to Houston.
Over the course of the next couple of years (The Ryan Center finally opened April of 1999) I was allowed to collaborate on the design of the Ryan Milestone Ticket Wall. This was great fun & it also led to conversations about other items that I might loan out of my personal collection that would add value to the exhibit. In total I loaned or donated approximately 75-80 items to The Ryan Center. The loan actually led to them being on display for a total of three years from 1999-2003. I was also invited to attend a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony and dinner associated with The Opening of The Ryan Center.

The overall experience was very positive for me. An opportunity to share what was a hobby labor of love over 25 years of collecting (in 1999)- now over 40 and counting.

I have shown these items before, but when The Ryan Center sent my collection back, Nolan and Ruth Ryan sent along two very unexpected gifts.
A facsimile Ryan jersey with Nolan's personal thank you & a limited production bronze statue by artist Toby Mendez (17") of the same statue of Ryan that is on display at The Ballpark at Arlington in TX.

Mr & Mrs. Ryan are obviously very thoughtful, classy people. Please feel free to reach out to me as well if you have any questions.

That is so awesome, Scotty! And how thoughtful of the Ryans to think of you in that manner. Scott & Nolan... Two first class Gentlemen!