The Carver Museum’s Artifact Donation Process 

Thank you for your interest in donating artifacts to the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center. The Carver’s mission is to collect historical and cultural materials of African American and African origin that best tells their story. The Carver strives to collect original artworks, documents, photographs, two- and three-dimensional objects that come with provenance and narrative details. The emphasis is on original, as the Carver refrains as much as possible from collecting copies of materials. The Carver does NOT collect the following types of objects for its collections: 

  • Non-African American or non-African items. 

  • Trophies 

  • Plaques/Awards 

  • Memorabilia/Collectibles 

  • Tourist Trade items. 

  • Natural History (i.e. fossils, animal pelts, specimens, taxidermy) 

  • Items that conflict with State, National and International Laws/Agreements. 

  • Items that have no provenance (ownership history) and/or in poor condition. 

Each artifact donation offered to the Carver will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Carver’s Collections Committee. The Collections Committee reviews offered donations with consideration for exhibition and research needs, identified collecting needs, storage space availability, and significance in supporting the museum’s mission. The Committee generally meets quarterly unless otherwise called by the manager of the museum. The Carver cannot promise to exhibit donated items nor promise to exhibit items indefinitely. The Carver reserves the right to dispose of any unsolicited items delivered or dropped off at the museum. 

To submit a request to have offered donations reviewed by the Collections Committee, please follow these instructions completely or your request will not be reviewed: 

  1. Do NOT send the actual item(s) to the museum unless the Carver’s Collections Manager or the Culture and Arts Education Manager explicitly arranges for you to do so.  

  1. Do complete the “Offered Artifact Donation Information Form.” 

  1. Do provide a clear, high-resolution photograph for each item.  

  1. Do provide accompanying documentation associated with the item(s).  

  1. Please email the completed form above, along with the photograph and documentation to Regine Malibiran. The Collections Manager or Culture and Arts Education Manager will contact you when a decision has been made on whether to accept or to decline the offered donation.