Acquisition guidelines

We accept written requests for donations to the South Street Seaport Museum collection, and these requests are reviewed on a quarterly basis.

With nearly 60,000 items in the South Street Seaport Museum collections, the Museum follows strict criteria when determining whether to accept new pieces. Factors include not only storage but long-term management costs and potential for research and exhibition use. Please read our acquisition guidelines below. Once you are satisfied that your potential donation meets our criteria, please submit your donation proposal via email to collections@seany.org for review.

To be considered for accessioning into the Museum’s collections, items should meet these general criteria:

1. The item(s) must be consistent with and relevant to the stated purpose, scope, and activities of the Museum.
2. Primary consideration will be given to the Museum’s ability to provide proper care and storage for any object. No item(s) will be considered for acquisition if future care and preservation needs exceed the Museum’s resources. Donations that include financial support for long-term storage and preservation are encouraged.
3. Items must have a clear title of legal ownership and be free of copyright restrictions.
4. All acquisitions are to be outright and unconditional. The Museum cannot guarantee that objects donated will be placed on exhibition, or that they will be exhibited or stored intact as a single collection. In addition, please be aware that curatorial decisions made during cataloging of new collections may result in objects being deemed more appropriate for use in our education department, or to be offered for sale to benefit direct care of the Museum’s collection.
5. All donations to the Museum’s collections are irrevocable upon the formal and physical transfer to the Museum.
6. All legal instruments of conveyance and warranty of title, signed by the donor/seller/agent setting forth an adequate description of the items involved and the precise conditions of the transfer, shall accompany all acquisitions.
7. All acquisitions by gift or bequest to the Museum will remain in the possession of the Museum for as long as they retain their physical integrity and authenticity, and as long as they remain useful for the purposes of the Museum.
8. Federal law prevents the Museum from providing identification services or appraisal values for donated items. Donors are responsible for appraisals of value.

Donations are fully tax deductible within IRS guidelines. Please consult your tax advisor.