Artifact Donation

Thank you for your interest in the BMI and for considering the museum as a repository for your possessions. Artifacts accepted into the Baltimore Museum of Industry’s permanent collection are documented, preserved, and managed according to prescribed methods meeting contemporary best practices. We collect artifacts that relate to, or are descriptions of, the industrial history of the region.

We accept:

Artifacts made by a Maryland industry or prominent vendor for use in Maryland or elsewhere
Artifacts representing a Maryland industry and/or vendor
Artifacts from industries that are indigenous and/or significant to Maryland
Artifacts pertaining to labor and working-class history in the region
Anything pertaining to the Platt & Company Oyster Cannery and history of our building and property

We cannot accept:

Items or materials from individuals who are not the artifact’s legal owner
Items or materials from or about industries not represented in Maryland

All donations that have been accepted must be delivered to the Museum during prescheduled appointment slots or otherwise prearranged by Collections staff. The museum does not reimburse for the cost of shipping, which is tax deductible by the donor as part of the donation.

Artifact Provenance

Understanding the provenance of donated items—the history of the item itself and how it connects to the donor—is the most important criterion for accepting gift offers. Answers to the following prompts will enable us to determine whether your gift offer fits within our collecting parameters.

For us to consider your gift offer, please fill out the following fields and provide digital photographs of the gift offer

Name of Artifact Donor(Required)

Artifact Donor Email Address(Required)

Artifact Donor Phone Number(Required)

Artifact Donor Mailing Address(Required)

Name of Artifact(Required)

Date/Age of Artifact(Required)

Overall size (H” x W” x D”):(Required)

Maker, marks, model number, serial number, or labels present?

Is/was the maker of your artifact based in or operating in Maryland?(Required)

Name and dates of original owner? (DOB – DOD)(Required)

When, where, and how did the original owner acquire it?(Required)

When, where, and how did you acquire it? What is your relationship, if any, to the original owner?(Required)

Was the artifact used in your business or a Maryland‐based industry? If yes, provide details.(Required)

How was it used?(Required)

Is it still working?(Required)

Has it been altered in any way?(Required)

Is the artifact clean of dust, dirt, insects, and mold?(Required)

Can you supply any supporting documentation (instructions, company records, photographs, letters, manuals)?(Required)

Please provide between two and ten photographs of the materials(Required)

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 256 MB, Max. files: 10.