Donate to the Collections

Thank you for your interest in building the collections of the Brooklyn Historical Society! Every year, new artifacts and documents are added to the collections through the generosity of our community. These donations help us document and interpret Brooklyn’s rich history. In order to best build our collections and insure the safety of your items, BHS has established a standard procedure for considering items for possible donation to our collection.

Because of the volume of offerings we receive, we can not accept any items in person or through the mail without prior written communication with our collections staff. All proposed donations must be submitted in writing, via email, post, or online form. Once the Brooklyn Historical Society has received your written request, it will be forwarded to the appropriate staff to evaluate, and then brought before our Collection Committee for a final decision. The Collection Committee meets every other month, so responses will depend upon the meeting schedule.

If you have artifacts or documents that you believe would complement our collections, please use the donation form on this website. If you prefer to communicate your donation offer by mail, please send a letter describing the size, content, condition and historical significance, as well as photographs or photocopies of your proposed donation, to the following address:

Brooklyn Historical Society
Attn: Collection Committee
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Fill out our Collection Donation Form Online

For further explanation of our collecting practices, please review our Mission Statement and Collection Policy.

BACK TO TOP