I have something you might be interested in, does JHM accept donations? The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum always encourages the public to help enrich our local collections through donated items. The generosity of the public provides many of the items used by the museum to create, sustain, and continually enhance its many exhibits. We review every donation offer individually to see if it meets our collection needs and fits our mission.
What kind of items does the museum look for? We are always on the lookout for new and exciting items related to the rich history of Coshocton County. Common objects of interest include advertising art made by Coshocton advertising art companies, photographs of Coshocton County, artifacts relating to local Coshocton County businesses, etc. We incorporate these items into our exhibits and educational programs, and make them available to interested scholars and researchers.
We are very selective of the items we accept. Just being used or worn in Coshocton County is not enough. Please provide us with any provenance you can.
NOTE: We cannot accept donations of large items (i.e. furniture, pianos, large farming equipment, etc.)
How can I contact you about items I wish to donate? If you have an item(s) you would like to donate to the museum, please email [email protected]or send a letter to: The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum 300 N. Whitewoman Street Coshocton, Ohio 43812 Please provide any biographical/background information that you have about the item(s) you wish to donate. We will then respond with a transmission sheet to begin the donation review process.
Can’t I just mail or drop off a donation to the museum? No, the museum does not accept unsolicited donations. Once a donation offer has been accepted by the Collections Committee, you will be given instructions on how to mail/ship the donation to us. Donations can only be dropped off at the museum front desk after written coordination/confirmation with museum staff. You MUST fill out a transmission sheet and sign it to have the object considered for donation.
Who reviews donation offers? All donations are reviewed by the JHM Collections Committee prior to acceptance then the item is reviewed by the Coshocton County Library Board. Accepted donations are retained either for exhibit at the museum or preservation in our research/study collection. The Collections Committee consists of the director, collections manager, and collections assistant. If the committee approves the donation offer, you will be contacted and provided with further instructions.
If at some point during the donation process it is determined that the item(s) does not meet the required criteria for the collection, the item(s) may be declined. If you dropped off your item and it is rejected, you will need to collect it within 30 days.
Why is the museum so selective in what it accepts? While we wish we could accept any and all offers, JHM has neither the storage capability nor the staff resources to accept everything. Our collecting is very focused on filling gaps in our collection.
What is the process once I donate something to JHM? Once a donation is approved by the Collections Committee and the Coshocton County Library Board, arrangements will be made to bring the item to JHM. Once the item is received, the accessioning process, in which the item(s) are catalogued into the collection, will begin.
Does the museum accept long term loans? We do accept long term loans, please contact us at jhmuseum@jhmuseum or 740-622-8710 to further discuss this process.
Will my items be exhibited? JHM cannot guarantee that any item(s) will be placed on exhibit, but we can promise that donated items will be preserved and cared for as a valued part of the collection for future generations. Like most other museums, only a small percentage of our collection (about 12%) is on exhibit. The rest is in secure storage and is used for research, future exhibit needs, and as a historical study collection.