Consider Museum Gifts

As collectors, we all should agree that mineral displays in museums are important. Museums have fine minerals, minerals with a history and mineral oddities. The better museum displays offer people information and provide some mineral education we seek.

- BOB JONES

Museums need the support of the mineral-collecting community. Most museums are financed by a college, university or government, but seldom get much for specimen acquisition. Private museums seem to be financially stable. A few are endowed, but in almost all cases, a museum needs public support. Some have gift shops in hopes those profits can help the museum budget.

Think back to when you first got an interest in minerals. Like me, you may have seen your first mineral collection in a museum or university setting. In 1935, I went on a school field trip to the Yale Pea-body Museum. That's what got me started in the hobby over 80 years ago. How many current and past mineral collectors started the hobby after a museum visit?

HOW TO SUPPORT MUSEUMS

You can help museums with donations, including your collection when you can no longer care for it. But don't expect a museum is going to preserve your minerals or even display them. Museums simply cannot accept donations on such terms. They have to have a free hand to keep, trade or sell donated minerals. If you want control, one sensible method is to invite a museum curator to see your collection. They can select what they need, then you can sell the rest and give the museum the money. This way you control your minerals to the bitter end.

PERSONAL DONATIONS