The History Center recognizes that other institutions collect in the same or overlapping areas and that, in some cases, another such institution may be a more appropriate repository for materials offered to the History Center. In the spirit of cooperation, opportunities to acquire such materials, as well as those not covered by the Collection Policy of the History Center, will be referred to an appropriate repository. In the event that the legitimate collecting interests of the History Center and another repository directly conflict, the History Center will use the best interests of the research community as the primary criterion in pursuing a resolution.

Except in special circumstances, photocopied material will not be accessioned in to the History Center’s collections and will be considered reference material not subject to the same protections and restrictions of archival items of the collection. Newspaper clippings may be accessioned into the collection or treated as non-archival reference materials at the discretion of the Curator of Collections.

The History Center will not accept collections which are closed to public access in perpetuity. Although the History Center prefers not to collect material with access restrictions, collections that can be opened upon the donor’s death, or within a reasonable period of time, will be considered.

The History Center discourages accepting incoming loans due to the procedural complications that frequently accompany said acceptance. Particular consideration should be paid to the loaner’s age and health. Incoming loans will only be accepted on a temporary basis when it will be of benefit to the History Center, with approval from the Curator of Collections or the Executive Director.

Collection items of the History Center will not be specific to the Museum of History or Lapham-Patterson House Museum, other than an annotation in the catalogue record. Objects and archives belonging to the History Center will be stored at the Museum of History’s storage area if not on exhibit. Objects belonging to the State of Georgia/Department of Natural Resources will remain at the Lapham-Patterson House Museum under all circumstances and should never be brought to the Museum of History.

In the event that the History Center determines a previously accessioned item to be unsuitable, it will be de-accessioned.