Each week, individuals bring us items that they would like to donate.  Unfortunately, we cannot accept every donation.  The decision whether to accept a donation or not is guided by our Collection Management Policy, which was updated as of March 2023.  Here are a few highlights:

We collect artifacts from the time of the arrival of the first Native Americans in this region to the present day, with emphasis on Ojibwe culture, the logging of the forests that covered our region, the rise and fall of railroads in our region, the Great Fires of 1918, and of the development of agriculture. 

Relevance to Carlton County. The item(s) was actively used, displayed, or worn by individuals, businesses, or organizations in Carlton County, and should clearly represent the way of life in the county.

Click here to read the FULL POLICY

Donations of historical artifacts, records, or photographs to the historical society are reviewed for acceptance into the CCHS collection. Once accepted, we ask donors to sign a donation agreement with the Historical Society stating the following: I hereby give the items listed above to the Carlton County Historical Society as an unrestricted gift. I acknowledge that this contribution becomes the permanent property of the Carlton County Historical Society to be utilized at the discretion of the Society.

We also welcome monetary donations so that we can continue offering quality services to the public. Donations to the Historical Society are tax-deductible.