Donate to the Archives

Policy for Accepting Gifts of Books, Magazines, Research Journals, Photographs and Maps

The Oklahoma State University Archives has acquired some historically and culturally significant materials from generous donors, and we appreciate receiving offers of gift materials such as books, journals, maps and photographs. However, some items offered to us duplicate what we already own or fall outside the scope of our research collections. If you are considering donating printed material to the Archives, here is a guide to the materials we seek and those we do not need. Please contact Deborah A. Hull at the number listed below before bringing your possible donations to the Archives.

Items sought by the OSU Archives include the following types of materials:

Rare Books

• Published anywhere in the world before 1800
• Published in North America before 1850
• Published in Oklahoma before 1910
• Limited edition books or first editions
• Books that are examples of fine printing, illustrations or book binding
• Books that have unique and/or special provenance
• Collections built around a specific theme such as Alice in Wonderland, Black military history, Native Americans, etc.

Maps and Atlases

• Covering any area, published before 1800
• Covering North America, published before 1910
• Covering present-day Oklahoma and surrounding states, published before 1940
• Covering Oklahoma towns, cities, counties, land plats or oilfield maps, published before 1940
• Map collections built around a specific theme, such as WPA maps, military campaigns, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, city bird’s eye views, etc.

Unique Materials:

• Historical publications and records related to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Payne County or the State of Oklahoma. (These records may be in a variety of formats – photographs, audio/video recordings, diaries, etc.)
• Items published by OSU faculty and staff currently not held by the Archives
• Significant OSU Faculty research records and documentation that would be of benefit to others
• Photos, letters, diaries, correspondence and other items associated with historically significant individuals and others who witnessed or recorded events/eras, such as Native American relocation and pioneer settlement, wars, the Dust Bowl, early natural resources exploration and production, etc.

Items not needed by the OSU Archives include the following:

• General interest books and journals such as Readers Digest Condensed Books, popular modern fiction, National Geographic magazines, Scientific American, etc.
• Research books and journals that are already in our collections
• Textbooks

Please consider donating these to local public libraries, used bookstores or charitable organizations such as Better World Books http://www.betterworldbooks.com/.

Art Objects and Paintings

Please consider offering art objects and paintings to the OSU Museum of Art. Criteria for accepting objects into its collection are detailed at http://museum.okstate.edu/giving-opportunities

We invite you to contact us if your potential donations meet the criteria above or if you have any questions concerning how our criteria apply to your items. Please direct your inquiry to

Deborah A. Hull
Room 204 - Edmon Low Library
Archives
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK   74078

 deborah.hull@okstate.edu

405-744-6597