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COLLECTIONS
History in a Suitcase
Photograph
Collections
PROJECTS
Fort Gratiot
Lighthouse
Fort
Hospital
RESEARCH
LINKS
St. Clair
County
Genealogy
&
Maritime
History |
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Collections,
Projects & Research
Collections Policy Summary
The Port Huron Museum
collects fine art, artifacts, manuscripts and publications related to
St. Clair County, Michigan, and the Great Lakes for the purpose of
preservation, exhibition and education. Artwork includes maritime art,
local images, folk art, and decorative home arts. Artifacts reflect area
history in terms of archeology, Native Americans, fur trade,
agriculture, lumber, railroad, Thomas Edison, Fort Gratiot, local
government, natural history, and marine lore.
The Museum, assisted
by the Curator of Collection, is entrusted to protect and preserve the
collection. The Collection Committee approves new donations, reviews the
condition of the current collection, and makes suggestions for
deaccessioning items to the Board of Trustees. New donations may be
accepted into the Permanent Collection, the Education Collection, for
use in exhibits or research, or to support the museum. All donations are
considered outright and unconditional gifts to be used at the discretion
of the museum as stated on the donor’s deed of gift.
Collection items may
be deaccessioned from the collection due to non-relation to local and
Great Lakes interests, poor condition, duplication. This process shall
be cautious and deliberate. Consideration will first be given to other
tax-exempt educational institutions, either as gift, exchange, or sale.
Otherwise, the item(s) will be sold at advertised public markets. Museum
employees, officers or their representatives may not purchase said
items. Funds received from the sale of deaccessioned objects from the
collection will be used only to benefit the collections. Proceeds may
not be used for general operating expenses.
This collection
policy was approved on June 7, 1989, and updated on March 3, 2009.
Collections
In
the museum's 40 years of existence, it has built its collection of over
15,000 artifacts almost entirely from donations. Artifacts in the
collection include: photographs, books, maps, newspapers, business
records, artwork, home decor and furniture, nautical equipment, clothing
and uniforms, musical instruments, medical paraphernalia, and railroad
memorabilia These objects represent the many facets of local history and
industry such as: Native Americans, archeology, pioneer settlers,
logging, medical history, maritime shipping and navigation, social
history and lifestyle, Thomas Edison and modern technology, railroading
and other commercial interests.
Much of the collection is on permanent
display at each of our museum sites. Artifacts not on permanent display
are used for special exhibitions, temporary loans to schools and
community organizations, and for educational programming.
To assist schools with their students
about local history, the museum has developed traveling displays. These
displays include artifacts, images, and most come with additional
information on the topic. If you are interested in borrowing one of
these displays, click History in a
Suitcase for a list of topics available.
If you are interested in donating an item,
creating an endowment to support the care of artifacts already in the
collection, or assisting the museum with your professional expertise,
such as an appraiser, please call Suzette Bromley at (810) 982-0891,
ext. 116.
Please note that all possible donations
must be approved by the Collections Committee, which meets the first
Tuesday of the month. Items are judged on their significance to local
history, the quality of their condition, and their potential use for
exhibit displays or educational programming.
All items accepted into the collection of
the Port Huron Museum will become exclusive and absolute property of the
museum and may be displayed, loaned, retained or disposed of in the best
interests of the museum.
Projects
The museum is proud to partner with
community leaders in the restoration of two historic structures.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is Michigan's
oldest lighthouse and the second oldest on the Great Lakes. As many
people in the Blue Water Area and surrounding towns know, bricks are
falling off the historic tower and access has now been closed to the
inside. The Port Huron Museum, in partnership with the City of Port
Huron, are anxious to begin restoration and are awaiting the transfer of
the property from the federal government. For updates on this project,
click Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.
The Fort Gratiot Hospital was rediscovered
after being divided in two, moved from its original location on the
former military fort site, and covered by modern siding. Find out more
about plans for this building and the Fort Gratiot Hospital Museum.
Research
The Archives of the Port Huron Museum
contain numerous county records, such as tax assessments, land taxes,
township clerk records, personal journals, school records, and business
records. A volunteer group has been meeting for years on Thursday
mornings at the museum to index these records. A number of these indices
have been posted online and can be seen at
Records at the
Port Huron Museum.
Work continues on this project and we
would welcome new volunteers. If you are willing to join us, please call
Holly Modock at (810) 982-0891, ext. 118.
As the headquarters of the Huron Customs
District, what is now known as the Federal Building was constructed as a
customs house and post office. Records from the customs house have been
copied onto microfilm, and once a lens has been acquired, will be made
available to maritime researchers.
Many of the county records and customs
house records date as early as the 1860s.
If you are interested in viewing these
records, please call Suzette Bromley at (810) 982-0891, ext. 116 to set
up an appointment.
Additional research information can be
found at the Research Links.
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