Donate an Artifact
Have you ever thought about donating an artifact to the WDM? Do you have something you think should be part of the WDM Collection? New artifact donations help us better tell the story of Saskatchewan and its people by filling gaps in our collection. Most of our artifacts are received as donations from the public. You can find out more about our collections by visiting our Collections page.
One of the collections we accept artifact donations for is our 2SLGBTQ+ History Collection.
We cannot accept objects dropped off at any WDM location without a prior appointment. Please read the information below and complete the Donate an Artifact Form at the bottom of the page.
Donating an Artifact Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
For more information or questions, please contact 306-934-1400 EXT 1116 or acquisitions@wdm.ca
Donate an Artifact FAQs
What Do We Collect?
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We collect artifacts that reflect Saskatchewan’s history, diversity, and innovation. We especially welcome objects representing Indigenous, diverse settlers, and 2SLGBTQ+ people, communities and organizations, as well as artifacts representing Saskatchewan innovations.
What Do We No Longer Collect?
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We appreciate all offers, but after more than 75 years of collecting, we cannot accept everything. Objects already well represented in our collection or outside our focus areas may be declined:
- 1920s vehicles
- Adding machines/calculators
- Aprons
- Basic hand tools
- Beds/bassinets/cribs
- Bibles
- Binders
- Buffalo fur coats
- Butter churns
- Button hooks
- Cameras
- Cash registers
- Children’s books
- Christening/baptism gowns
- Clocks
- Cream separators
- Crocks
- Dictionaries
- Dinnerware
- Doilies
- Dolls
- Encyclopedia sets
- Family Portraits
- Early wedding dresses
- Fanning mills
- Fiction Books
- Furs
- Gas Tractors
- Glass insulators
- Lamps/lanterns
- Looms
- Magazines
- Milk bottles
- Newspapers
- Nightgowns
- Pianos
- Player piano rolls
- Plows
- Portable engines
- Pump organs
- Radios
- Razors
- Scythes
- Sad irons
- School textbooks
- Separators
- Sewing machines
- Sewing patterns
- Shawls
- Sheet music
- Sickles
- Slide projectors
- Stuffed animals
- Threshing machines
- Train sets
- Trophies
- Trunks
- Typewriters
- Typical early settler clothing
- Wagons/buggies
- Wash boards
- Wedding dresses
What to Tell Us
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The more information you can tell us about your object and its history, the better. We require a brief description of the object. The object’s history, including who owned and used it, what it was used for and any key stories, traditions, communities or events connected to it. And its condition (must be clean and free from contaminants like mold, unsafe chemicals or hazardous materials such as asbestos).
Send Us Pictures
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Please send an image of what the object looks like today and historical photographs of the object in use, or of the people who used it.
Can I Drop Off My Object in Person?
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Please do not bring artifact offers to any WDM location unless requested by a WDM staff member. Any objects dropped off without contact information included are considered abandoned property and are disposed of.
What Happens Next
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We will review your offer and get back to you in 2–4 weeks. If your object is accepted, we will send you a transfer of ownership agreement. When signed, unconditional ownership of the object is transferred to the WDM. We do not accept loans or artifact donations with conditions attached.
How to Donate an Artifact
Have an item you’d like to contribute to the WDM? Please complete the form to tell us more about your artifact and how it helps share Saskatchewan’s history.
