Collections Policy
To fulfill our nonprofit's Mission, we collect historic items reflecting West Windsor's history and exhibit them at the West Windsor History Museum. We invite donations of such artifacts, but due to limited space and resources, cannot accept everything. See a portion of our collections policy below (adopted July 14, 2026).
1. Purpose
This document guides the HSWW in acquiring, retaining, and deaccessioning objects and archival materials (“items”) that help the HSWW preserve and interpret the history of West Windsor Township or West Windsor-Plainsboro schools (“WWT-WWP”).
2. Criteria
2.1 Relevance:
Items considered for acquisition should be non-redundant to existing collections and broadly representative of WWT-WWP (ex: reflect local residents, businesses, events, infrastructure, transit, and/or cultural, civic, social institutions, etc.) and/or help further the HSWW’s mission (ex: provide research value or exhibit potential). Most items that are merely “interesting” or “old,” but do not broadly reflect and/or originate in WWT-WWP, should be rejected or deaccessioned.
2.2 Other Constraints:
The HSWW should only accept items – physical or digital - that are appropriately sized to fit within existing collections, are not hazardous to store or handle, and that the HSWW is able to acquire and retain without expending an unreasonable amount of funds or effort. Items should be rejected or deaccessioned if their acquisition or retention presents major ethical or legal conflicts, such as acquisition of highly sensitive cultural materials or stolen items. Acquired items will ideally be in fair condition or better, with exceptions as decided by the Board.
3. Categories
Acquisitions are categorized as follows. Strong preference should be given to acquiring and retaining items defined under Category 3.1 (“Local Items”) over items under Category 3.2 (“Other Resources”).
3.1 Local Items: i.e., items that directly relate to WWT-WWP, including but not limited to:
- Books, papers, writings, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and similar items reflecting WWT-WWP;
- Household and business/institutional/organizational items, tools, clothing, textiles, etc. that demonstrably were used in WWT-WWP;
- Artwork, art objects, paintings, etc., that demonstrably were created in WWT-WWP;
- Furniture, products, tools, or devices that demonstrably were manufactured or used in WWT-WWP;
- Artifacts and archaeological findings that demonstrably were found in and relate to WWT-WWP;
- Promotional literature, signage, advertisements, etc., documenting business and social, civic, and cultural activities in WWT-WWP.
- Other items that demonstrably originate in and/or reflect the history of WWT-WWP specifically.
3.2 Other Resources:
i.e., items that can be categorized similar to those outlined in Section 3.1, but which have less direct relevance to WWT-WWP. These items should be accepted or retained only if the item demonstrably and sufficiently fulfills the criteria outlined under Section 2. The order of preference of such items is those whose area of historic significance is geographically closer to WWT-WWP:
- Most Preferred: Plainsboro, Princeton, Lawrence, Hamilton, Robbinsville, East Windsor, Hightstown.
- Less Preferred: Other municipalities in Mercer County, as well as the portions of Millstone and Monroe Townships that once belonged to Windsor Township.
- Least Preferred: Any geographical region lying outside of the areas defined above.
If you'd like to donate an item that meets the above criteria, please contact us!
