Your Civil War Collection — Weighing The Options

By Kimberly Brigance · Originally published September 2016 · p. 12

Anyone that collects Civil War history knows the thrill of chasing down an artifact or finding that one last missing clue to solve a mystery. Collecting can be a lifelong passion that often brings friends, travel and nearly unexplainable personal satisfaction. Undoubtedly, collectors want their hard work to live on after they have passed away, but they aren’t sure about the best course of action. Whatever the decision, it is important to place a collection in the best place possible for its continued care and appreciation. Several options are available. The first and most important thing you can do is identify each item. If possible write the name of the original owner, date or any other information of significance in pencil directly on the item. Record all the information you know about a piece and keep it with the item. Provenance makes a financial difference in the auction world and is all important in sharing history. Don’t let the information be lost. Items that have been handed down through a family are often treasured heirlooms. Passing the responsibility of care to another generation is a satisfying solution provided there is someone in your family that wants the responsibility. Although unfortunate and nearly unthinkable as it may be, some people are just not interested in history and may see historical items as a burden that needs to be gotten rid of as soon as possible. At best these will go to good home, at worst they will be thrown away or be destroyed through neglect. Sometimes the best decision for the long-term care of a collection is to sell it to an equally passionate collector. Information about proper archival practices are widely available and are increasingly becoming the standard with collectors. With a little investigation about a potential buyer, you can be assured your collection is in the hands of someone that appreciates it as much as you. Another option is to offer the collection to a museum or library. In addition to securing its future, you may also be eligible for a tax credit. Talk with your financial advisor for the most current advice. Often the largest museums like the Smithsonian or the Museum of the Confederacy are the first to come to mind when considering a donation, rarely are they the best choice. Each museum has a specific, narrow mission and it is important any item accepted into the collection matches that goal. Additionally, caring for an item is an expensive commitment that involves restoration, storage, display and interpretation. Most items will be turned down. When this happens, collectors can feel the academic world does not understand or appreciate the value of their items. Not true. Museums cannot accept even a fraction of what they are offered. Before approaching a museum, critically evaluate your collection. Is there anything in it of national importance? Do you own something that belonged to or helps to tell the overarching story of our country? Is this a one of a kind item? If the answer is “yes” consider reaching out to a National Museum. The majority of items will fall into two broad categories. If the collection consists mainly of photographs, letters or books, a university library or state archive may be the best equipped to care for it long-term. Often, these institutions can digitally scan items to make them available to researchers on the Internet. Is your collection mostly cloth, metal or wood? Do your items tell the story of a specific place, person, battle or a particular regiment? It is often better to partner with a state or local museum. Remember, larger museums may have several examples of an anonymous item like a frock coat with an unknown provenance. Your donation may never go on display. Smaller, local museums are often artifact poor and your donation may take pride of place in a smaller institution. If you wish to claim a tax credit, it is important to have the collection professionally appraised. A museum cannot give you an appraisal value. Make sure your appraiser follows USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) guidelines, is accredited by a nationally respected organization and is in good standing. Your appraiser will give you a written report and a completed tax form for the IRS. There is no single right way to guarantee the future of a collection. Whichever path you choose, the best advice is to explore your options and plan ahead. In future articles, I will explain the different options in greater detail. Kimberly Brigance is a longtime Civil Warrior and an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). She is a former museum curator and holds an advanced degree in Historic Preservation. She can be reached through her business website www.kbappraise.