Artifact Donation: Share a Piece of Novato’s History

The Novato Historical Guild welcomes donations of historical materials that help tell the story of our community. Whether it’s a photograph, personal record, or an object with local significance, your donation will become part of a valuable resource for education and research.

What We Accept

We’re interested in materials that reflect the history of the greater Novato area, including Ignacio, Hamilton Field, Black Point and the surrounding regions. Our goal is to collect artifacts that help tell the economic, social, cultural, and political history of this unique area.

Examples of accepted historical materials include:

  • Community outdoor event on a grassy area with a stage, people sitting on chairs and blankets, some standing and talking, a band playing on stage, a large building in the background, and trees providing shade. Family History Day, Novato, California.

    Original Photographs

    Depicting economic, social, political, and community events in the area.

  • A handwritten cover page titled 'The Courtship Letters of Will and Bessie 1907-1908' with decorative floral border and simple line drawings. Novato, California.

    Personal Records

    Diaries, letters, and professional papers that provide insight into the lives of local residents.

  • An open ledger with handwritten names and numbers, some marked as 'PAID' or 'CANCELLED', on a wooden surface. Novato, California.

    Business & Organizational Records

    Brochures, deeds of trust, legal documents, and other materials tied to local businesses and organizations.

  • A white military helmet with a black emblem that reads 'COL L. A. SARTER, Jr. BASE COMMANDER' and features an eagle and shield insignia. Novato, California.

    Objects of Local Heritage

    Items that represent the region’s economic, social, or cultural history.

Icon with the words 'IOI' and 'HISTORY' written on it.

Donation Criteria: Does Your Item Have Historical Significance?

To determine if your item fits within the museum’s collection, we ask a few key questions:

If your item meets these criteria, we’d love to review it for inclusion in our collection!  Due to limited storage space, we must be very selective about which items we accept.  While we cannot accept every donation, we truly appreciate the opportunity to review your historical materials and consider them for inclusion in our museum collections.

  • 1

    Was the item made or used in the greater Novato area?

  • 2

    Does it tell a unique story related to Novato or Hamilton Field?

  • 3

    Is it historically significant to the area’s development or culture?

  • 4

    Is it rare or exceptional in quality?

  • 5

    Is it in good condition for display in the museums?

Donation Process

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    Schedule an Appointment

    If you believe your item is a good fit, please contact us to schedule an appointment with a Guild representative.

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    Evaluation

    A Guild representative will assess your donation for historical relevance, condition, and overall fit with the museum’s mission.

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    Deed of Gift

    If accepted, you will be asked to sign a Deed of Gift, transferring all ownership rights of the item to the City of Novato. This formal agreement ensures the item becomes part of the museum’s permanent collection.

Do you have something that fits the criteria that you would like to donate?

Black and white photograph of children walking dogs down a street, with buildings and cars in the background. Novato California.

Help Us Preserve Novato’s History

Your donations play a vital role in helping us preserve the rich history of Novato and Hamilton Field. By sharing your artifacts, you help ensure that future generations can learn from and appreciate the stories that have shaped our community.

Donate Today