The Erie Canal Museum makes some of its collections available digitally via New York Heritage, a repository for digital collections from over 350 libraries, museums, archives, and other community organizations across New York State.
Erie Canal Museum finding aids are available via the Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative (EmpireADC) that helps connect researchers with physical archival materials in repositories across New York state.
The Canal Society of New York State (CSNYS) works closely with the Erie Canal Museum to manage their extensive collection. CSNYS digital collections are also available via New York Heritage.
Collection Donation
The Erie Canal Museum seeks to expand the scope and quality of its collections by the thoughtful acquisition of artifacts and archival material. The Erie Canal Museum does not provide appraisals of donated objects. It is the responsibility of the donor to provide such evaluation if necessary. Where a professional appraisal has been conducted the Museum will request a copy for its files. Staff may not assist a donor in finding an appraiser.
If you have something you wish to donate, please email our Collections Manager at collections@eriecanalmuseum.org or call 315-471-0593 x13.
Items will not be acquired for the Museum’s collections unless the following conditions are met:
- The objects are relevant to and consistent with the Museum’s mission, collection areas and levels;
- The Museum can provide for the storage, protection, and preservation of the objects under conditions that insure their availability for Museum purposes and in keeping with professionally accepted standards;
- It is intended that the objects shall have permanency in the collections as long as they retain their physical integrity, their identity, and their authenticity, and as long as they remain useful for the purposes of the Museum.
- The donor must have clear title and must sign a deed of gift transferring title to the Museum.
Research & Image Request
Please fill out the form below for all research or image requests.