We welcome donations from our community members to our Archive’s Special Collections. Please feel free to call the Archive or set up an appointment to discuss what records and materials you would be like to donate. For Special Collections, our primary collection focus is on local history from Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. Other counties in Western North Carolina that share relevancy or family connection to our main geographical areas of interest will also be considered. We will consider donations that contribute to our overall mission of preserving the stories, voices, and events of these counties and surrounding areas. Acquisition decisions will be made by the Archivist.
We accept donations from individuals, families, civic groups, non-profit agencies, businesses, religious organizations, cultural organizations, and other groups that help us preserve the rich and diverse histories and cultures of Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. These materials may include, but are not limited to, personal papers, manuscripts, letters, official correspondence, photographs, diaries, maps, oral histories, books, pamphlets, newspapers, publications, audiovisual recordings, and other such materials.
Donations of materials are considered gifts to the Special Collections and will become permanently part of Special Collections. Materials will be made available to College students, community members, and researchers for educational or personal research inquiries. Donors are required to sign a Deed of Gift Form that must be completed in full at time of donation. Donated materials will be organized according to archival principles and best practices, stored in secure and stable conditions. Physical records will be made available to researches in a supervised environment. Digital records will be made available through our digital repository based on research topic or curricular needs.
According to federal law, Blue Ridge Community College Archive and Special Collections is not allowed to determine the value of any item or collection. All gifts will be acknowledged, but the Internal Revenue Service regards the Library as an interested party. Therefore, we are unable to appraise any items or collections for tax purposes. The appraisal or establishment of an item’s value is the responsibility of the donor (including any appraisal costs). Please contact the Internal Revenue Service, a tax advisor, or attorney for more information related to valuing donated property. Acceptance of a donation that has been appraised by a third party does not imply agreement or endorsement of value by the Library or Archive.
If you are interested in donating materials to Blue Ridge Community College Archive and Special Collections, please contact us at (828)694-4713 or localhistory@blueridge.edu.