OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING

Old Colony Historical Society

66 Church Green<= o:p>

Taunton, Massachusetts 02780

508-822-1622

OldColony@oldcolonyhistoricalsociety= .org

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING

Thank you for yo= ur interest in the Old Colony Historical Society. Established in 1853, the Society&#= 8217;s mission is to collect, care for, and interpret the history of the Taunton region, collaborating with the community to make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the future. To this end, we maintain a museum and library and conduct educational programs for a membership of nearly 700 and patrons numbering over 6,000. We would not have the means to pursue these goals without the generosity of our members and patrons. Currentl= y, there are several established ways to support mission-driven initiatives, a= nd we are always eager to hear ideas that patrons may have for new ways to col= lect and share the Taunton region’s rich history. = All donations to our 501 (c) 3 non-profit institution are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. P= lease speak to the Director with any questions or suggestions about your proposed= donation.

o&nb= sp; Membership – The cornerstone of our support, membership goes directly toward operating expenses. Join more nearly 70= 0 fellow Tauntonians living in the region and around the country, those with genealogical ties to the region, and those who value lo= cal history for annual membership dues starting at $35. Gift memberships are available. There are many levels of membershi= p, and we would be pleased to share information on them and the many attendant benefits.

o&nb= sp; Life Membership - For a one-time donation of $500, membership benefits are conferred for a member’s lifetime. The donation may be divided into payments that suit the donor. Life membership du= es are invested to benefit the Society in perpetuity.

o&nb= sp; Newsletter Wish List – This quarterly publication, a benefit of membership, often contains requests for specific books or equipment.&= nbsp;

o&nb= sp; Volunteer with the Friends of the OCHS – A group of more than twenty peop= le volunteer on a regular basis to assist with patron services and projects in five categories: office, tour guiding, library and archives, curatorial, and hospitality.

o&nb= sp; Memorial Fund – Donations given in memory of a person or persons are invested to benefit the Society = in perpetuity. Letters may be se= nt to designated family members to notify them of the gift in their loved oneR= 17;s name. Please contact the offi= ce for more information.

o&nb= sp; Staff Educati= on Fund – The Board of Directors has always encouraged the professional staff to maintain their high standards through workshops, conferences and classes. Donations to this fund defray registration fees.

o&nb= sp; Building Fund – Our building was designed for the Bristol Academy in 1852 by architect Richard Upjohn and is his only brick school building. The Society has been a good stewar= d of this property since its purchase in 1926, meriting listing on the State and= National Register of Historic Places and inclusion in Taunton’s Church Green Local Hist= orical District. To maintain the bui= lding according to historic preservation standards, to maximize patron access and service, and to provide a safe haven for our collections, new donations are always needed. Please a= sk the Director for more information about ongoing projects.

= o&nb= sp; Boiler Replac= ement Fund – One of our building’s two boilers is over 60 years old and is quite inefficient. To reduce heating costs and our “carbon footprint,” an estimated $10,000 is neede= d.

= o&nb= sp; Cupola Repair= Fund – Though it is the building’s crowning glory, it is also the part of the build= ing most vulnerable to deterioration. An estimated $6,000 is needed to keep the cupola from leaking during certain weather conditions and to ventilate the attic through the cupola. Both of these actions will add yea= rs to our roof. FUNDING GOALS MET!

o&nb= sp; Library Fund – Our Society is recognized as one of the best repositories for research on genea= logy and local history in the Southern New England region. More than 7,000 volum= es in the library, more than 400 linear feet of manuscript material and over 12,00= 0 images are available for researchers. Donations to this fund are invested and the income used for the expr= ess support of the library functions.<= o:p>

= o&nb= sp; Library Resto= ration Fund – Launched in 2009, this fund’s goal of $25,000 is to add a new digital microfilm reader, refresh the appearance of the library, purchase more comfortable chairs, and re-bind many books.

= o&nb= sp; Photographic Preservation Fund – Images on all media—prints, film negatives, g= lass negatives, slides and digitized—are in need of proper cataloging and housing. Donations to this fu= nd go directly toward the purchase of needed supplies for this effort.=

= o&nb= sp; Library & Archive Acquisition Fund – To build our collections within the sc= ope of our Collections Policy, funds are occasionally needed for purchases. Donations may be made toward the purchase of specific items.

o&nb= sp; Museum Fund &= #8211; Our collection of regional decorative arts, industrial artifacts, and objects to represent the everyday lives of the Taunton region’s citizens numbers over 12,000 objects. Donations to this fund are used di= rectly for the care, documentation and interpretation of these objects.=

o&nb= sp; Painting Conservation Fund – Begun by the generosity of Charles and Ellen Collis, the first painting to be conserved with this fund was our large-scale portr= ait of George Washington painted by= Taunton native Ch= arles Sullivan Lincoln. Several oth= er portraits and paintings are in need of conservation, a description of which= is available upon request. FUNDI= NG GOALS MET!

o&nb= sp; Object Acquisition Fund – Using our Collections Policy, gaps in the object collection may be filled on occasion= by purchases. Targeted areas inc= lude objects reflecting the rich ethnic backgrounds that built Taunton’s culture and 20^{th
century objects of importance.
Donations may be made toward the purchase of specific items.}

o&nb= sp; Gifts to the Endowment - Nearly 75% of the Society’s operating income comes from investments made possible by the generosity of past donors. Endowments may be either unrestricted, allowing the Society to use t= he funds for any purpose, or restricted so that the income only may be used for the purpose designated by the donor. The Treasurer and Finance Committee take a simplified, moderate appr= oach to ensure longevity and proper management of endowment monies. A five-year rolling average value of these investments to minimize fluctuations in our annual operating income.

o&nb= sp; Named Staff Positions – Salary for the Ruby Winslow Linn Curator’s position is partly underwritten by donations to our endowment by the Ruby W. and LaVon P. Linn Foundation. Naming opportunities for other pos= itions (Director, Assistant to the Director, Archivist, Caretaker and Museum Assistant) are available.

o&nb= sp; Bequests R= 11; By making a bequest, you can leave a permanent legacy to the Society. You may specify a certain dollar amount, a stated percentage of your estate, or the residue or remainder of your estate. You may also designate a particular purpose or use for your bequest. Donors are encouraged to speak with the Director or Treas= urer about planned giving.

o&nb= sp; Gifts of Museum Objects, Library Books, and Archival Materials – Full= y 95% of the irreplaceable historical collections at the OCHS are the result of generous donations since its founding in 1853. Our collections are composed of it= ems concerning the Taunton region that tell a fundamental story about its people. We encourage potential donors to c= ontact the Society’s staff in advance to inquire whether a proposed donation fits into our Collections Policy or whether it is a duplicate of something already represented in the collection.&nbs= p;

Potential don= ors are encouraged to speak with any other interested parties, such as family members, before making the decision to donate. The legal owner of the item is ask= ed to sign a Gift Conveyance to transfer ownership permanently to the Society. Items may also be taken on loan in certain circumstances. For gi= fts of images, the Society takes copyright issues into consideration by the use of= a Photographic Gift Conveyance. Copies of these forms are available for review.

For tax purpo= ses, potential donors are encouraged to engage the services of a certified appra= iser to give a value to the donation before ownership transfers to the Society.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> These types of gifts may be designated to the Society in a bequest.

Thank you for considering a gift to the Old Colony Historical Society