We wish the membership fees covered all of our expenses, especially the costs of maintaining and improving four historic properties, preserving our artifacts and organizing presentations and exhibits.

Should you wish to make a financial donation, be assured that your contribution is tax-deductible, and will go toward the ongoing preservation activities of the Avon Historical Society, a registered 501(c)(3) charity.  A letter of gratitude is sent to every donor.

There are other ways to make a financial donation:

1. Remember, if your employer has a donor match program, please let them know you donated to the Avon Historical Society!
2. If you are a regular Amazon shopper, did you know that AmazonSmile lets you register the Avon Historical Society as your nominated charity? Your purchase price is still the same, but AmazonSmile remits 0.05% back to us on every purchase. It’s quick to register and very easy for you to shop as you normally do—with the added satisfaction of knowing you're helping us in a small way with every purchase. It all adds up over time, so click here to sign up!
3. Many thoughtful donors have left a bequest in their estate. In the event you are interested in doing the same, please email the Society through the address in the blue bar below, and request to speak with our president. The president will reach out to you for a discreet conversation about your wishes and plans. Recent generous endowments from the William Yandow Estate Trust and other private contributors have allowed us to continue offering quality events; purchase proper archival supplies for our artifact storage; fund scholarships for history students in the benefactor’s name; and continue essential property repairs on our historic sites.

Or simply send a check made payable to the Avon Historical Society, P.O. Box 448, Avon, CT 06001.

Your support is truly appreciated.

To maintain the regular exhibitions we always look for the support of our visitors. New items are acquired in a number of ways, including donations of antiques and historic items specific to Avon from the public. Before an item is acquired for our collections, it undergoes a review process. Not all items can be accepted because not everything is appropriate for our collections or is specific to Avon's past. It may also be too expensive to care for and provide access to collection items.

Collection Policies

Click here to download the Society Collection Policy.

How do I donate an item?

First, let us know what it is you’d like to donate.  The more information you provide about your item(s), the more easily we’ll be able to make a decision about whether or not to add it to our collections.  The Avon Historical Society accepts unrestricted gifts only, not loans.  And, the item should be connected to Avon and its history.

Can I send or bring my item to AHS immediately?

Unfortunately, we do not have staff available to handle unsolicited donations. If you’d like to donate something, the first step is to contact the Society via email or phone and let us know what you have.  If it's Avon specific or is pertinent to the history of the Farmington Valley, we will discuss it with you.  If it might have a better home elsewhere, we will offer suggestions where you can contact.

Please note: AHS has a Donations Agreement Form that we request you to sign giving us unrestricted use of the item.  You can also use this form for proof of donation for tax purposes.  However, we do not provide valuations of items donated.

Does AHS ever buy things for the collections?

Yes, but only in truly exceptional cases.  When necessary, final purchase decisions are made by a small committee of the Board of Trustees.