Do you have a historical or cultural object to donate to the museum?

Please scroll down to see if your item falls within the Museum criteria determined by our Collections Committee. Due to limited space and capacity, we are only able to accept donations related to our organizational mission, which is to collect, preserve and interpret the histories of Portland’s Old and New Chinatowns through two and three-dimensional objects, art, oral histories, and photographs gathered from individuals, families, businesses and organizations connected to Portland’s Chinatowns.

We accept items that:

• Directly connect to Portland’s Chinatowns and Chinese American communities in Oregon;
• Reflect the personal histories and lived experiences of early Chinese immigrants in America and the communities they belonged to;
• Demonstrate the richness and complexity of the everyday lives of Chinese Americans.

Examples include (but are not limited to) photographs and albums, audio and video recordings, memoirs, printed materials, diaries and journals, letters and correspondence, genealogical information, utilitarian objects, advertising, ephemera, clothing, and locally made artwork or cultural items.

If your item does not fall within these criteria, it still may be considered for use in our Teaching Collection or as an auction item for fundraising.

To have your item considered, please fill out the form below, and we will get back to you within 3-4 weeks as per our Collections Committee meeting schedule. Thank you!