We work closely with donors to identify materials of research interest that should be preserved so that the historical record can be fully documented. It is not possible for the Heritage Center to accept all materials that are offered. Some of the most common reasons include duplication of materials, condition, format, or subject areas in which we do not collect.
Adventist History – Donations of material related to Southwestern’s legacy and the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southwest are welcome including photographs, films, documents, books, newspapers, articles, printed materials, drawings, journals, diaries, audio, interviews, and artifacts.
- Personal and Family Papers – The personal papers of individuals and families are essential documents in the telling of Southwestern and Adventist heritage. The Adventist Heritage Center welcomes not only the papers of well-known and prominent figures of Southwestern or the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but also those of nurses, educators, missionaries, laity, homeschoolers, laborers, and farmers. The following types of materials are always considered for donation: letters, diaries; speeches; lectures; photo albums; scrapbooks; memoirs; reminiscences; photographs, professional files, and geographic information.
- Organization Records – The records of our many and varied organizations are vital in documenting Southwestern’s history and the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southwest. Records that document the social, religious, and business involvement of Seventh-day Adventist organizations are crucial to the historical record. The following types of materials are desired by the Adventist Heritage Center: articles of incorporation, constitutions, bylaws, meeting minutes, correspondence, planning documents, architectural records, legal documents, reports, memoranda, newsletters, directories, press releases, membership records, and research, biographical, and subject files.
- Publications – Desired publications include county, community, church, and business histories, family histories and genealogies, county atlases, and organization newsletters about and relating to Southwestern and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church periodicals of mass distribution are included in the collection policy of the Chan Shun Centennial Library and will not be accepted by the Adventist Heritage Center.
- Books – The Heritage Center accepts donations of old and rare books, and books by and about the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its members, including theses and dissertations and other scholarship produced by current and former faculty of Southwestern Adventist University, not otherwise represented in the current holdings catalog.
- Media – The Heritage Center will accept a variety of media content relevant to the history of Southwestern Adventist University and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Keene, Texas. We are unable to accept mass-distributed media content and refer such donations to the Center for Adventist Research at Andrews University.
- Ephemera – Memorabilia donations that are not otherwise duplicated in our collections holdings are accepted by the Adventist Heritage Center.
All donations and gifts of material require a Deed of Gift or an In Kind Deed of Gift Agreement. We encourage all donors to read the following documents:
To discuss donating a collection of personal papers, photographs, publications, books, or organizational records to the Adventist Heritage Center, contact us anytime.
We are always ready to help you find the right home for your treasures. Your support is greatly appreciated. We could not do what we do without the efforts, assistance, and support of our donors and friends. What we do today, makes a difference tomorrow.
