Donate
Reminder: Donors MUST first submit a donation offers form. See below for complete instructions. Also note, if your donation is accepted, you may be asked to delay sending your materials due to limited onsite staff.
The Department of Distinctive Collections is constantly expanding its collections of unique and rare materials. We welcome offers of materials that build upon our collecting units. Explore our collections for more information on our areas of focus.
The process of acquiring new materials involves review by the Distinctive Collections curatorial team. Our team will determine if the offered materials are an appropriate fit with our collections and ensure we have the resources to properly preserve, describe, store, and make the materials accessible.
MIT Offices and DLCs: Distinctive Collections accepts only the permanent, historical records of MIT into the Institute Archives. For information about the disposition of non-permanent Institute records, see the Records Management Program.
The Records Management Program also offers remote services, such as information management guidance for both digital and physical records, and an Imaging on Demand service for files already in the RM program. Please contact rmprogram@mit.edu with any questions.
Step one:
Fill out our Donation Offer form. Include as much information as you can. A member of the curatorial team will contact you to discuss your prospective donation within two business days.
For donations to the Aga Khan Documentation Center, contact akdc@mit.edu
Step two:
If your donation is approved, you will be given a date when you can transfer your materials. See below for instructions. MIT student and community organizations, alumni, and individuals or organizations unaffiliated with MIT who are first-time donors to Distinctive Collections will also be asked to complete a deed of gift prior to transferring materials.
MIT – Offices and DLCs, student and community organizations
Alumni and outside donors
We also welcome donations of financial resources that will enable us to continue to grow our collections, as well as our innovative programming, projects, and outreach efforts.