The Museum of Capitalism seeks donations of objects, documents, and other artifacts from the era of capitalism, or other items of historical interest, to be considered for inclusion in the museum’s exhibitions and related programming. Individuals who possess items related to the history or memory of capitalism, or tied to a personal experience that could help others to understand or feel how life was lived under capitalism, are invited to come forward and share their stories with museum curators.
Artifacts may be printed materials, three-dimensional objects, or entire collections, and may consist of documents, correspondence, diaries, clothing, uniforms, and textiles, photographs and moving images, advertisements, trade publications and promotional materials, currencies, receipts, and other elements of consumer exchange, and samples of raw materials, finished products, or fragments of capitalist production.
All participants who submit an item for consideration receive photographic documentation of their item, whether or not the museum wishes to catalog the object for its collection. Donors are asked to complete a short questionnaire about their donations, and museum curators and volunteers will conduct short interviews with selected participants.
Those who make an appointment or bring in items are under no obligation to donate the items, and the personal preferences and privacy of donors will be respected at all times.
Please note: The Museum of Capitalism cannot accept unsolicited donations through the mail or in-person without prior acknowledgement and approval by museum staff, and reserves the right to dispose of unsolicited items. The Museum of Capitalism is unable to answer queries regarding the authentication and appraisal of artifacts.
Drop-in hours are 4 – 6pm on Friday, October 4, 2019. To ensure museum curators and staff have time to give items proper consideration. Advance appointments are strongly recommended. To book an advance appointment, please
visit our website or email
collections@museumofcapitalism.org.
This event is part of the exhibition Museum of Capitalism at The New School, which appears at the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery, Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, from October 30 – December 11, 2019. More information on the exhibition and related programming can be found at the
Museum of Capitalism New York City page.
The Museum of Capitalism’s appearance in New York City is supported by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Robert L. Heilbroner Center for Capitalism Studies at the New School for Social Research, Eugene Lang College for Liberal Arts at The New School, and the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School of Design. Part of a year-long collaboration between the artist collective FICTLIS and faculty and students at The New School, the museum’s programming includes an exhibition, film screenings, workshops, talks, and other events. Find out more at
museumofcapitalism.org.
Interested donors who cannot make the in-person appointment times in New York may still participate by using the
Artifact Inquiry Form on the museum’s website.
