Donate to the Collection

A historic plate with a graphic and label that reads "First Congregational Church Lemon Grove, California Founded 1893"
A historic plate commemorating the First Congregational Church Lemon Grove, California Founded 1893

The Lemon Grove Historical Society (LGHS) houses a significant and growing collection of photographs, documents, artifacts, furniture, clothing and ephemera that preserve the history of Lemon Grove. These items make up our historical archives and provide materials for display in the Parsonage Museum.

Virtually all of these materials have been donated to the Society. They are in-kind, tax deductible donations acknowledged with our detailed Gift Transfer Form supplied for your tax records.

What Can You Donate to the Collection?

LGHS welcomes donations of photographs, documents, artifacts, furnishings, clothing, ephemera and more relating to Lemon Grove. We generally do not accept large bulky items (e.g. pianos) or items that have no connection to local history.

If you are cleaning out the garage or attic, downsizing in preparation for moving to smaller quarters, or wondering what to do with a deceased loved one’s collections – and believe you have something from Lemon Grove’s past – let our collections experts take a look.

Here is the Procedure

In the wake of a family death, a move, or other event, you may wish to secure a safe haven for precious memorabilia. If you need help sorting and evaluating items, boxes of papers, etc. we can help. But before loading your car with items, please contact us. We would like to set up a time to meet.

Here is our contact information: 619-460-4353 or archives@lghistorical.org

We can meet at the Parsonage Museum, or at your home or business. We can help you determine what should be saved locally, donated to other historical societies, or discarded.

Once the items to be donated are identified, we will provide a Gift Transfer Letter for your records. All donations, whether monetary or in-kind, are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. (Note: per federal/state law governing non-profit organizations, we cannot appraise or set a value on items donated. We can suggest appraisers, but determining the value of an item is the donor’s responsibility.)

Saving our Past

We are interested in the struggles, triumphs and lives of Lemon Grove individuals, families, businesses and organizations. Some of our most treasured items were considered junk – things no one would want – until someone called us.

Society members have literally rescued things from dumpsters – and in the process saved irreplaceable memorabilia from destruction.

Help us save the past. Donate to the collection!