Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Collection Policy
Purpose and Scope of the Byrd Center CHE Collection:
The main purpose of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education (CHE) archival collection is to preserve materials that document the life and public service of the late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, other Congressional public figures, and to make these materials available to researchers and the general public. The CHE seeks other collections related to Senate Byrd’s service, the history of Congress, and West Virginia history that deepen and enrich our existing holdings. The CHE, with the approval of its board of directors, reserves the right to alter or expand our collection policy should a unique opportunity present itself for a significant collection that might fall outside our current policy considerations.
The materials in the collection include but are not limited to: public and private papers, letters, three-dimensional artifacts, books, posters, campaign materials, scrapbooks, speeches, memorabilia, photographs, audio and video recordings, electronic records, oral histories, and artwork. Parts of the collection will be made available for researchers via the Internet, but the bulk of the collection will be accessed and serviced through the use of the Byrd Center Reading Room at the Byrd CHE on the campus of Shepherd University, in Shepherdstown, WV.
The major emphasis of the collection is historical documents, letters, photographs, artifacts and other material as mentioned above, that are by or about the career of Senator Byrd in the United States Congress, which includes major national issues over a half century of U.S. history, his work within the Senate and his relationship with presidents of the United States and other officials, and his actions and activities related to the economic development of West Virginia and issues related to citizens of West Virginian. Additional areas of collecting include the papers of other individuals or groups associated with the U.S. Congress that served during the 20th Century, as well as records documenting the general and specific functions of the United States Congress.
Purchases, Gifts, and Loans
The Byrd CHE does not normally purchase records or artifacts but reserves the right to do so in order to acquire important items for the collection. Donations will be accepted by the director or the archivist provided that they meet five criteria:
The Byrd CHE does not normally place a monetary value on the items in our custody. Nor does the Byrd CHE provide a monetary appraisal to any donated materials. For tax purposes this responsibility rests with the donor. The Byrd CHE may place a monetary value on selected materials in the collection for the purposes of obtaining insurance if the materials are moved to an off-site exhibit or placed on loan to another institution; this value would be used to approximate the cost to repair or restore a damaged item.
Deaccessioning Materials
The Byrd CHE reserves the right to dispose of materials not relevant to our collections. Options for deaccession include: returning materials to donors, secure destruction, and offering items to other institutions (when feasible). The Byrd CHE does not sell original items from its collections.
Cooperative Agreements
Occasionally, the Byrd CHE may enter into cooperative arrangements with other organizations in order to preserve historical materials and/or make them more widely available.
Products derived from the Byrd CHE collections
The Byrd CHE may create videos, oral recordings, documentaries, digital collections, printed books, pamphlets, traveling exhibitions, and other scholarly and educational products based on the material in the Byrd CHE collection. These products may be distributed free of charge, sold through the Byrd CHE, or sold through commercial businesses.
Approved by the board of directors of the Congressional Education Foundation, Inc. on November 18, 2016.
The main purpose of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education (CHE) archival collection is to preserve materials that document the life and public service of the late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, other Congressional public figures, and to make these materials available to researchers and the general public. The CHE seeks other collections related to Senate Byrd’s service, the history of Congress, and West Virginia history that deepen and enrich our existing holdings. The CHE, with the approval of its board of directors, reserves the right to alter or expand our collection policy should a unique opportunity present itself for a significant collection that might fall outside our current policy considerations.
The materials in the collection include but are not limited to: public and private papers, letters, three-dimensional artifacts, books, posters, campaign materials, scrapbooks, speeches, memorabilia, photographs, audio and video recordings, electronic records, oral histories, and artwork. Parts of the collection will be made available for researchers via the Internet, but the bulk of the collection will be accessed and serviced through the use of the Byrd Center Reading Room at the Byrd CHE on the campus of Shepherd University, in Shepherdstown, WV.
The major emphasis of the collection is historical documents, letters, photographs, artifacts and other material as mentioned above, that are by or about the career of Senator Byrd in the United States Congress, which includes major national issues over a half century of U.S. history, his work within the Senate and his relationship with presidents of the United States and other officials, and his actions and activities related to the economic development of West Virginia and issues related to citizens of West Virginian. Additional areas of collecting include the papers of other individuals or groups associated with the U.S. Congress that served during the 20th Century, as well as records documenting the general and specific functions of the United States Congress.
Purchases, Gifts, and Loans
The Byrd CHE does not normally purchase records or artifacts but reserves the right to do so in order to acquire important items for the collection. Donations will be accepted by the director or the archivist provided that they meet five criteria:
- Collections must aid the mission of the Byrd CHE;
- The owner must have clear title to the records or materials;
- The Byrd CHE can properly care for the collection;
- The donor must be willing to sign a deed of gift that legally transfers ownership to the Byrd CHE; and
- The collection does not require excessive restrictions on use.
The Byrd CHE does not normally place a monetary value on the items in our custody. Nor does the Byrd CHE provide a monetary appraisal to any donated materials. For tax purposes this responsibility rests with the donor. The Byrd CHE may place a monetary value on selected materials in the collection for the purposes of obtaining insurance if the materials are moved to an off-site exhibit or placed on loan to another institution; this value would be used to approximate the cost to repair or restore a damaged item.
Deaccessioning Materials
The Byrd CHE reserves the right to dispose of materials not relevant to our collections. Options for deaccession include: returning materials to donors, secure destruction, and offering items to other institutions (when feasible). The Byrd CHE does not sell original items from its collections.
Cooperative Agreements
Occasionally, the Byrd CHE may enter into cooperative arrangements with other organizations in order to preserve historical materials and/or make them more widely available.
Products derived from the Byrd CHE collections
The Byrd CHE may create videos, oral recordings, documentaries, digital collections, printed books, pamphlets, traveling exhibitions, and other scholarly and educational products based on the material in the Byrd CHE collection. These products may be distributed free of charge, sold through the Byrd CHE, or sold through commercial businesses.
Approved by the board of directors of the Congressional Education Foundation, Inc. on November 18, 2016.