PRESERVE. STEWARD. SHARE.
The Sloan Museum of Discovery is proud to preserve, steward, and share the innovative and rich history of Flint and Genesee County.
The Historic Collection includes 65,000 artifacts and over 300,000 archival materials of ephemera, documents, booklets, manuals, photographs, film, and more.
Artifact Collection
The Artifact Collection is the central location of human-made and used objects in Flint and Genesee County. We have items used by everyday people, as well as the individuals that have brought national attention to Flint, Michigan. Highlights of the Artifact Collection include a collection of over 130 historical vehicles that were designed or built in the Flint region, including a battle-hardened Hellcat Tank-Destroyer! These vehicles help tell the fascinating history of the region’s industrial and automotive past. The History Galleries at the Sloan Museum showcase the tenacity of Flint through its original inhabitants the Anishinabek, early European settlement, the neighborhoods that defined Flint, Flint in wartime, how Flint became “Vehicle City”, and the modern history of the City.
Questions? Contact collections@sloanlongway.org
Research & Archives
The Archival Collection is a repository of archival cultural materials that define Flint and Genesee County, covering more than 150 years of history. Highlights include automotive materials spanning Buick Motor Company’s history from 1902 to 1999, as well as Chevrolet, General Motors, and Durant Motors materials. Additionally, 35,000 photographs illustrate the pictorial history Flint through the years, from carriages to automobiles, from open fields to subdivision. Personal document, business paperwork, letters, postcards, and more can be found in the Archival Collection. We host researchers from across the State and beyond.
RESEARCH AND EXPLORE
the Historic Archives!
HEAR STORIES
from People in the Community!
LEARN UNIQUE HISTORY
About Genesee County!
Finding Flint Video Tutorial
Need help learning how to find archives in the Finding Flint Finding Aid?
Go to our video tutorial here.
Donations
If you are interested in donating an artifact or archival materials to the museum, please use the link below to submit a donation proposal. DONATION PROPOSAL FORMThe Sloan Museum Collections Committee reviews all potential incoming donations prior to receipt of materials. The information on this form will be used to determine if your proposed donation fits the museum's collecting scope. It does not guarantee that your donation will be accepted as part of the museum's artifact collection. If you would like a paper form, or have any questions, please contact the Registrar at (810) 237-3435.
Frequently Asked Questions
The museum’s Collection focuses on material made in, used in, or related to the City of Flint and Genesee County. The Collections are used to educate the public through exhibitions, lectures, and special events. Artifacts are also used for research purposes.
Examples Include:
Ephemera, artifacts, and archival material with documented Flint or Genesee County provenance.
Materials similar to items once used in Genesee County, but not fully documented as local in origin. These artifacts will most often be collected to meet specific, interpretive needs, exhibit needs, or public programs.
If an item does not fit or meet the above interest areas, but is still historically important, the museum may still accept such items.
Criteria for not accepting artifacts may include physical size, weight, or condition of the item. Artifacts that are of non-local origin may be considered sufficient reason for not accepting an offered donation. The usefulness and current ownership of like artifacts shall also be used in accepting a donation.
No. Please do not drop off or mail any artifact to the museum without contacting the Registrar first. Items received without prior approval from the Collections Committee will be returned to sender.
Generally, we rely on individuals and organizations donating artifacts and archival materials to the museum to build our collection. We purchase artifacts on very rare occasions.
Yes. Sloan Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and thus the fair market value of your donated materials is generally tax deductible. To ensure that you receive the maximum tax benefit, it is recommended that you consult with your own accountant, attorney, and/or the Internal Revenue Service. Sloan Museum will not provide a fair market value of your donation.
No. The IRS views museums and archives as interested parties and therefore the museum does not provide appraisals of the monetary value of materials proposed for donation or for any other reason. Professional appraisers can perform this service for a fee.
