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Donation Office

How to Donate to Archives

Items Wanted:

The Archives accepts books, photographs, archival and manuscript materials, and memorabilia. Items of special interest are:
  • The publications and correspondence of Harvey Cushing, Walter Dandy, and John Fulton and all early members of the Harvey Cushing Society.
  • The publications and correspondence of significant neuroscience pioneers, such as Frazier, Keen, Penfield, and McKenzie.
  • The color motion pictures from the first meeting of the Harvey Cushing Society (1932).
  • The 16mm motion picture of Cushing, Fulton, and visitors to Boston that was distributed to the members of the Society of Neurological Surgeons (probably in the 1940s)
  • Photographs made at Harvey Cushing's 70th birthday party
  • Late 19th and early 20th century neurosurgical instruments
  • Early Bovie sucker, aka Bucy-Frazier sucker with the cords
  • Early leucotomes
If you have any doubt if an item would be appropriate to donate or if you want to determine if you have an item that is not in the collection, contact Chris Ann Philips, Archives Coordinator, by e-mail at cap@aans.org or by phone at 847-378-0500 for a database search.

The Gift Process

Donors should contact the Archives Coordinator to discuss potential gifts. You should provide a thorough description of the item(s), including size and condition.

Photographs are always helpful. Once enough information has been gathered, a decision will be made regarding acceptance by the Archive Committee and the AANS Administration.

When a gift is donated, an acknowledgment will be sent to the donor with a "Donation Agreement." All gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. The AANS makes every effort to have each item appraised so that the donor has an official fair market appraisal for income tax purposes.

When We Can't Accept

The AANS Archives is committed to the long-term care and preservation of the items it accepts, and for this reason there are some restrictions. Due to limitations in the amount of available storage space, not all memorabilia can be accepted. Also, the library collection's focus is on the pre-1950 period, based on the assumption that later materials are widely available elsewhere. However, later items of particular importance or reference value are welcomed.

In the event that an item cannot be accepted, Staff will be happy to assist you in identifying other options, such as museums or organizations collecting items for use in developing countries.

How Gifts Are Used

Only a small percentage of the collection can be placed on exhibit at one time. Most items are held in storage until needed, e.g. for special and Annual Meeting exhibits.

All of the Archives collection is open to visiting researchers and loans are available to other museums and research institutions. National Office Staff would appreciate advance notice of individuals planning to visit the Archives so items from their particular area of interest can be made readily available.

Monetary Gifts

Should you care to make a monetary donation to the Archives for the purpose of allowing the purchase of items that have been unavailable through donations (such as the microfilms of Cushing's and Fulton's diaries), memorabilia displays and maintenance, or production of the "Leaders in Neuroscience" video-interview program, please contact Chris Ann Philips by e-mail at cap@aans.org or by phone at 847-378-0500.

Tax Advantages for Archives Contributions

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1994 provides advantages to prospective donors who are subject to the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).

Briefly, the difference between the fair market value of donated appreciated property and the adjusted basis of such property is not treated as a tax preference item for AMT purposes. If a taxpayer makes a gift related to the donee's tax-exempt purpose (the Archives Museum), the taxpayer is allowed to claim a deduction for both regular tax and AMT purposes in the amount of the property's fair market value.

If you are contemplating making a contribution of property that has appreciated in value since you acquired it and you may be subject to the federal AMT, you may be entitled to a special tax benefit. We encourage prospective donors who may meet these criteria to contact your tax advisor to discuss whether you are entitled to this special tax benefit.

Pre-20th Century · Aneurysm and Micro-Neurosurgery · History of Organized Neurosurgery
Stereotactic Neurosurgery · The Cushing Tumor Registry · Portrait Hall · Leaders in Neuroscience
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