collections

Home / About Us / Links / Contact Us / Become a Member / Our Board

The Royal Oak Historical Museum currently maintains over 10,000 items in its historical collections. When a new donation or purchase comes into the museum a hand written collection record is filled out for every item or group of items. This record contains a detailed description of each item or group, its general condition, the purchasing or donor's information, and its classification in the collection. Items are classified under four categories, objects, photos, archives, or library (see below). All of the information from the collection record is entered into the museums computer system using Past Perfect software. The item is assigned, and inscribed with an accession number, then properly stored in the appropriate location within the museums storage facility.

Classifications

Objects - are defined as art, artifacts, natural history or historical objects. For example furniture, housewares,
                 clothing , tools, framed drawings or paintings.

Photos - contains all types of photographic formats and negatives.

Archives - contains all types of documents: letters, manuscripts, diaries, corporation records, insurance records,
                    program books and pamphlets, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and articles.

Library - consists of all published books, entire newspapers and magazines, yearbooks, anniversary books,
                 commercial and municipal publications. A sub-catagory contains various film, video and audio media.

If you would like to make a donation of historic items to our collections please contact us at 248.439.1501

Featured Artifacts:

Ashtrays from Royal Oak Businesses

Ashtrays, once common in public and private settings, are becoming increasingly rare due to current concerns about the harmful effects of smoking on human health. Weather made of glass, ceramic, metal, plastic or even stone the ashtray has always been a popular advertising device, and a design statement. Receptacles of elaborate shapes, colors and sizes have teased out the talents of artisans and industrial designers for decades.

These five examples from Royal Oak businesses are typical promotional items dating from the 1940's through the 1970's. Notice the Royal Oak High School ashtray from 1959, issued before smoking had became a public health concern.

Evolving from early cigars, cigarette smoking originated among early inhabitants of Central and South America. The smoking habit had infiltrated Europe and the Middle East by the 1800's and reached it’s peak of popularity world wide by the mid- 20th century.