Disclaimer: This is how NOT to store a museum collection.

292 Stockton Avenue
at the corner of Stockton & Julian
San José, California

Saturday July 12 - Auction
9:00 am Preview
10:30 am Live Auction

Sunday 13, 2008 - Buy it Now, As Is Sale
9 am - 2 pm

For decades part of the HSJ collection was stored off-site in a warehouse near downtown San José. After a complete inventory, extensive research and a lengthy deaccession process, HSJ has moved most of the artifacts to its state-of-the-art Collection Center. Some of the artifacts have been removed from the collection and will be available for sale. Proceeds from the sale will directly benefit the collection through conservation and acquisition of new artifacts.

The Spring Cleaning and Open House will take place in the former Westinghouse warehouse on Stockton Avenue. Saturday’s preview will begin at 9:00 am and the live auction will begin at 10:30 am and proceed until all designated items are gone. Only auction items will be sold on Saturday. Sunday’s "Buy it Now and As Is" sale will be from 9 am to 2 pm. All items must be removed on the day of the sale. Arrangements for pick up of very large artifacts will be available on Monday, July 14 or by appointment only.

In the interest of making the artifacts for sale available to the widest public possible the only preview will be on Saturday, July 12 beginning at 9:00 am.

Example of artifacts for available for purchase:

• Argicultural: harnesses, yokes, plows, prune grader & fruit scale
• Architectual Fragments: doors, fence posts, wood planks, molding, banisters, staircases & mantles
• Household: sewing machines, stoves, refrigerators, washboards, washing machine, mangles, & sinks
• Furniture: bed frames, mirrors, dressers, cabinets, chairs, tables, desks, lamps, & trunks
• Vehicles: sleighs, surreys, wagons, trucks, & parts
• Office Equipment: adding machines, switchboard, Osborne computers & typewriters
• Music: pianos, phonographs, & player pianos
• Post office cabinets and mailboxes
• Printing presses & cabinets
• And much, much, more!

Deaccession (dee’ ak shesh’ an) is the method by which artifacts are permanently removed from
a museum’s collection. It is a necessary practice among museums and eliminates items from a
collection that are in poor condition, already exist in great number, have no provenance (history
and relevance) or are hazardous. By removing such items which will never be exhibited or used,
deaccession ensures that a museum’s resources are used to professionally care for and properly
store relevant collections. This responsible management is key to preserving items held in the
public trust. The funds derived from the sale may only be used to purchase and support
collections, and by law, may not be used for general operations. >>Learn more about the deaccession process