The Museum’s collection dates to an 1881 gift to the Kalamazoo School Board of corals, shells, and rocks from Horace M. Peck, a local banker. In its early years, the Museum acquired natural history specimens, ethnographic materials, and antiquities. Today, the collection has grown to over 50,000 items, but the focus has changed to historical artifacts, photographs, and documents that reflect the family, social, and work lives of the people of Kalamazoo County and southwest Michigan during the past two centuries.

The staff of the Collections Department is responsible for collecting, preserving and interpreting the artifacts in the collection. They seek out new donations for the collection, provide research access to the collection, and answer questions about local history and the care of antiques and family heirlooms. They are available, Monday through Friday, to answer your questions and accept donations.