Arlington Historical Society shall strive to collect a breadth of artifacts that represent Arlington County and its residents from pre-Columbian history to the present. Arlington Historical Society will focus on collecting artifacts with documented significance to Arlington County except in cases where an unrelated artifact helps interpret a specific aspect of Arlington County history. Arlington Historical Society will avoid extensive collection of artifacts related to any single entity, event or person unless an extensive collection furthers an interpretive goal of the Society. Arlington County is defined by its modern and historic borders. Arlington Historical Society does not collect artifacts solely because of their age, ie. the Society does not collect general history artifacts.
Consistent with Arlington Historical Society’s Mission adopted 5/2023, the collection focuses on the following topics:
1. Artifacts related to or useful for interpreting and furnishing the Ball-Sellers house.
2. Artifacts related to or useful for interpreting and furnishing the Arlington Historical Museum related to its former use as a school.
3. Artifacts that represent the diversity of cultures, races, and socioeconomic groups in Arlington County.
4. Artifacts representing or contributing to our historical understanding of the development, growth, and diversity of Arlington County.
5. Contemporary artifacts that represent culturally or historically significant events, people, places or businesses in Arlington County6. Historic artifacts that represent culturally or historically significant events, people, places or businesses unique or especially significant to Arlington County.