Membership, Donations, and Volunteering

MEMBERSHIP

We invite you to join a circle of friends who share a passion and respect for the history and genealogy of Lancaster and Virginia’s Northern Neck. Membership dues from local residents, as well as supporters nationwide, are essential for the Lancaster Virginia Historical Society to remain a successful and growing organization. LVHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and your membership contributions are eligible for consideration as tax-deductible donations. Download/Print Membership Brochure.

Join or Renew Today!

Online:
- Square Page: Credit/Debit Card, CashApp, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Square Pay.
- PayPal Page: One-time or recurring monthly payments by Credit/Debit Card or PayPal Account.
By Mail: Please print a Membership Form and mail with your check to LVHS, PO Box 97, Lancaster VA 22503.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES (good for 1 year from date of donation)

INDIVIDUAL (one adult): $35
FAMILY (two adults plus dependents in same household): $60
LVHS FRIEND (includes Family benefits): $100
LVHS SUPPORTER (includes Family benefits): $300
TEACHER/STUDENT (one full-time educator or student): $20

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP: $500 per person (one-time payment)

MEMBER BENEFITS:

Free general admission to the Museum (non-members $5 daily)
Waiver of daily research fee at the Library (non-members $5 daily)
10% discount on most items in the Museum Shop/Bookstore
Free admission, discounted fees, or priority seating for many of our ticketed programs and events
Invitations to members-only educational and social events
Notices of other special events, exhibits, and programs at the Museum & Library
Mailed newsletters and occasional research publications, and email announcements
Voting privileges at the annual meeting and board of directors elections

DONATIONS: Financial Gifts

Every dollar makes a difference to our Annual Fund (general operating budget) or special project funds including our Oral History/Closing the Gap Black History Project, Library Book Fund, and Facilities Maintenance Fund. LVHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and your contributions are eligible for consideration as tax-deductible donations.

Online:
- Square Page: Credit/Debit Card, CashApp, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Square Pay.
- PayPal Page: One-time or recurring monthly payments by Credit/Debit Card or PayPal Account.
By Mail: Send a check to LVHS, PO Box 97, Lancaster VA 22503.

We also welcome gifts of stocks, IRA qualified charitable distributions, bequests, and other planned giving. Please contact us for more information.

DONATIONS: Physical Gifts/Historical Items

If you are interested in donating items to our Museum, Archives, or Library Collections, please contact us. We welcome the opportunity to consider gifts that support the mission, purpose, and goals of our historical society, and will review offered items on the basis of:

Relevance to the mission to “discover, collect, preserve, understand and interpret the history of Lancaster and surrounding counties of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the enjoyment and educational benefit of all residents, succeeding generations, and visitors, and for the vitality of the area”
Fit of item with respect to Collections scope and goals. (For example: Does it fill a gap in our holdings or does it duplicate types of items already owned?)
Condition of item and requirements for exhibition and/or long-term preservation and care.

Please do not bring unsolicited items to the Museum or Library. We are unable to accept items unless advance arrangements have been made. Also, LVHS cannot provide appraisals or valuations.

VOLUNTEERING

When you share your time and talents with LVHS, you can:

Be a part of preserving, understanding, and sharing local history and genealogy
Discover a variety of roles to fit your skills and interests
Meet new people and build camaraderie with other volunteers
Enjoy special Volunteer League programs, field trips, and social activities

Volunteer service is vital to all aspects of the Lancaster Virginia Historical Society! LVHS is run by a volunteer board of directors and many volunteer committees with the support of just two employees, a full-time Executive Director and part-time Programs & Operations Assistant. Volunteers greet and guide our visitors, perform historical and genealogical research, maintain our garden, plan and produce exhibits, provide food and hospitality for special events, assist with fundraisers, help coordinate adult and student educational school programs, run the gift shop, provide administrative support, and more!

Volunteers might give their services for a few hours a year, a regular shift per week, or an ongoing commitment to support a particular activity or project. Every effort will be made to match volunteer availability to museum and library schedules. Volunteers will receive training related to their responsibilities, so prior experience is not a requirement for most positions.