How You Can Help

 The Saint Paul Police Historical Society relies on the generosity of individuals who share our commitment to preserving the history of the Saint Paul Police Department. Donations of historical artifacts help us expand our museum collection, while financial contributions support the preservation, display, and interpretation of these important pieces of history. Your support helps keep our history alive for future generations. 

Do you have a nineteenth century Saint Paul Police badge? Is Grandpa’s old “billy club” gathering dust in your basement? What about that dented Civil Defense sand pail sitting out in the back shed? If you can prove these items are the real thing, you can help build the Saint Paul Police Historical Society’s museum collection of historical law enforcement items. Dig through your basement and rummage through your attic. You may have an item we could add to our permanent collection. Oh yes, our SPPHS president is looking for an old police motorcycle to restore.

• Uniforms, gear, equipment, communications tools, badges, vehicles (full size or model), and weapons, particularly items involved in interesting events or that have historical significance (e.g., first examples, those that show changes in technology, etc.);
• Evidence from significant 19th and 20th century crimes – such as items belonging to notorious criminals;
• Pieces of evidence used for the first time or in significant cases utilizing forensic methodology (fingerprints, tread analysis, hair samples, type comparisons, etc.);
• Items showing law enforcement in pop culture (contemporary and historical), including movie posters, comic books, pulp fiction, action figures, general memorabilia;
• Academy training manuals, textbooks, videos, and equipment demonstrating the instruction law enforcement officers receive;
• Objects or documents from law enforcement officers of the Saint Paul Police Department (including Park Police, Reserve, Auxiliary, Civil Defense and/or other); and
• Law enforcement gazettes, news

• Archival safe file folders, boxes and protective sleeves;
• Shelving, display cases, signage and mannequins;
• A museum ladder
• Assorted tools
• Frost-free freezers (two)
• Powder coated, medium strength industrial shelving; and
• A security system to protect museum’s current and future collection.
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Items accessioned into the SPPHS collection will receive the highest standards of care, will be thoroughly researched, and will enable the general public and generations to come to better understand the law enforcement profession and its relationship with American society. All items accepted into the SPPHS collection will be acknowledged and will be tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

For more information, contact Department Historian, Sergeant Craig Nelson at 651-266-5573.

The Saint Paul Police Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Minnesota corporation, and is in a totally unfunded relationship with the Saint Paul Police Department and/or the City of Saint Paul. Your charitable gift will help the SPPHS preserve and promote the history of policing in the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Contributions, grants, and/or gifts donated to the SPPHS will be tax-deductible in accordance with existing IRS guidelines.

To the extent that some of the above listed items will have to purchased by the Saint Paul Police Historical Society, tax-deductible financial donations by check are most graciously accepted by the SPPHS by sending the check made payable to the Saint Paul Police Historical Society directly to Sergeant Craig Nelson, Youth Services Section-Investigations, Saint Paul Police Department, 367 Grove Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

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Saint Paul Police Historical Society
“Committed to Preserving and Promoting the History of Policing in Saint Paul, Minnesota.”