You can't sell off some things to pay the electric bill. Occasionally, a descendant of a family that has donated items asks to have them back. I've met some Houghtons, Van Dykes, Macombs. She and Young said they are not surprised that families turn over their heirlooms. It's part of their lives, their family's life.
People are very generous.
When they close up a family home, we'll get a call. Visitors are infrequent except for an occasional researcher. Orchard Lake St. Mary's. The researcher was thrilled to find an old uniform, yearbook and scrapbook stored at the building. And when you get it, it's really, really unique.