[This book] is a well-crafted blend of the hard and soft skills necessary to navigate the many steps involved with archival donations. Purcell takes it one step beyond the archives and includes the development officers of organizations in the conversation. If properly educated and prepared, allies will pay off in the form of both great collections and monetary compensation to care for those collections.

Archival Issues

Aaron D. Purcell has prepared a useful and engagingly written book about donors and archives, offering a comprehensive view of the various elements that make for a successful donor program. . . .[F]or professional archivists, those working in collecting archives or with manuscript collections in libraries, this is an informative and unique contribution to the professional literature.

Archives and Manuscripts: Journal of the Australian Society of Archivists

[T]he body of literature devoted specifically to donors and archives is quite limited, and the instructive guidance provided in Donors and Archives fills an existing gap. In terms of audiences, it offers highly instructive examples for those starting a career in archives, whilst simultaneously providing considered reflection for seasoned archivists who have wrestled with many of the issues discussed.

Archives and Records: The Journal of the Archives and Records Association

This book opens a new world for archivists, one that was always there but which few of us could ever see through the fog of our focus on the more technical issues in the field. This book is a call to action, a roadmap, and an avuncular advisor all at once. Donors and Archives codifies something core to the archival enterprise yet one treated with something worse than disdain—with neglect borne out of our certainty there was just too little there to consider. Now, our consideration can begin, and we can thank Aaron Purcell for getting us started.

The American Archivist

In Donors and Archives: A Guidebook for Successful Programs, author Aaron D. Purcell, professor and director of special collections at Virginia Tech, has written a comprehensive and practical overview of what it takes to successfully navigate the many issues and decisions that an archives program may have to make when working with potential donors. Purcell also gives a step-by-step overview of the planning, cultivation, and long term sustainability of a donor program. With little to no specific literature on the topic of donors and donor relations, Purcell's work is an incredibly useful and invaluable introduction for the beginning archivist, as well as a handy refresher for a mid-career or established archivist. This book would be extremely beneficial for someone working in a smaller archive where they are required to handle multiple duties, inclusive of everything from acquisition to processing, outreach, and fundraising.

Provenance: Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists

Purcell's comprehensive new book offers a seasoned professional's perspective on a critical, but often overlooked area of practice. Establishing good relationships with donors is a cornerstone of building collections. This book provides a roadmap for doing just that, with helpful guidance for those new to the field and useful tips for those with more experience as well.

Kate Theimer, author of ArchivesNext blog