In 1871, he donated objects to the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, Switzerland.
They started asking their friends to donate objects left behind from their break-ups, and the collection was born.
The Government has published proposals for consultation on a new scheme to encourage people to donate pre-eminent objects or works of art to the nation.
Several prominent citizens also donated historical objects and curiosities.
In 1913 his grandchildren donated other objects of his to the collection.
Soon, people in the community began donating historical objects to the society.
Captain James Cook was so impressed by Lever's collection that he donated objects from his own voyages to the museum.
Members of different faith communities across Wales were invited to donate objects to St Fagans and to share stories to represent their religion.
He and others donated 19th-century American art, European and American-made carriages, and historic objects.
He also donated a silver collection and other objects to the Hart House in Canada in 1940.