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Collection and Archives Overview and Guidelines for Donating Materials

Collection Overview

The National Leadership Foundation collection is made up of over 600 artifacts. The collection includes objects from nearly every 20th and 21st century American military conflict, with the bulk of the collection relating to World War II. The three-dimensional object collection is stored in climate-controlled storage areas and is used for exhibition, loans to other museums, reference,  research and other institutional priorities.

Archives Overview

The National Leadership Foundation archival collection contains substantial materials related to Military leadership, valorous acts on the battlefield and items related to historic Americans who served in the military and went on to other achievements in society. The collection includes uniforms, medal groups, original photographs, letters, diaries, films, military documents, newspapers. The archival collection is stored in climate-controlled storage areas and is used for and is used for exhibition, loans to other museums, reference,  research and other institutional priorities.

Acquisition and Accession of Materials

Objects may be added to the collections by either gift, bequest, purchase, exchange or any other transaction by which title to the objects passes to the Museum. The acceptance of objects to the Museum will be based on the following priorities:

• to strengthen collection areas in which the Museum has a direct use in present or projected research or in current educational or exhibition programs; those needed to fill gaps or supplement objects of lesser quality;

• to broaden the base of already-established collection areas or immediately adjacent to a previously established one;

• to obtain collections of a general nature which are within the broad interests of the Museum.

The Museum cannot accept objects upon which restrictions are placed which prevent effective research examination, exhibition use, loan or disposal. The Museum also cannot accept objects on conditions which would require that they be placed on permanent or long-term exhibition loan, or that the collection of which they form a part should be kept together permanently and/or displayed only as a discrete collection.

Guidelines for Offering Materials

What materials are accepted by the Museum?

The National Leadership Foundation is continually seeking to improve its permanent collection of uniforms, medals, photographs, archival materials, and three-dimensional objects. Specific items are added to the collection if they have historic value and are not already well-represented in the collection. The growth of our collection is largely dependent upon individual donations.

WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING

• Newspapers.

• Movies. We do not accept VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray copies of commercially produced movies. We do accept personal oral histories recorded on all media.

• Models (Tank, Ship, or Airplane). The Museum is unable to accept manufactured models or models built from kits.

• Common type piece artifacts

 

WE ARE ACCEPTING

• Historic Uniforms, flight suits, A2 jackets, headgear related to American military service

• Historic Medal groups

• Killed in Action Purple Hearts

• Historic Documents

• Type piece pre-WW2 Medals and campaign medals

• Sterling type piece insignia and wings

• Historic well thought out collections

• Historic Photographs, Letters and Journals, flight logs, military award documents

 

How do I offer materials to the Museum?

Do not send materials at this time. Send us an email of what you have with photographs and if it is offered as a donation or for sale.

What will happen after the Museum receives the email?

The information you provide regarding the materials offered for donation will be carefully reviewed to decide whether or not the materials will be accepted. Two primary criteria are used to determine whether an offered item should be accepted into the collection:

• Will the artifact be of interest to present and/or future historians and visitors?

• Is the artifact already well-represented in the collection?

What does the Museum purchase?

Although the National Leadership Foundation does not make purchases directly.  From time to time the foundation will reach out to donors to purchase exceptional artifacts or whole collections for sale.  This is the rare exception rather than a common occurrence, but it does happen.  If you have an item or collection for sale please feel to reach out. 

What is done when an object is accepted into the collection?

If it is a donation, a formal letter of acknowledgement will be sent by the museum to the donor. Enclosed will be a Deed of Gift form which needs to be signed and returned to complete our records and to make the donation a legal transaction. The Deed need not be notarized.

When an item is accepted into our permanent collection, it becomes available for study by researchers, historians, writers and other interested parties. The Museum does not accept any item with the stipulation that it must be exhibited. All objects are considered for inclusion in exhibitions when appropriate.

Is my donation going to sit on a shelf, never to be displayed?

What visitors don’t see on display is just as important as what they do. The Museum rotates the stories it tells roughly 2 times per year.  Things might not immediately go on display.  Once an object, document or photo is donated, it immediately becomes available to staff and researchers who are working on a variety of projects.

When will my donation be on exhibit?

The Museum does not guarantee artifacts will ever be exhibited. Once an object, document or photo is donated, it immediately becomes available to staff and researchers who are working on a variety of projects.

Will my donated shadow box stay together?

No. Most shadow boxes are not of the archival quality mandated for museum collection storage. Our goal is the long-term preservation of artifacts. To meet that goal, we must house all our artifacts in ways that prevent them from deteriorating. The fabrics, glues, and mounting materials in shadow boxes will likely do significant damage to the items inside over time. To prevent this, we will dismantle the shadow box, and store the individual items according to museum best practices.

What is done with artifacts donated to the Museum?

The National Leadership Foundation uses artifacts for exhibits organized and displayed in the Museum, short-term loan to other museums, and for research by historians, authors, documentary film producers and students.

Will the Museum staff appraise artifacts for donors?

No. The Internal Revenue Service considers such activity by a 501c(3) a conflict of interest. Although the National Leadership Foundation is not allowed to perform appraisals, all gifts are tax deductible. It is not our policy to recommend an appraiser, however, the American Society of Appraisers is a nationwide organization which may be of some assistance.

American Society of Appraisers

PO Box 17265

Washington, DC 20041

703-478-2228

Appraisers Association of America, Inc.

386 Park Avenue South, Suite 2000, New York, NY 10016

212-889-5404 x 10

aaa@appraisersassoc.org

www.appraisersassoc.org

If you plan to get an appraisal for artifacts, please get them photographed, photocopied and/or appraised before sending them. The NMAJMH does not offer these services.

Can I see my items if they are not on display?

Donors are welcome (with an appointment) to bring family members to view their donations if they are not on public display.