Artifact Donation
Patriots Point collects artifacts related to the United States Navy with a particular focus on World War II through Vietnam era. Other US military items are reviewed for suitability and relevance to the ships and the Vietnam Experience exhibits.
Please contact the Department of Collections and Curatorial Affairs to inquire about any proposed artifact donations: collections@patriotspoint.org
The primary scope of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum’s collection is naval history and the development of naval aviation in the United States from World War II through Vietnam-era. All proposed items for donation are reviewed for acceptability by the Collections Committee. Collecting decisions are determined by condition, the museum’s ability to provide permanent care, and consideration for specialized areas of interest. Other items are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must involve naval and maritime or naval aviation material.
Archival material is reviewed for relevance to the collection and use for naval history research.
Any item with mold, mildew, or insect damage will not be accepted. Items with uncertain or questionable provenance will not be accepted.
Patriots Point reserves the right to return unsolicited and/or unaccepted donations to the owner. Should return information not be available, Patriots Point will dispose of material per best practices.
Currently Collecting:
- Diaries and Log Books
- Personal Papers, Letters, and Correspondence
- Flight Suits, Helmets, and Flight Gear
- Original Crewmember’s Artwork (paintings, watercolors, drawings)
- Ship Instruments (navigation equipment)
- Photographs
- Ceremonial Certificates
- Souvenirs such as launching, christening, commissioning, or decommissioning brochures
- Training Materials
- Ship’s Newspapers and Memos
- Menus, ship’s entertainment and sports programs, other ephemera
- Posters and Cartoons (World War II through Vietnam)
- Film Footage: Efforts will be made to transfer film to a stable digital format, which might result in the loss of the original film; nitrate film will be transferred if at all possible and then discarded for the safety of the collection and staff
- Home Front Memorabilia (World War II through Vietnam)
- Weapons (under certain circumstances)
No Longer Accepting:
- Ship or Aircraft Models
- Flags
- Plaques
- Bells
- Reunion Materials or Association Archives
- VHS, DVD, or Blu-Ray Copies of Commercially Produced Movies
- Personal Oral Histories (recorded on any media)
- Books and Periodicals (that are not primary documents)
- Material Copied from the Internet, Books or Journals
- Uniforms
Please contact the Department of Collections and Curatorial Affairs to inquire about any proposed artifact donations: collections@patriotspoint.org
