Donate a Collection or Object

The National WWI Museum and Memorial collects artifacts and documents related to World War I and its immediate aftermath (1914-19), the conflict’s subsequent impact on the global community and the history of the Liberty Memorial.

This includes, but is not limited to, uniforms, equipment, weapons, books, posters, photographs and personal papers from all nations involved in World War I. We especially seek personal stories of the war, with as much information about the original owner as possible.

In particular, the Museum and Memorial is currently seeking:

• European naval collections
• Collections related to African American, Hispanic and Native American U.S. military service
• Collections related to former European colonies, Indigenous peoples and communities of color from around the globe
• Collections related to women’s service and roles in World War I
• Collections related to faith, religion and spirituality
• Published unit histories and state/county service personnel rosters

Please fill out the Artifact Donation Form in advance before visiting the Museum and Memorial. You'll need descriptions and photographs of the items you wish to donate to fill out the form. Paper copies of this form are available at the Museum Store.

Please allow 30 days for a curator to contact you to make an appointment. If you have not been contacted for more than 60 days, please assume that we were not able to accept your donation offer.

Collection Donation Form

In the event you arrive at the Museum and Memorial without an appointment, we cannot guarantee the availability of a curator to meet with you. Other staff members cannot accept walk-in donations. 

We encourage you to fill out the Collection Donation Form to connect with a curator about your potential donation. Paper copies are available at the Museum Store.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial’s collection began in 1920 and is the most diverse in the world. While there are still many objects and documents from around the world that would enhance our collection, many of the most commonly found artifacts and documents associated with World War I may no longer be needed for the collection.

After curatorial review, your donation may be accepted into the collection. You will then be provided with a gift acknowledgement letter confirming the donation. Please allow 8-12 weeks for the letter to arrive.

For high value donations, you may request the relevant IRS tax form. To take advantage of your deduction, you must file tax form 1040 and, depending on the value of your donation, tax form 8283. To ensure that you receive the maximum tax benefit, it is recommended that you consult with your own accountant, attorney or the Internal Revenue Service. You may also consult IRS Publication No. 526, Charitable Contributions, and Publication No. 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property.

Please note that the Museum and Memorial is unable to provide a monetary valuation of the donated items due to conflict of interest. A valuation should be made by a qualified appraiser prior to our receipt of the donation.

The Museum and Memorial's unique collection is used in two ways: research and exhibition. Many of the objects are used by researchers to better understand the conditions and impact of the war. Our archives and library holdings are also used by scholars to examine important questions and enrich the understanding of history and events of the time.

Therefore, a museum does more than exhibit objects and documents. Should your donation be accepted, there is no commitment that the object or document will be on exhibit at any point in time. However, it is still considered a part of the Museum and Memorial’s collection, and is equally critical for the greater understanding of World War I.

All accepted donation offers are taken into the collection unconditionally.