Module 4: Part 2

Picture of the exterior of the Archives of the United States.

Archives & Museums

Preserving the memories of your time in service serves many different purposes including personal documentation and legacy materials for your family and friends. Another important potential role would be sharing your experiences with others in the community now and in the future. Archives and museums provide an important service as educators, research centers, and preservation specialists.

Formally, archives are organizations that collect the records of individuals, families, or other organizations. Archival organizations preserve and maintain the records they collect, provide access to the records to researchers, and use the records for educational and outreach purposes. There are many different types of archives including an organization or institutional (such as the Coca-Cola archives or university archives), those focused on particular regions (such as local or state historical societies), and those with a particular collecting area (such as civil rights archives or military archives).

Most people are more familiar with museums than archives through their public exhibits and educational events. Like archives, museums collect, preserve, and provide access to materials. Where archives tend to focus on physical or digital records, museums collect artifacts and objects and provide curatorial context for the objects. Many museums also include research centers and archives within their organizations as well.

Locating and Donating Your Records to an Archive or Museum

If you would like to donate your collection to an archive or museum, there are a series of steps you should take. First, you should identify which archive or museum you would like to approach. Museums and archives adhere to their specific missions and policies to determine which materials they collect. You should take a look at several options to figure out which might be the best fit. You might have an existing connection to a repository or visited a particular local or regional museum or archive that you enjoyed in the past. You can also search online for potential repositories as well.

Once you’ve identified a few candidates, take a look at their existing collections. Visit the repositories in person or online. You can then call or email the archives or museum to discuss donating your materials. Sometimes the archivist or curator might want to visit you at home to look at the materials, other times they may simply desire a phone or onsite conversation at the institution. Once they speak with you and do any preliminary visits, the archivist or curator will determine if the collection is a good fit for their institution. This determination will be based on how well the collection meets the needs of their existing collecting scope and mission and if they have the resources required to preserve and maintain the collection. If they decide to move forward, great! If not, please do not get discouraged or think it means that your records are unimportant. You may ask for suggestions for other institutions to consider and/or try somewhere else.

Assuming the institution would like to proceed with the donation, the next step would be the formal transfer of ownership. While some organizations will allow for long-term loans of materials in lieu of ownership transfer, this is discouraged by the professional community as it limits the use of the materials. However, most repositories will discuss potential access restrictions to collections as a whole or in part. Access restrictions are often placed on materials that could have sensitive information or to protect third party privacy. Typically, such restrictions are for a given period of time, such as 15, 20, or 30 years. These restrictions are negotiated as part of the transfer of ownership process. Once you and the repository are in agreement, you will sign a Deed of Gift to complete the transfer.

Following the donation, your collection will be processed by the archives or museum. The processing will include cataloging and describing the materials, creating records and finding aids, applying any conservation treatments, and moving the items into storage or exhibition. Please note that only a small percent of a museum’s holdings are on display at a given time—however, the rest are available to researchers in person (and online for digital materials). For archives, items may be included in special exhibits or educational events.

If you need more help with this process, feel free to reach out to a professional archivist or museum curator. They will be happy to speak with you about how to identify and approach repositories. You can also reach out to professional associations of archivists and museum professionals. They may help you locate an organization you can work with. Finally, veterans’ associations provide services for veterans, which may also rely on as a starting point in your preservation journey. Here is a list of starting points for you:

Military-Oriented Galleries, Libraries, Archives, & Museums

There are an array of military-specific or military-related GLAMs in the United States. The following section highlights some of them, but should not be considered a comprehensive list.

Galleries

  • The United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (USVAA) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary non-profit arts organization founded in 2004 by military veterans and artists. USVAA provides opportunities for veterans in the arts by highlighting the work of veterans in the arts, humanities, and entertainment industry, along with the contributions veterans have made to the rich cultural history of our nation since the Revolutionary War.

    Additionally, USVAA networks with veterans, artists, supportive individuals, and organizations within the arts and veterans’ communities to find funding and support for individual artistic projects in theater, film, television, the visual/fine arts, and a wide variety of crafts.

    Where possible, USVAA strives – as spokespersons in the veteran’s community and in our endeavors as artists – to address issues of concern to veterans and their families via artistic endeavors and platforms. These issues include the transition from military to civilian life, education, employment, the effects of wartime and military service injuries such as PTSD, TBI, and Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and homelessness among veterans.

  • The National Veterans Art Museum is dedicated to presenting art inspired by military service and combat by artists who are military veterans. Its subject matter is broad and often focused on the impact of military conflict, especially that which is directly experienced by fighters, service members, and civilians. NVAM collects art from all the branches of the military and from artists who have seen war, military conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.

    The artists’ work in their collection is primarily from US-based artists but includes works from artists around the world. Their collection focuses on works that show combat veteran art that engages all audiences to think about the impact of conflict on our society, community, and nation. The majority of the NVAM collection is contemporary, covering WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War through to the present day. They continue to expand our collection as the history of veteran art extends far beyond the works currently in their collection.

    NVAM is a national museum with an extensive collection of over 2,500 artworks. Their permanent collection is on display on a rotating basis in Chicago, IL, USA, and pieces of our collection are regularly on display in special exhibitions around the world.

  • The Navy Art Collection collects, documents, preserves, and exhibits art that is significant to the history of the Navy for both the public and service personnel. This includes over 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and engravings consisting of naval ships, personnel, and actions from all eras of U.S. naval history. Highlights include the Combat Art Program, which features events from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom.

  • The Special Exhibition Gallery currently houses two separate exhibits. "The Art of Soldiering" showcases highlights from the U.S. Army Art Collection and depicts the experiences of the American Soldier from the Civil War to the present through art produced on the front lines.

  • Aces High is an international commercial gallery specializing in Aviation and Military fine art. The company has major galleries in the UK and France.

  • The Military Gallery is a commercial gallery for aviation and military fine art with offices in California, the UK, and France.

Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) offers collections for researchers based on the main military conflicts the U.S. has been involved in since the revolutionary war. In addition, through NARA’s Military Personnel Records Center, the federal government also serves active service members and veterans interested in obtaining copies of their own records of service.

While most local and state archives will also include military-specific collections. Many of these archives are included in the SAA Military Archives Section’s Directory of Military Archival Collections.

The following repositories’ primary focus is military records:

  • The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans.

  • The Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project (WVHP) documents the contributions of women of all branches of the United States military and the American Red Cross since World War I. The WVHP includes a wide range of source material, including oral histories, photographs, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, uniforms, and posters, as well as published works.

  • The Congressional Medal of Honor Society includes historical, and research collections that focus on Medal of Honor history and the recipients of the Medal of Honor across all military branches; collections include oral histories, research material, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera.

  • The Naval Historical Collection (NHC) is the depository for College archives, manuscripts, oral histories, and special collections relating to the history of naval warfare and the history of the Navy in Narragansett Bay. Established in 1969 and located in Mahan Hall, the NHC's primary source material are of interest to naval historians, scholars, and students of American military and diplomatic history, Naval War College students, faculty and staff, and the general public.

  • Archives Branch collects those Official Records mandated by SECNAV M-5210.1 to be sent to the NHHC, including the immediate office files of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Vice Chief of Operations, key subordinate offices of the CNO, Aircraft Accident Reports, and the records of the NHHC. Other official records collected include ships’ deck logs as mandated by SECNAV M-5210.1 and OPNAV Instruction 3000.7B, and the Command Operations Reports/Command History Reports from Navy operational forces, shore establishments, aircraft squadrons, and individual ships as mandated. . other collection areas include personal papers, reference files, biographical files, and the oral history collection.

  • The Special Collections & Archives Department of Nimitz Library contains over 30,000 rare books, 400 manuscript collections, 100,000 photographs, and other documents, as well as the official records (archives) of the U.S. Naval Academy.

  • The United States Army Military History Institute, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Archives Branch’s collections consist primarily of materials documenting the service of Soldiers in the United States Army, enlisted and commissioned, donated to the U.S. Army Military Institute and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center. Historical periods covered are from the French and Indian War through current operations, with a strong focus on the U.S. Civil War, World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Access to the collections catalog is through the U.S. Army War College Library portal.

  • The Archives Branch, USMC History Division, contains approximately 11,000 linear feet of archival material and is the primary holder of Marine Corps archival materials outside of the National Archives. It is the designated repository for Marine Corps Personal Papers Collections and the Marine Corps Command Chronology Program. The archive holds semiannual command Chronologies for all Marine Corps units from 1976-present and command historical reports for units deployed to combat from 1917-present. The Personal Papers Collection contains nearly 6,000 personal collections (1775-present), including collections of nearly all former Commandants and numerous senior and company-grade officers and NCOs. Other areas of note are the archive’s collections on the development of amphibious warfare, instruction and research conducted by the Marine Corps Schools, and its substantial photographic, cartographic, oral history, and film/video holdings.

  • The US Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage Archival collection encompasses 12,000 square feet of storage space with 6,000 linear feet of archival materials, a non-circulating reference library, and 2,000 oral histories. In addition to the reading room located at the US Army Medical Department Museum, the archival staff also oversees an off-site storage facility. Access to these materials is open to all members of the military and to the general public who wish to conduct research.

  • The Vietnam Center and Archive collects and preserves the documentary record of the Vietnam War and supports and encourages research and education regarding all aspects of the American Vietnam Experience.

    The VNCA has an extensive repository of research materials related to the Vietnam War. We also have an active oral history program, host conferences to encourage current scholarship and discussion about the war, and have a large digital repository of research materials, the Virtual Vietnam Archive.

  • The Center for American War Letters Archives actively preserves and promotes the research of original correspondence and other materials from all American conflicts, from the American War for Independence through the present day. This includes letters, postcards, V-Mail, and email, or any other medium upon which correspondence was kept, as well as supplementary materials, including photographs, ephemera, or realia sent to or from American service members, their families, and all those involved in American conflicts at home or abroad. Also found in the collection are materials not sent but collected during wartime, including journals and diaries, newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, as well as alternate forms of media, including audio and video recording.  

  • The Air Force Historical Research Agency is the primary repository for US Air Force historical documents. The Agency's collection, begun in Washington, DC, during World War II, moved in 1949 to Maxwell Air Force Base, the site of Air University, to provide research facilities for professional military education students, faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public. It now consists of over 70,000,000 pages devoted to the history of the service and represents the world's largest and most valuable organized collection of documents on US military aviation.

  • The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Office of History collection includes material with a strong concentration in the history of water policy and engineering; the Panama Canal; general files of approximately 1,500 archival boxes of basic reference materials in the fields of military construction, military and combat engineering, and water resources, especially navigation, flood control, environmental regulation and cleanup, recreation, and emergency operations; and approximately 240 personal papers collections of prominent Engineers.

Libraries

Active service members also have access to Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Digital Libraries (MWR). MWR libraries are funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) and offer 24/7 access to free materials such as e-books and audiobooks. MWR libraries are run at the level of military bases and function similarly to public libraries for active service members. These libraries also serve military spouses and children and therefore have collections tailored for adults, teens, and children. You can access a complete directory of all MWR library locations by branch on the DoD MWR Libraries website.

In addition, military academies such as West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard have libraries devoted to their students and function similarly to academic libraries with an emphasis on the military arts. The federal government also has the Pentagon Library, a governmental institution serving public officials from the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Military Departments located at the Pentagon.

Museums & Memorial Sites

Some of the most common museums and memorial sites include the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington (VA), the National World War II Museum in New Orleans (LA), and the National Museum of the US Army in Fort Belvoir (VA). We offer a brief list of some of the most well-known military museums in the U.S. Most of these museums are privately run. Bear in mind, however, that there are many other museums and memorial sites devoted to military affairs. Additionally, many military museums also include libraries and archival collections. We encourage you to reach out to your local VA office or Veterans Association for pointers to other Museums and Memorial Sites in your State.

  • The Military Women’s Memorial “honors and tells the stories of women, past and present, who serve our nation.” Its vision is to become “the leading memorial and education center honoring women’s contributions to the service of our nation.” “As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, we educate and inspire through innovative and interactive exhibitions, our world-class collections, and engaging programs and events for all generations. We honor the commitment, contributions and experiences of every woman who serves in, or with, the Armed Forces.”

  • The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American experience in World War II—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. The Museum also includes a research library and archives.

  • The National Museum of the US Army celebrates over 245 years of Army history and honors our nation’s soldiers—past, present, and future—the regular Army, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard.

  • The National Museum of the Marine Corps, under the command of Marine Corps University, preserves and exhibits the material history of the U.S. Marine Corps; honors the commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices of Marines; supports recruitment, training, education, and retention of Marines; and provides the public with a readily accessible platform for the exploration of Marine Corps history.

  • The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force galleries present military aviation history, boasting more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display -- many rare and one-of-a-kind -- along with thousands of historical items and powerful sensory exhibits that bring history to life and connect the Wright brothers' legacy with today's stealth and precision technology.

  • The National Museum of the U.S. Navy collects, preserves, displays, and interprets historic naval artifacts and artwork to inform, educate, and inspire naval personnel and the general public.

  • The National Coast Guard Museum is currently being built.

  • The National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum and one of the most-visited museums in the state of Florida. Share the excitement of Naval Aviation’s rich history and see more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. These historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum’s over 350,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds.

  • The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) is recognized today as a world-class, cultural institution. A Smithsonian Affiliate and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, NMPW provides the nation's most comprehensive account of World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific theater.

  • The American Heritage Museum seeks to engage, educate, entertain and enlighten its audiences in the history of our military and veterans through a chronologically arranged series of exhibits and educational interpretation.

  • The mission of the National Navy SEAL Museum is to preserve the history and heritage of U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors, honor our fallen at the Navy SEAL Memorial and care for Special Operations Families.

  • The American Battle Monuments Commission operates and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries and 32 federal memorials, monuments, and markers, which are located in 17 foreign countries, the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the British Dependency of Gibraltar; four of the memorials are located within the United States. These cemeteries and memorials, most of which commemorate the service and sacrifice of Americans who served in World War I and World War II, are among the most beautiful and meticulously maintained shrines in the world.

Veterans Associations

There are over 100 VA-recognized national Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). The following section includes a select list of VSOs. The Department of Veterans Affairs publishes a comprehensive directory, most recently in 2019.

  • The National Veterans Association (NVA) is “an organization that provides legal assistance, housing, employment opportunities, business ownership, discharge upgrades, medical assistance, family outreach, and other pressing issues that stand as debilitating factors preventing veterans and their families from receiving the “quality care” deserved throughout mainstream society.”

  • The American Legion (TAL) is among the oldest veteran organizations in the US. Chartered by Congress in 1919 and comprised of veterans from The Great War, the AL aims “to enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.” Its vision is to mobilize veterans to strengthen the nation. TAL is committed to promoting patriotism and supporting veterans through local community programs. They operate over 10,000 posts and, as the largest VSO, they support over 2.3 million members. They are organized by Departments (states) and local districts (posts). A list of their locations and local leadership can be found here.

  • “The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) is the voice of women who have served or are currently serving in the military. We are a member-driven network dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women; past, present, and future. Through legislative advocacy and research, SWAN has played a major role in opening all military jobs to service women, holding sex offenders accountable in the military justice system, eliminating barriers to disability claims for those who have experienced military sexual trauma, and expanding access to a broad range of reproductive healthcare services for military women.”

  • The American GI Forum (AGIF) is a congressionally chartered Hispanic veterans’ organization. The AGIF is dedicated to addressing the problems of discrimination and inequities endured by Hispanic veterans after World War II. The organization has chapters throughout the United States. “The AGIF has been in the forefront in civil rights struggles, such as advocating for Hispanic Veterans Benefits, desegregation of schools, voter registration, fair judicial proceedings, and combating media stereotyping and distortions.”

  • American Veterans (AMVETS) is a congressionally chartered veterans’ organization representing the interests of 20 million veterans. AMVETS aims “to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy, and services.”

  • Victories for Veterans (VV) is “dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.”

  • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is a community of more than 425,000 members who “use data and stories to catalyze needed, positive change for America’s veterans.” Their signature program, Quick Reaction Force, “helps veterans navigate the complex road map to quality free services.”

  • The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VWF) mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, serve veterans, the military, and our communities, and advocate on behalf of all veterans. They operate over 4,000 posts throughout the country. A list of VFW locations can be found here.

  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV) supports disabled veterans of all generations and their families by empowering them to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. In addition to disability claims support and their chapters, DAV provides more than 700,000 rides for veterans attending medical appointments. You can find the local DAV chapter here.

  • PVA’s mission is to change lives and build brighter futures for seriously injured veterans. PVA is dedicated to veterans’ service, medical research, and civil rights for people with disabilities. There are 72 National Service offices and 32 chapters that help empower veterans, and they can be found here.

  • AMVETS’ mission is to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy, and services. They have over 1,400 locations throughout the country, which can be found here.

  • VVA’s goals are to support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. VVA’s motto is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

END OF MODULE 4

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of the final module. Before finishing the training, click the link below to test what you’ve learned so far.

PREVIOUS PART | TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE