Download "Guide to Gifting Historical Materials"

Thank you for your interest in making a gift of historical materials to the U.S. Army. The majority of the materials we make available to the public in our archives and museum displays are from generous gifts made by Veterans and private individuals. If you have any questions, or would like to make a gift, please email: usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.ahec-acq@mail.mil.

How to Gift Your Materials:

Please email usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.ahec-acq@mail.mil with a description of the materials you wish to gift. A member of the Collections Management Staff will contact you to gather information about the Soldier, review the materials, and discuss the gifting process.

Please do not send any items to the USAHEC without first speaking to a member of the Collections Management Staff. Any materials received without prior coordination will be returned to the sender.

Materials of Interest to the Archives, Library, and Museum

The USAHEC collects artifacts related to the history of the U.S. Army and its Soldiers:

• Uniforms
• Weapons
• Accouterments
• Soldier souvenirs
• Original artwork
• Captured enemy materials

The USAHEC also collects manuscripts, audio and video, digital and printed materials related to the history of Army Soldiers:

• Memoirs
• Diaries and journals
• Personal correspondence (letters home, etc.)
• Official documents
• Photographs
• Unit and command newsletters
• Newspapers and periodicals
• Army manuals and publications
• Audio and video recordings
• Films
• Unit histories
• Books relating to Army and military history

Items Not Accepted:

The USAHEC does not accept some items!
Items that will not be accepted into the collections include:

• Live ammunition, explosives, and ordnance
• Hazardous materials
• Pharmaceuticals or controlled substances
• Items in poor or infested condition
• Newspaper clippings
• 201 files
• Medical or financial records
• Commercial motion pictures
• Any item that does not fulfill the mission of the USAHEC

Please note, if the USAHEC cannot accept an item, we can often direct you to a public collection that will.

Gifts involving Firearms:

Army Regulations prohibit a firearm from being brought onto an Army Installation. Our staff must make arrangements with the security guards before a firearm or inert ordnance can be brought onto the premises.

Please do not walk unaccompanied up to any USAHEC building with a firearm. All firearms and inert ordnance must be left in a potential donor's vehicle and can only be brought into a building by a designated member of the USAHEC staff.

Conditions for Accepting Materials:

Please note, Army Regulations prohibit the acceptance of gifts with any restrictions or requirements of the U.S. Army. Once an item is accepted, it becomes the property of the U.S. Army. Examples of restrictions include: length of exhibition of materials, how items are displayed or interpreted, how archival materials are arranged, or limits to public access.

The USAHEC may not be able to accept all of the items a party would like to gift. Proposed gifts are handled on a case by case basis. Archival items are evaluated by the USAHEC Collections Committee, and artifacts are evaluated by the Center of Military History. Any items not included in the proffer will be returned to the donor.

No copies of materials, to include photocopies or scans, will be made as a requirement of the gift.

Appraisals:

According to U.S. Army and Internal Revenue Service Regulations, the USAHEC cannot appraise artifacts, archival collections, or books, nor can USAHEC staff suggest the name of an appraiser or appraisal service. If you would like to have an item appraised, it must be done before it is donated and at the proffering party's expense.