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DONATIONS QUESTIONS
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What is provenance?

Provenance is the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature.

I have some information about my artifact, how might I record what I know?

You can use our Artifact Assessment form to catalogue your artifacts or documents.

How do I make a monetary or memorial donation to the Museum?

To make a monetary or memorial donation to the Museum, please contact Brenda Crowley at 601.558.2437 or brenda.g.crowley@us.army.mil.

How do I donate artifacts or documents to the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum?

You can start by filling out an Offer of Donation form to find out exactly what it is that you have. Please include as much detailed information as possible, including a description of the item, original owner, and any other information associated with the history of the item. Once we receive and review the form, we will make a decision to accept or decline the offer and contact you.

Can I just drop off or mail my artifact donation?

You can, but we would rather you did not drop off or mail donations without first submitting an Offer of Donation. We cannot be responsible for unsolicited donations
left at the Museum.

What kind of items does the Museum accept?

The Museum accepts 19th, 20th, and 21st Century objects, equipment, documents, and photographs with emphasis on the military service of Mississippians and the units and individuals who trained at Camp Shelby and other military installations in the State of Mississippi. Please consult the Wish List.

Does the Museum accept everything that is offered?

Unfortunately, no. The Museum already has thousands of objects in storage. We cannot take duplicates of items already housed in the collections or items that do not relate to the Museum’s mission. If we accepted every item offered, we would soon run out of space and time to care for them properly.

I submitted an Offer of Donation. How long will it take for the Museum
to review my offer?

It generally takes between two and four weeks for the Museum to make a determination on an Offer of Donation.

My items were accepted for the Museum’s Education Collection. What does that mean?

The Museum’s Education Collection contains objects designated for use with school groups and special events. Materials in this collection serve an important purpose and are well cared for. However, you should be aware that objects in the Education Collection are frequently handled by Museum staff and visitors and are not given the same high level of care as with items in the Permanent Collection, so they deteriorate faster and are not be permanently preserved.

Will the artifacts I donated be displayed?

Not necessarily. Only a small percentage of the Museum’s collection is currently on display. However, each object in the collections is important. Objects are often placed in new and temporary exhibits and retrieved for research purposes.

If I have a firearm to donate, are there any special steps I need to follow?

Yes, please see the special instructions for weapons here.

I have a question not listed here. Who do I need to contact?

For further information, please contact the Museum Registrar, Lisa Foster, at lisa.foster2@us.army.mil or (601)558-2337.

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