Since 1917, the generous donation of every kind of item by individual members of the public has enormously enriched the Museum’s Collection. These donations have helped to illustrate and record all relevant aspects of modern war and of the individual’s experience of war and wartime life, whether allied or enemy, service or civilian, military or political, social or cultural.
We continue to welcome offers of donation from the public. If you have an item that you think might be of interest, please consider the following points:
- We collect every type of item including objects, books, documents, photographs, films, sound recordings, and works of art
- We collect things relating to the First World War and onwards, right up to current conflicts
- When we add an item to the Collection it is available for use by any of the
Museum’s branches
- We cannot guarantee to display an item at any branch of the Museum but it will always be available for access either at Imperial War Museum London or Imperial War Museum Duxford
- We do not give valuations for items
- If we accept an item from you for the Collection we may then lend it temporarily to other museums and exhibitions
- If we do not accept your item for the permanent Collection, it could still be of interest to us as part of a handling collection.
For further information, you may wish to read the Summary of the Imperial War Museum’s Acquisition Policy [pdf 107 KB]
- If you would like to offer an item please write a letter or send an email to the most relevant collecting department (their contact details are listed below).
- If you have a group of items, spanning more than one department, you need only contact one.
- In your letter or email, please give us a brief description of the item(s) and if you have any details about who may have used/written/worn the item please include this too, as this information is often of critical importance in determining an item’s historical significance.
- Please also include your telephone number or email address and tell us whether or not you are the owner of the item(s). We would suggest that you include a photograph of the item if it is a work of art or a three-dimensional item, such as a uniform, model, or item of field equipment.
- Please do not send any items to the Museum unless you have been asked to do so by a collecting department. At this stage, we will consider your offer and contact you as soon as possible with our decision.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Who to contact if you want to offer an item to the Imperial War Museum:
Holocaust Exhibition Project Office
Material illustrating the Holocaust and other genocides; material documenting the experience of survivors of the Nazi genocide who came as refugees to the United Kingdom
point of contact: Suzanne Bardgett, Project Director, The Holocaust Exhibition and
Crimes Against Humanity
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5204
email: sbardgett@iwm.org.uk
Department of Art
Paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, photographic and video work, posters, art medals and art related items
point of contact: Richard Slocombe, Senior Curator
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5212
email: rslocombe@iwm.org.uk
Department of Documents
Unpublished diaries, letters and memoirs written by servicemen and women, and by civilians in wartime
point of contact: Roderick Suddaby, Keeper
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5220
email: rsuddaby@iwm.org.uk
Department of Exhibits and Firearms
Aeronautical objects, models, photographic equipment, optical instruments, munitions,
ordnance, orders, decorations, war medals, uniforms, personal equipment, firearms, edged weapons, flags, paper currency, communications equipment, maritime items and equipment, field equipment, insignia, small arms ammunition, surgical equipment
point of contact: Roger McAlister, Office Manager
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5308
email: exfire@iwm.org.uk
Aircraft,Vehicles and Aero Engines
Aircraft, vehicles and aero-engines
point of contact: John Delaney, Collections Manager
telephone: +44 (0)1223 499354
email: jdelaney@iwm.org.uk
Department of Printed Books
Printed books, journals, newspapers, maps, and pamphlets
point of contact: Mary Wilkinson, Head of Acquisitions, Cataloguing & Computing
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5348
email: mwilkinson@iwm.org.uk
Film and Video Archive
Official film, video, television coverage and amateur film
point of contact: Kay Gladstone,Acquisition and Documentation Officer
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5289
email: kgladstone@iwm.org.uk
Photograph Archive
Official, press and amateur photographs
point of contact: Hilary Roberts, Head of Collections Management
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5331
email: hroberts@iwm.org.uk
Sound Archive
Personal reminiscences; speeches and lectures; broadcasts and war reports; poetry;
sound effects; military music
point of contact: Richard Hughes, Acquisitions Officer
telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5472
email: rhughes@iwm.org.uk
