The Grissom Air Museum is a collecting institution and as such, accepts the donation of both artifacts and archival materials focused on military aviation during the Cold War era as well as historical information about Grissom Air Reserve Base and Indiana military aviation history throughout the 20th century.  As preservation and conservation are our primary responsibility, the employment of trained museum professionals has been key to filling this mission.  It is also through the use of professional-grade museum products from sources, such as Gaylord, that the staff have been able to provide safe artifact housing aligned with industry standards.  Which means that our donors can be assured that their history will remain safe for generations to come. 

In addition to the archival and collection vaults, the GAM also houses a small research library.  Named Lt. Col Paul Church, researchers can access books and resource materials focused on aviation, military, and military aviation history, with an acute focus on the United States Air Force.  The GAM is currently limiting donations of books and materials for the library to allow staff and interns to reassess current offerings and accessibility needs.

The care of these collections, however, is expensive and it has been through the generosity of donors and grantors that have made this work possible.  Financial donations specifically earmarked for collections are used to purchase archival-quality materials to house artifacts and to maintain necessary environmental controls, such as humidity and temperature.  To learn more about how your donation helps, visit here or call 765-689-8011.

Parties interested in conducting research at the GAM should reach out to our curator at curator@grissomairmuseum.com.  Fees may be involved and a copy of the current fee schedule can be available upon request.