Collections Policy

The EAA Aviation Museum endeavors to collect aviation materials to provide support for its programs and EAA.

Programs directly supported - “What we collect for”

Museum:  display, restoration, education and research
Library/Archives: display and research
Light Operations:  educational outreach, Pioneer Airport, Young Eagles and staff transport

Programs indirectly supported - “What we do not collect for, but our collections are used to support”

Editorial: magazines, publications, and website
Education: program support
EAA Membership: program support
EAA AirVenture: program support

Major Collection Categories

Aircraft
Aircraft Parts
Artwork
Clothing
Documents
Equipment
Insignia
Instruments
Memorabilia
Models
Photography
Propulsion
Recordings
Vehicles
Weapons

Collecting activities are guided by but not limited to the following two collecting areas:

1.  General and sport aviation (covering the whole history of aviation)

Small collections needing emphasis

Aerobatics (Historical materials only)
Air mail
Airports
Air racing (Historical materials only)
Air shows
Aviation cinema
Aviation training
 Barnstorming
EAA history
Pioneer aviators (male and female and minorities)
Philately (stamps)
Flight records (NAA, FAI)
General aviation manufacturing
Scripophily (aviation stock certificates)

 Collections needing continued emphasis

Aerial & aviation photography
Aviation toys
Charles A. Lindbergh
Propulsion
S.J. Wittman
Ultralight aircraft
Early and pioneering aircraft
Mature collections
Aerial navigation
Aerobatic aircraft
Air Racing aircraft
Avionics
Homebuilt aircraft
Sailplane/Glider aircraft
Rotorcraft
Vintage aircraft

2. Military aviation (covering World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, War Against Terrorism)

Small collections needing emphasis

Civil Air Patrol
Propaganda

Collections needing continued emphasis

Atomic weapons
Aviation unit memorabilia
Homefront
Japanese Army Air Force             
Japanese Imperial Navy               
Lafayette Escadrille
Manufacturing
Nose art
RAF
RCAF
Regia Aeronautica (Italian)
Royal Flying Corps
Signal Corps
U.S. Naval Aviation
WAFS
U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6

Mature collections - Current holdings are sufficient for present needs

Aircraft recognition
Communications
Luftwaffe
P.O.W.s
Photo reconnaissance
Radar
Rationing
World War II Warbird Aircraft
WASPs

WITHIN EACH SPECIFIC COLLECTION CATEGORY THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES AND POLICIES WILL APPLY:

1.   Aircraft

The  scope  of  the  aircraft  collection  will  represent  the  interests  of  the  EAA membership through the collecting of Aerobatic, Homebuilt, Ultralight, Vintage and Warbird aircraft.  It will also reflect the interests of our visiting public by collecting general aviation, replica and technologically significant aircraft. Our general policy is to improve the quality of the aircraft collection without increasing its quantity.

 Collecting priorities
Historically significant examples, including prototypes
Generic examples, when needed for program support
Replica examples, when original aircraft no longer exist or are not reasonably available and an example is needed for program support

2.   Aircraft Parts

This category includes airframe components specific to an individual aircraft type. Aircraft parts will be collected with the following limitations:

1. Support for flight operations – We will accept a limited number of spares for aircraft on the current flight operations list.
2. Restoration of collection aircraft – Parts required for collection aircraft currently undergoing restoration.
3. Artifacts with individual historic significance – Related to specific aircraft, events or individuals significant to our focus on recreational aviation.
4. Generic/Vintage examples - For display, educational or research collection use.

3.   Artwork

Original artworks (any media) and prints from original works that focus on themes related to general, sport, vintage and homebuilt aviation will be collected based on their perceived quality, the artist’s reputation, any signatures they might contain and their display potential.  The artwork collection will be used for research, public display in the museum and display in corporate offices and public areas.

4.   Clothing

Clothing will be collected in these areas.

1. Historic civilian/military aviation clothing – Related to events or personalities.
2. Generic civilian/military aviation clothing – For display or research collection use.
3. Expendable civilian/military aviation clothing – For living history/educational use. [WE ARE CURRENTLY HEAVY ON MILITARY CLOTHING AND LIGHT ON CIVIL AVIATION ITEMS, PARTICULARLY RELATING TO WOMEN IN AVIATION]

5.   Documents

Documents will be collected in these areas.

1. Historic ephemera – Related to personalities, artifacts or equipment significant to general, sport, vintage or homebuilt aviation.  These are part of our archival holdings. b. Books – For library and staff reference use.
2. Serials – Magazines, journals for library use.
3. Manuals generic – Related to collection items.
4. Manuals historic – Related to rare artifacts or equipment. These are part of our archival holdings.
5. Aircraft plans – For homebuilt aircraft designs and a limited selection of vintage designs.

6.   Equipment

Aviation equipment, components, and supplies will be collected in the following areas.

 Communication
Electrical
Engineering
Ground Handling
Hardware
Mechanical
Medical
Mess/Rations
Navigation
Oxygen
Personal
Survival
Tools
Training

 These items will be collected for:

1. Support for flight operations – We will accept a limited numbers of spares for aircraft on the current flight operations list.
2. Restoration of collection aircraft –Parts require for collection aircraft currently undergoing restoration.
3. Artifacts with individual historic significance – Related to specific aircraft, events or individuals significant to our focus on recreational aviation.
4. Generic/Vintage examples - For display, educational or research collection use.

8.   Insignia

This category includes both two and three-dimensional representations of insignia including patches, decals, buttons, bumper stickers and jewelry. They will be collected in these areas.

1. EAA – Convention, chapters, members, divisions
2. Military Aviation – Groups, manufacturers, aircraft
3. General Aviation – Manufacturers, aircraft

9.   Instruments

Instruments from aircraft and aviation equipment will be collected for:

1. Support for flight operations – We will accept a limited numbers of spares for aircraft on the current flight operations list.
2. Restoration of collection aircraft – A list of parts required for collection aircraft needing restoration should be developed and such acquisitions limited to items on this list.
3. Artifacts with individual historic significance – Related to specific aircraft, events or individuals significant to our focus on recreational aviation.
4. Generic/Vintage examples - For display, educational or research collection use.

10. Memorabilia

This category includes items related to events, personalities, manufacturers, aircraft, parts or equipment that do not fit in other categories. In many cases these items would be part of our archival holdings. It includes aviation related toys and games, trophies and plaques.

11. Models

Models of the following types will be collected based on their subject matter, quality, history and the display needs of the museum.

1. Scratch-built
2. Commercial
3. Plastic
4. Radio Control
5. Large scale [CURRENTLY WE ARE HEAVY ON MILITARY MODELS AND LARGE-SCALE MODELS. WE ARE LACKING IN THE AREAS OF HOMEBUILT, SPORT AND GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT, WHICH SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF OUR COLLECTING EFFORTS.]

 12. Photography

The following types of aerial photographic materials and equipment will be collected.

1. Camera & camera accessories
2. Developing equipment
3. Photographic prints, slides, negatives
4. Digital images

13. Propulsion

Aircraft engines, propellers & associated parts will be collected in the following areas.

1. Support for flight operations – We will accept a limited number of spares for aircraft on the current flight operations list.
2. Restoration of collection aircraft – Parts required for collection aircraft currently undergoing restoration.
3. Artifacts with individual historic significance – Related to specific aircraft, events or individuals significant to our focus on recreational aviation.
4. Generic/Vintage examples - For display, educational or research collection use.

14. Recordings

Aviation related recordings of the following types will be collected.

1. Audio – phonograph records, reel-to-reel & cassette tapes, digital
2. Video – 3/4in., Beta & VHS tapes, digital

15. Vehicles

Aviation related vehicles will be collected in the following areas.

1. Automobiles
2. Trucks
3. Trailers
4. Aircraft Tugs and mobile equipment

16. Weapons

Aviation related weapons, weapon parts, ammunition and ancillary equipment will be collected in the following areas.