What to do with memorabilia?

Bugguy · May 30, 2017

First background... my father passed about 10 years ago. He was a WW II vet; 82nd Airborne Glider Infantry. During his time overseas, his sister collected any newspaper articles that referenced gliders, the 82nd., or major European battles. There's even a newspaper picture with a classic Patton/Bradley/Montgomery photo (you can see Patton's pearl-handled pistol). They are all collected in a large scrap book - either glued or taped. The pages are in poor shape, but the clipped articles are are pretty good for their age. In addition, there are original copies of the 325th Glider Regimen newsletters from 1944-45, Yank, his orders, draft orders, and other misc. paper items.

Several years ago my mother donated his uniform and medals to the WW II museum. I still have his stripes, dog tags, ribbons, etc. displayed in a flag case with his burial flag. I also have many pictures of him in uniform while he was overseas.

My dilemma... I'm keeping the pictures and some of the patches, but I'd like to clear out all the paper, memorabilia, and the flag case. I don't want to piece it out if I can help it and I'm not interested in selling it.

Scrap books, pictures, newspaper clipping, old WW II newsletters... I'm downsizing and don't need these to remember my father. The glider infantry is unusual and the newspapers have historical interest - I think. Any suggestions about where to go with these items?

MisterCairo · May 30, 2017

Perhaps contact the current museum to see if they'd be interested (I am assuming I have the correct current unit/formation)?

http://www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com

DocCasualty · May 30, 2017

Bugguy said:
(you can see Patton's pearl-handled pistol).

Minor correction; both his Colt Model 1873 .45LC and his S&W .357 Mag sported ivory, not pearl grips.

As to your question, I think a research librarian from a university would be good contact as well as the suggestion above for an 82nd AB historical group or the WWII Museum.

Bugguy · Jun 1, 2017

Doc - correction noted and appreciated!

scotrace · Jun 1, 2017

The museum route s a good idea. A scrapbook assembled as things unfolded would likely have interest.
Those burial flags are kind of problematic. Dad died in 1989, and I have the flag in a case. It's in the basement, gathering dust. It isn't out of disrespect, it's due to lack of space. Who will want it when I'm gone?

p51 · Jun 26, 2017

To be frank, scrapbooks were kept by a lot of people during WW2, and I don't see them valued all that much by museums or collectors.

GHT · Jun 27, 2017

p51 said:
To be frank, scrapbooks were kept by a lot of people during WW2, and I don't see them valued all that much by museums or collectors.

That maybe so in America but British museums are always interested in hearing from families of veterans of the conflict of WW2. Try sending an e-mail to The D-Day Museum in Portsmouth. Explain what you have and they will let you know if they are interested. Chances are that if they have an abundance of memorabilia they will give you a list of other museums such as The Tank Museum.
Here in the UK and in Normandie France, allied veterans that fought in the conflict are treated like Royalty. Their deeds, heroism and courage will always be preserved and cherished.

allan4570 · Sep 14, 2017

p51 said:
To be frank, scrapbooks were kept by a lot of people during WW2, and I don't see them valued all that much by museums or collectors.

I believe this is the point. These articles and memorabilia are memories of the person collecting them at the time. Maybe they are of historic significance and maybe not, they were important or a hobby to the individual at that time. Often, as in my case, it's out of respect for the individual that you hang on to them. Then what.......they go to your kids and most times, they could care less, just more "stuff" to deal with. Try contacting your local museum to see if they might be interested, and when you pass, let them know of the items you have to can be added to your original gift as provided in your will. Just my 2 cents....

Bugguy · Jan 3, 2021

This thread started and ended - sort of - in 2017. I'd like to bring closure by answering my original question....
What to do with memorabilia?

While selling some WWII items on EBay, I connected with a young fellow who runs jeep tours to the Market Garden battlefield in the Netherlands. He operates a non-profit museum (https://www.gratefulgenerationtours.nl/ that is focused on the US soldiers who liberated his town. Turns out his real interest is the 82nd Airborne Glider Infantry and parachutists who fought where his family lived. This also happens to be exactly where my father landed in a glider and fought in 1944 - literally in his town.

He prepared a really nice display highlighting my father, including pictures, medals, newspapers, and other memorabilia. In other words, I shipped him everything.

I wish my parents could have lived to see it... great for mom, but probably too much for dad to handle.

It made me proud and literally closed the book for me.

40748198-6932-483c-a4bf-9b1e0cd790d6 2.jpg

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https://www.gratefulgenerationtours.nl/

Peacoat · Jan 3, 2021

Thanks for the update. That was a good conclusion to your father's story.

Turnip · Jan 3, 2021

I’ll visit it when I’m around there next time and it’s open.

May take some time but is fix in my book.

Seth Byrnes · Jan 3, 2021

That's very cool. Something that museums have been very slow to realize is that connecting these objects to the wider world digitally is extremely important.

I often find collectors are much better and more forthcoming at sharing these kinds of things online than museums.

I recognize that it is a bit of a logistics nightmare for museums to digitize everything...

This is a wonderful display!

GHT · Jan 3, 2021

Bugguy said:
This thread started and ended - sort of - in 2017. I'd like to bring closure by answering my original question....
What to do with memorabilia?

While selling some WWII items on EBay, I connected with a young fellow who runs jeep tours to the Market Garden battlefield in the Netherlands. He operates a non-profit museum (https://www.gratefulgenerationtours.nl/ that is focused on the US soldiers who liberated his town. Turns out his real interest is the 82nd Airborne Glider Infantry and parachutists who fought where his family lived. This also happens to be exactly where my father landed in a glider and fought in 1944 - literally in his town.

He prepared a really nice display highlighting my father, including pictures, medals, newspapers, and other memorabilia. In other words, I shipped him everything.

I wish my parents could have lived to see it... great for mom, but probably too much for dad to handle.

It made me proud and literally closed the book for me.

View attachment 297454

View attachment 297455

View attachment 297456

https://www.gratefulgenerationtours.nl/

What a great story, what a truly glorious and fitting finale to it too. Often it's perceived by Americans that they are somehow, tolerated. That's an in justice that lies squarely at the feet of the media, on both sides of the pond. It was the media that came up with: "Over-sexed, over-paid and over here." My parents wouldn't hear a bad word said against any American, they would often say, "remember, these are people, sons and fathers, people who are American by birth yet rest, forever in peace, in a European grave. People who gave their lives for our freedom. My mother was always gracious, knowing that a parent in another land grieved the loss of a son. A young man who had laid down his life on the altar of freedom. So strongly did she feel that my siblings and I were taught to remember our right to vote was paid for in blood. "Don't forget it," she would chide, adding, "and don't take it for granted."

Bugguy · Jan 4, 2021

GHT - Thank you for sharing these thoughts. It means a lot to me to have them expressed in such a heartfelt manner. The entire experience felt 'right' and it allows me the opportunity to reflect on those who served and gave themselves for peoples they'd never know.

gman41 · Jan 12, 2021

It seems as if there is less and less interest in this stuff from millennials. These museums seem to fail too unless it is quite large and well traveled and supported.

Peacoat · Jan 12, 2021

gman41 said:
It seems as if there is less and less interest in this stuff from millennials. These museums seem to fail too unless it is quite large and well traveled and supported.

Unfortunately I think you may be right. WWII (and Pearl Harbor) seems to have faded into the background over the years. Thirty years ago it was a big deal in the press. Not so much today.

gman41 · Jan 12, 2021

Hardly acknowledged and TCM too has moved on, no all day war movies.

Bugguy · Feb 2, 2021

I thought this was pretty interesting... the fellow I contributed my fathers WWII items to in the Netherlands reached out to the director of the 82nd Airborne Museum and obtained a picture of the uniform jacket my mother donated 10+ years ago. Now he's trying to arrange a loan for their next tourist season.

1961MJS · Feb 3, 2021

Hi
I don't know how well it was received, but I made a CD of Dad's pictures from the South Pacific in WW2. A friend of Dad's John Oliver Uriah Love Junior had a brownie camera and his Mom made copies and sent them to the other Mom's in the unit. I should do the same with his orders, which I still have.

My ex would toss Louie the 14th furniture from the Louvre and buy new IKEA, and she's 60, the kids are worse. Heck I have the box that my great grandmother's crap came over from Germany on the boat in.

It's way too bad that I didn't have kids AFTER I heard Sergeants Love's name...

Later

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