The History Branch (Special Projects) and
Coast Guard Curator's Office Need Your Auxiliary Uniforms, Flags, Insignia
and Other Non-Print Official Items and Personal Memorabilia.
Our collection of Auxiliary Artifacts is
administered by the curator of the Coast Guard. Items can be loaned for
exhibits, as is done with the Coast Guard artifacts. If you have Coast
Guard Auxiliary artifacts that you would like to donate, these items need to
be evaluated and sent to the Coast Guard Exhibit Center in
Maryland. We also
encourage Auxiliary members who are artists to apply to the Coast Guard Art
Program (see separate link). Under this program, paintings are donated
as artifacts and become a permanent part of the Coast Guard?s art
collection. Subject matter can include Auxiliary historical and
contemporary events and scenes. Nonmember artists may also be
encouraged to apply.
The major artifacts we are seeking are:
-
Auxiliary
uniforms, particularly khaki, whites, and formal in matched sets with
hats; also women's uniforms, including summer ones
-
Auxiliary flight
suits that have specific Auxiliary insignia
-
Old distinctive
patrol signs, especially those for regatta patrols are needed
-
Flags are in
short supply (it would be nice to develop a collection of District flags)
-
High level
awards received by members such as plaque of merit awards
-
Personal
memorabilia include tasteful commemorative items from national conferences
or other events, such as menus, programs, and glasses
-
Professionally
constructed training aids, such as boat light exhibits and/or boat and
docking/mooring models with cleats and bits
All items should be in good, clean
condition.
A letter of donation must accompany the
material which describes it, who the former owner was with an accompanying
donation letter to you from the member or member's family, and a listing of
the items being donated. In the list or letter provide the best
description possible of what the items are, when they were in use and for
what purpose, and their significance for permanent preservation. Brief
biographical information on the member should be provided that includes:
-
dates of birth
and death
-
dates of
membership
-
offices and
qualifications held
-
awards received
(with citations)
-
family contact
information
-
plus any press
items on the person
Similar information should be provided for
a unit. Have your District Historian contact
Angela
Drews, Coast Guard
Curator, first, to let her know what you would like to send. She can
then assess its importance.
Angela
E.
Drews
Coast
Guard
Curator
USCG
Exhibit
Center
7945 Fernham Lane
Forestville MD 20747
Angela.E.Drews@uscg.mil
http://www.uscg/hq/g-cp/artifacts/artin.html
The Coast Guard Curator will make these
materials available on a carefully accounted for loan basis to museums and
other reputable institutions for exhibits that feature Auxiliary history.
She will also loan Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary items for local
exhibits.
