Donate Artifacts and other Materials to the Permanent Collection

The Florida Holocaust Museum continues to collect original documents, photographs, artifacts, oral testimonies, and other materials to document the Holocaust. Materials we are seeking include those from the experiences of Jewish victims of the Holocaust, non-Jewish victims of the Nazis and their collaborators, and survivors. The Museum also collects artwork created during the Holocaust by those who experienced it as well as contemporary art created in response to the Holocaust and other genocides.

For more information on how to donate to the Museum’s permanent collection, please contact collections@thefhm.org.  Our goal is to collect, preserve, and provide access to the material evidence of the Holocaust to ensure that its lessons will be shared with future generations. The Museum cannot accept copies and facsimiles.

Examples of materials we collect include:

Clothing and other textiles

The FHM collects concentration camp uniforms and other clothing used and worn during the Holocaust, before the war, and in the time period immediately following the war.

Documents, Photographs, Correspondence, Memoirs and Diaries

The original documents, diaries, photographs, and letters we collect shed light on the varied experiences of individuals during the Holocaust.

Militaria

We collect medals, insignia, military uniforms, flags, etc. on a case-by-case basis. The FHM can only accept materials with clear provenance information such as materials brought back to the U.S. by Army Personnel who liberated concentration camps.

Oral Histories

The FHM is still interviewing Holocaust survivors as well as witnesses, liberators, and rescuers. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed, please contact the email above. We also collect interviews recorded by other individuals or organizations, but can only do so with written permission of the copyright holder.

Photographs of Liberation

Some photographs of concentration camps taken at liberation were widely distributed to US soldiers. Because of this, there are many examples of these in The Florida Holocaust Museum’s collection. If you wish to donate photographs of liberation, a member of the collections staff will review scans of photos provided to determine if duplicates are already housed in our collection. The Museum does not accept copies or digital materials.

Artifacts/Three-Dimensional Objects

The Museum collects objects that were used or made by victims and survivors during the Holocaust. This includes objects used or made by concentration camp prisoners, partisans, refugees, people in hiding, those living in ghettos, and forced laborers.

Propaganda

The Florida Holocaust Museum collects anti-Nazi propaganda created by Allied countries as well as Nazi-produced propaganda.

Artwork

The Florida Holocaust Museum collects artwork created during the Holocaust. All mediums will be considered. Provenance must be known.

Additionally, the Museum is focused on collecting artistic responses to the Holocaust and other genocides. When submitting, please include the artist’s resume and statement, images of the works offered, along with any special requirements. Submissions may be received at collections@thefhm.org. All artworks submitted will be reviewed by the Museum’s Exhibitions and Collections Committee. Click here to see highlights from the Museum’s art collection.

Materials Related to Other Genocides and Human Rights Abuses

The Museum also collects original materials related to other genocides and Human Rights abuses. These materials may include original photographs, documents, correspondence, artifacts such as clothing or toys, diaries, and more.