Frequently asked questions

ABMC maintains historic objects and documents directly connected to the agency’s history as well its 26 cemeteries and 31 memorials. The collections include various items such as:

  • Art pieces

  • Architectural features

  • Uniforms and service members’ belongings

  • Furniture pieces 

  • Photographs

  • Blueprints & Plans

  • Historical documents

All these objects and documents are handled by professional curation and  archival teams who ensure these precious items are identified, inventoried, rehoused and properly stored in safe places, so they can be accessible to the public and well preserved for future generations.

ABMC’s collections are organized through a specific policy called the Scope of Collections. This policy documents how ABMC handles its collection and which criteria are used for new acquisitions. Donation requests can be addressed to the curatorial team via ABMC’s Contact Us page Once submitted, the donation will be reviewed by the curatorial team based on the Scope of Collections. If the object matches the policy, the donation request can be accepted. If not, the donation will be denied. Some of the criteria include connection to an ABMC site or history, condition state of the object, historic accuracy, historical value, among others.

Please note that any donation made to ABMC is unconditional and unrestricted and that once donated the donor has no legal connection to it and cannot request how ABMC will use it. ABMC cannot be committed to display or use the object.

The main mission of the curatorial and archival teams is to maintain and document ABMC’s collections. We do not currently work on external objects.

Most of the ABMC collection is currently housed in storage spaces not accessible to the public. However, many pieces rotate throughout our Visitor Center exhibits at the following cemeteries and monuments:

 

  • Cambridge American Cemetery
  • Chateau-Thierry American Monument
  • Flanders-Fields American Cemetery
  • Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery
  • Netherlands American Cemetery
  • Manilla American Cemetery
  • Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
  • Oise-Aisne American Cemetery
  • Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

 

During European Heritage days, some ABMC sites will provide visitors access to locations usually not accessible to the public. Some collections storage spaces can be part of this event. See our Events page for more information.

You can download and save the images you will find on the online catalog, for your personal use. They are in the public domain, however, ABMC requests you cite both the catalog number and the American Battle Monuments Commission in any public use of its imagery. 

Use of items listed as ‘on loan’ from other organizations, agencies, or individuals other than ABMC is prohibited without permission from the owner. 

If you are interested in more information about one or several items you find in ABMC online catalog, use the contact page to reach our Museum Curator or Records Manager and find out more about what you are looking for.

To catalog its collection, ABMC gathers all available information about the objects. This includes the author or maker, date and place made, historic background, connection to ABMC’s mission, as well as the item’s description, dimensions, conservation condition, etc. Every detail about the objects is documented to highlight as much about them as possible. With this online catalog, guests can access this information and learn more about the agency’s historic objects and documents.

 

ABMC also uses a classification system to arrange objects in thematic order. To facilitate a search through the collections, refer to the following classification system. Each object belongs to one or several categories based on its original use.

 

Here are the most frequently referenced collections:

  • Category 01: Built Environment Objects
    • Building Components
      • Door & Window Elements
      • Environmental Control Elements
      • Plumbing & Drainage Elements
      • Stair Elements
    • Site Features

 

  • Category 02: Furnishings
    • Bedding
    • Floor Coverings
    • Furniture
      • Furniture Accessories & Components
      • Furniture Sets
      • Other Furniture
      • Seating Furniture
      • Sleeping & Reclining Furniture
      • Storage & Display Furniture
      • Support Furniture
    • Household Accessories
      • Containers for Smoking & Tobacco
      • Decorative Furnishings
      • Furniture Coverings
      • Horticultural Containers
      • Household Accessories & Components
      • Storage & Display Accessories & Components
    • Lighting Equipment
      • Lighting Accessories & Components
      • Lighting Devices
      • Lighting Holders
    • Temperature Control Equipment
      • Firemaking Equipment
      • Heating & Cooling Equipment
      • Heating Equipment Accessories & Components
    • Window & Door Coverings

 

  • Category 03: Personal Objects
    • Clothing
      • Clothing Accessories & Components
      • Dressingwear & Nightwear
      • Footwear
      • Headwear
      • Main Garments
      • Outerwear
      • Protective Wear
      • Underwear
    • Personal Gear
      • Clothing Care Objects
      • Personal Assistive Objects
      • Personal Carrying & Storage Gear
      • Smoking & Recreational Drug Equipment
    • Toilet Articles
      • Beauty Supplies
      • Hair Care Objects
      • Hygiene Objects

 

  • Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials
    • Agricultural T&E
    • Animal Husbandry T&E
    • Fiberworking T&E
    • Fishing, Hunting & Trapping T&E
    • Food Processing & Preparation T&E
      • Cooking Vessels
      • Food Preparation Accessories & Components
      • Food Preparation Equipment
      • Food Processing Equipment
      • Food Storage Equipment
    • Food Service T&E
      • Drinking Vessels
      • Eating & Drinking Utensils
      • Eating Vessels
      • Food Service Accessories & Components
      • Food Service Sets
      • Serving Utensils
      • Serving Vessels
    • Forestry T&E
    • Glass, Plastics & Clayworking T&E
    • Leather, Horn, Bone & Shellworking T&E
    • Masonry & Stoneworking T&E
    • Metalworking T&E
    • Mining & Mineral Harvesting T&E
    • Multiple Use T&E for Materials
    • Other T&E for Materials
    • Painting T&E
    • Papermaking T&E
    • Textileworking T&E
    • Woodworking T&E

 

  • Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology
    • Acoustical T&E
    • Armaments
      • Ammunition
      • Armament Accessories & Components
      • Artillery
      • Body Armor
      • Edged Weapons
      • Firearms
      • Percussive Weapons
    • Astronomical T&E
    • Biological T&E
    • Chemical T&E
    • Construction T&E
    • Power Transmission Accessories & Components
    • Maintenance T&E
    • Mechanical T&E
    • Medical & Psychological T&E
      • Medical Accessories & Components
      • Medical Instruments
    • Merchandising T&E
    • Meteorological T&E
    • Nuclear Physics T&E
    • Optical T&E
    • Regulative & Protective T&E
    • Surveying & Navigational T&E
    • Thermal T&E
    • Timekeeping T&E
    • Weights & Measures T&E

 

  • Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication
    • Data Processing T&E
      • Data Processing Accessories & Components
      • Data Processing Devices
      • Data Processing Media
      • Peripherals
    • Drafting T&E
    • Musical T&E
      • Musical Accessories & Components
      • Musical Instruments
    • Photographic T&E
      • Camera Equipment
      • Photographic Accessories & Components
      • Photographic Media
      • Photoprocessing Equipment
    • Printing T&E
      • Bookbinding Equipment
      • Graphic Equipment
      • Printing Accessories & Components
      • Replication Equipment
      • Typesetting Equipment
    • Sound Communication T&E
      • Sound Communication Accessories & Components
      • Sound Communication Devices
      • Sound Communication Media
    • Telecommunication T&E
      • Telecommunication Accessories & Components
      • Telecommunication Devices
      • Telecommunication Media
    • Visual Communication T&E
      • Visual Communication Accessories & Components
      • Visual Communication Devices
      • Written Communication T&E
    • Writing Accessories & Components
      • Writing Devices
      • Writing Media

 

  • Category 07: Distribution & Transportation Objects
    • Aerospace Transportation T&E
    • Containers
    • Land Transportation T&E
      • Animal-Powered Vehicles
      • Human-Powered Vehicles
      • Land Transportation Accessories & Components
      • Motor Vehicles
    • Rail Transportation Equipment
      • Rail Transportation Accessories & Components
      • Rail Vehicles
    • Water Transportation Equipment
      • Water Transportation Accessories & Components
      • Watercraft

 

  • Category 08: Communication Objects
    • Advertising Media
    • Arts
      • Performing Arts
      • Visual Arts
    • Ceremonial Objects
      • Funerary Objects
      • Holiday Objects
      • Organizational Objects
      • Party Accessories & Components
      • Religious Objects
      • Wedding Objects
    • Documentary Objects
      • Administrative Records
      • Declaratory Documents
      • Financial Records
      • Government Records
      • Graphic Documents
      • Instructional Documents
      • Legal Documents
      • Literary Works
      • Memorabilia
      • Other Documents
      • Reference Works
    • Exchange Media
    • Personal Symbols
      • Achievement Symbols
      • Belief Symbols
      • Personal Identification
      • Status Symbols

 

  • Category 09: Recreational Objects
    • Game Equipment
    • Public Entertainment Devices
    • Recreational Devices
    • Sports Equipment
    • Toys & Accessories

 

  • Category 10: Unclassifiable Objects