Object Donations

The College Park Aviation Museum collects historical objects that share the rich history of aviation in Prince George's County. Our primary focus includes:

  • Objects owned and/or used at the College Park Aviation Museum throughout its history (1909 to the present); categories include:
    • Wright presence at CPA
    • Army Aviation School
    • Instrument, scientific testing, and experimentation at CPA
    • Berliner testing at CPA
    • Civilians and airplane companies based out of CPA
    • Brinckerhoff management years
    • Saving/preserving the airport
    • Creation of the museum
    • Any general activity AT College Park Airport
    • Air Mail at CPA or Air Mail office in DC
  • As well as primary and secondary documents, artifacts, photographs, and more in the following related areas:
    • The history of the College Park Aviation Museum
    • The Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) and the Ercoupe airplane
    • Columbia Air Center at Croom Airfield, aka Riverside Airfield; or any of its members/associates
    • Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) with Maryland origins
    • Airmail with the United States Postal Service

      • Activity-based out of College Park Airport circa 1918-1920

      • The Airmail Office in the Post Office based in Washington, DC

  • Books WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS UNSOLICITED DONATIONS. SEND A LIST OF INTENDED DONATIONS FIRST. Please note that property left at the museum without prior approval will be considered abandoned. The museum may dispose of abandoned property 

Object Donation Process  

  1. Refer to the above list and verify your items are relevant to College Park Airport and any of its collections
  2. Fill out this form by hand at the museum or digitally on this website
  3. A staff member will reach out to you and discussions will begin

Because collecting new materials takes up valuable space and staff time, we are unable to accept unsolicited donations. Please fill out the attached form describing the material you wish to donate and a member of the Collections staff will contact you within two weeks. 

You must include photographs of objects. Please type a list of the items you intend to donate.  You must include any other supporting information that you think would be useful for our collections staff to understand the context of your potential donation, such as the story behind the image, object, event, people involved, etc., and how you came to be in possession of those items.  

Please note that property left at the museum without prior approval will be considered abandoned. The museum may dispose of abandoned property.

For More Information

If you have questions, concerns, or other issues you wish to discuss, please contact collegeparkaviation@pgparks.com or call 301-864-6029 and ask for the Curator of Collections.