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Some of the most valuable items in our collection were donated by people who didn’t know they had anything valuable at all. The great-niece of 2nd Lt. Eugene R. Sherwin is a good example. She didn’t know what to do with the personal papers that her great-uncle, who died in 1944, had written and received during his time in the service. But when she donated those papers to the Pritzker Military Library, she added a fascinating story to our collection: the personal experience of a Pearl Harbor survivor and Army intelligence officer, told in his own words, including letters of recommendation, award certificates, service orders, and vintage photographs from Hawaii. Those papers give a vivid illustration of the life of a Citizen Soldier in World War II, and they have a tremendous value to researchers and readers.

Our collection is always growing. If you have a collection on military history, international relations, and intelligence work, the Pritzker Military Library can ensure that your collection will be available for future generations to study and enjoy. You may not think that your papers would be valuable to anyone except yourself – or perhaps you simply want to be sure that your cherished memories will be well-preserved and cared-for. We can promise you that they will be.

All donations of books, military art, and related materials to the Pritzker Military Library are greatly appreciated, but we are especially excited to receive memoirs, regimental newsletters, personal papers – such as letters home, and letters to the front – unit histories, unit yearbooks, and original photographs taken while in the service.

All of these items have special value and power for telling the stories of the men and women who served our country. They help future generations to understand the meaning of sacrifice and selfless service. We honor and safeguard all materials. Please contact Teri Embrey or Leighton Shell, our librarians, for more information on how you can contribute to the ever-growing collection of the Pritzker Military Library. For inquiries by email, phone, or fax, visit our contact information page.

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