Date:    Sat, 22 Jan 1994 12:29:28 EST
From:    MR LARRY GILBERT <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Air Museums & AF base closures
 
As we all know many Air Force/Military bases are in the process of closing.
 Many of these have museums associated with them that are in the process of
becoming independant of their government sponsors and support.  Being in a
community that faces base closure and desiring to maintain our museum I
would like to share information on what others are doing to preserve their
museums.  We already have a non-profit corporation (in place since the
museum inception 12 years ago) to raise funds and assume control of the
museum after base closure.  Please share your success and failure and I
will do the same.
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I have real close connections to an Air Force Museum curator, and from what I
know about it, the Air Force Museum owns all the donated property of the
museums at all the Air Force Bases. It is fine that you have a non-profit
corp, to help support the museum, but the non-profit corp, can't own the
artifacts.  I'm afraid the Air Force Museum will collect the artifacts, and
redistribute/store the artifacts as needed.