Donation Wish List

The Air Zoo is always seeking artifacts, archival material, photographs, and digital files that help us tell a national aviation story through a Midwestern lens, contribute to the interpretation of our aircraft collections, and facilitate unique learning experiences through aerospace history and science.

This page is not meant to be an exhaustive list of items we collect but represent known gaps in the Air Zoo’s collections or specific items we are seeking for future exhibits and programs. 

Please note: All donations must be approved by the Air Zoo’s Collections Committee prior to being accepted. Please complete our Collections Donation Worksheet prior to physically shipping or bringing items to the Air Zoo. Click here for more information about donating items to the Air Zoo. 

---

Collecting Areas 

Below is a list of items we are seeking.

---

Airlines and Air Travel  

• Items and materials related to the Ford Tri-Motor, such as printed schedules, advertisements.
• Items and materials related to Northern Airways
• Items and materials related to Francis Airways (1944-1947)
• Items and materials related to Lake Central Airlines (1950-1968)
  • Flight and cabin crew uniforms.
  • Memorabilia - tickets, schedules, souvenir wings pins, and other themed items or merchandise.
• Items and materials related to North Central Airlines (1955-1979)
  • Flight and cabin crew uniforms
  • Memorabilia - tickets, schedules, souvenir wings pins, and other themed items or merchandise.
• Items and materials related to Republic Airlines (1979-1986)
  • Flight and cabin crew uniforms 
  • Memorabilia - tickets, schedules, souvenir wings pins, and other themed items or merchandise. 

---

Airships and Balloons

---

Air Zoo/Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum 

• Employee and volunteer nametags
• Docent uniforms and awards
• Print advertisements, ticket stubs, and other ephemera (1979-2004) 

---

Civil and General Aviation 

---

Exhibit and Program Needs 

• 1940s-era currency, both paper and coins
• Beret, Dress Uniform, WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) 

---

Guadalcanal campaign, World War II (Aug. 1942 – Feb. 1943) 

---

High on Kalamazoo Air Show 

• Memorabilia such as programs, pins, posters, print advertisements. 

---

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport 

• Items and materials related to Thompson Aeronautical Corp.
• Items and materials related to Kal-Aero Inc. 

---

Korean War (1950-1953) 

---

Michigan Aviation History 

• Items related to the 110th Fighter Group/Operations Group.
• Items related to Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. 
• Items related to Edward B. Heath and the Heath Aircraft Company.
• Items related to the Stinson Aircraft Company.
• Items related to the WACO Classic Aircraft Company. 

---

Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) 

---

Pioneering Events and People in Race and Gender 

• Items and materials related to the Tuskegee Airmen (332nd Fighter Squadron, 477th Bombardment Squadron)
• Items and materials related to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) aviators and aviation professionals.
• Items and materials related to LBGTQ+ (Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transexual, Queer) aviators and aviation professionals.

---

Pop Culture

• Aviation comic books
• Aviation toys/games
• Science fiction toys/games
• Space toys/games

---

Space Exploration 

• Items related to Michigan-born or Michigan-raised astronauts and aerospace industry professionals (ex, James McDivitt, Alfred Worden, Christina Koch, Roger Chafee) 

---

Vietnam War (Southeast Asia) 

---

Western Michigan University College of Aviation 

• Items related to the college’s presence at Kalamazoo Airport

---

Women in Aviation 

• Items related to the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).
• Items related to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
• Items related to the Ninety-Nines.
• Uniforms, memorabilia, or personal items from women pilots and aviation professionals. 

---

World War I 

---

World War II