Friends of the National WWII Museum

Friends of the National WWII Museum
Name	Friends of the National WWII Museum
Formation	1990s
Type	Nonprofit support organization
Headquarters	New Orleans, Louisiana
Location	New Orleans
Leader title	President
Leader name	John M. (example)

Friends of the National WWII Museum is a nonprofit support organization associated with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. It mobilizes private support, volunteer engagement, and programmatic partnerships to expand public access to exhibits and collections related to the Allied victory in World War II, the Pacific War, and the European theatre of World War II. The organization works alongside veterans, scholars, curators, and civic institutions to preserve artifacts, promote oral histories, and sponsor educational initiatives tied to major events such as the D-Day landings, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of Midway.

History

The group's origins trace to local preservation efforts in New Orleans and veteran advocacy networks connecting families of veterans from the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps after the World War II centennial-era commemorations. Early supporters included community leaders with ties to institutions such as the Louisiana Historical Association, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Over time the Friends organization formed formal relationships with museum founders who had affiliations with the National D-Day Museum initiative, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum community, and curatorial professionals from the Smithsonian Institution. Major milestones paralleled expansions tied to exhibits on the USS Tang (SS-306), the Napalm and Flamethrower display, and galleries reflecting operations like Operation Overlord and Operation Market Garden.

Mission and Activities

The organization's mission centers on supporting the museum's goals to honor veterans from units including the 101st Airborne Division (United States), the 1st Marine Division (United States), and the 8th Air Force, while facilitating research into campaigns like the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Normandy campaign, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Activities span artifact acquisition involving aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and naval vessels like the USS Tang (SS-306), oral history projects referencing figures from the Manhattan Project era and testimonies related to the Holocaust in France, and educational programming aligned with curricula used by the University of New Orleans and partner institutions like Tulane University.

Programs and Events

Programs include speaker series hosting historians who have written on subjects such as the Nuremberg Trials, biographies of leaders like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and commanders involved in Operation Torch and Operation Husky. Events commemorate anniversaries of the Pearl Harbor attack, the VE Day, and the VJ Day, and often feature partnerships with orchestras and cultural groups including the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and veteran-led reenactor groups focusing on units like the 82nd Airborne Division (United States). Public programs incorporate panels with curators from the Imperial War Museums, archivists from the National Archives and Records Administration, and conservators from the Smithsonian Institution.

Membership and Governance

Membership tiers mirror practices of cultural nonprofits and draw benefactors linked to foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and regional philanthropic organizations in Louisiana. Governance structures involve a board of directors with members drawn from civic leaders, retired military officers familiar with commands like the United States Pacific Fleet, museum professionals who have worked with the American Alliance of Museums, and academic advisers from programs at institutions such as Georgetown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Policies adhere to nonprofit oversight norms and align with archival standards promoted by the Society of American Archivists.

Fundraising and Support

Fundraising campaigns have targeted endowments for conservation of artifacts including tanks like the M4 Sherman and aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress, and capital projects associated with gallery expansions on topics from the Atlantic Wall to the Island-Hopping Campaign. Major fundraising events have included galas with keynote speakers drawn from veterans who served in the Korean War and observers of conflicts extending from the Spanish Civil War antecedents to Cold War-era histories. Donor recognition often references named funds, corporate sponsorships from defense contractors familiar with historical preservation, and grants from cultural agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Partnerships and Affiliations

The organization maintains affiliations with the National WWII Museum, the National Park Service for battlefield preservation, international partners including the Imperial War Museums and the Australian War Memorial, and academic collaborations with military history centers at Ohio State University and the United States Naval War College. Additional partnerships include veteran service organizations like the American Legion, preservation groups involved with the Veterans History Project, and international commemorative bodies that observe operations such as Operation Dragoon and the Battle of Okinawa.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Orleans