Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Foundation

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Foundation
Name	Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Foundation
Formation	20th century
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Tuskegee, Alabama
Region served	Macon County, Alabama; United States

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Foundation The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Foundation supports preservation, interpretation, and public access to sites associated with the Tuskegee Airmen, the World War II-era aviation units trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field and associated with Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). The Foundation coordinates with the National Park Service, local governments such as Macon County, Alabama, and national organizations including the Smithsonian Institution and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to steward historic properties and curate collections relating to figures like Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Charles W. Dryden, Eugene D. Jackson, and Roscoe C. Brown Jr..

History

The Foundation originated from grassroots preservation efforts following closure of operations at Tuskegee Army Air Field after World War II and during the late 20th-century movement to recognize contributions of African American military personnel such as those honored by the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen veterans. Early advocates included alumni of Tuskegee Institute, local leaders in Tuskegee, Alabama, and historians associated with the National Archives and the Library of Congress. The formal organization developed through collaborations with federal entities like the National Park Service and nonprofit partners including the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to establish a national historic site and to secure designation under federal preservation statutes like the National Historic Preservation Act.

Mission and Goals

The Foundation’s mission emphasizes preservation of tangible heritage from training and operations connected to the Tuskegee Airmen, interpretation of narratives involving leaders such as Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. and aviators like Lee Archer, and education about the impact of those units on subsequent policy milestones including desegregation of the United States Air Force and initiatives preceding the Civil Rights Movement. Goals include acquisition and stabilization of key structures at Moton Field, development of interpretive programs in partnership with the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and promotion of scholarship with institutions such as Harvard University and Howard University.

Facilities and Exhibits

The Foundation oversees preservation planning for sites including Moton Field Municipal Airport, surviving hangars at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and buildings associated with Tuskegee Institute. Exhibits curated or supported by the Foundation showcase artifacts linked to pilots trained at Motón Field, flight logs related to missions over the European Theater of Operations and inventories documenting aircraft types like the North American P-51 Mustang and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Exhibition collaborators have included the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, and regional museums in Montgomery, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.

Programs and Education

Educational initiatives foster partnerships with Tuskegee University, the National Park Service, K–12 schools in Macon County, Alabama, and veteran service organizations like the Disabled American Veterans. Programs feature oral-history projects with surviving pilots, internship placements with the Smithsonian Institution Archives, curriculum development tied to standards promoted by the National Council for the Social Studies, and STEM outreach modeled after aeronautical training at Tuskegee Army Air Field. The Foundation sponsors speaker series featuring historians such as Allan M. Winkler and authors like Brandon M. Read, and coordinates commemorative events on anniversaries of campaigns in the European Theater of Operations and observances tied to the Memorial Day (United States) calendar.

Preservation and Conservation Efforts

The Foundation undertakes architectural surveys and stabilization work on structures influenced by 1940s military construction standards, consulting preservation specialists from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and conservation scientists at the Smithsonian Institution. Efforts include documentation of historic fabric following guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, artifact conservation for flight gear and archival papers, and landscape preservation of runways at Motón Field. The Foundation has advocated for listing of sites on the National Register of Historic Places and worked with the Historic American Buildings Survey to create measured drawings and photographic records.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

The Foundation engages municipal bodies including the City of Tuskegee and county offices in Macon County, Alabama, educational institutions such as Tuskegee University and Auburn University, veterans groups like the American Legion, and cultural organizations such as the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site management partners. Community engagement includes youth mentorship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, collaborative exhibits with the National Civil Rights Museum, and public programming during events like Black History Month and local heritage festivals. Partnerships extend to national funders including foundations modeled on the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Funding and Governance

The Foundation’s funding model mixes private philanthropy from individual donors, grants from entities like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, contract support from the National Park Service, and proceeds from museum store sales and membership programs. Governance typically comprises a volunteer board with representatives from Tuskegee University, local government, veteran communities, and preservation professionals, operating under nonprofit regulations overseen by the Internal Revenue Service and aligned with best practices endorsed by the Council on Foundations.

Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States Category:Organizations based in Alabama