Collections

Holocaust Museum Houston‘s collection consists of over 7,000 items that belonged to Holocaust victims, survivors, and their families. These precious artifacts, donated by individuals who directly or indirectly experienced the Holocaust, relate the tragic and inspirational stories of our local survivor community.

VIEW OUR ONLINE COLLECTION

Browse HMH’s collection to view digital records of our objects and photos online.

View the Collection

CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLECTION

If you have objects, documents or photographs that you are willing to donate, we look forward to hearing from you. Your original artifacts relating to the Holocaust and the experiences of individuals whose lives were directly affected by those events can inspire future generations and empower young people to fight intolerance, hatred, and antisemitism.

We seek materials connected to the events and experiences associated with the Holocaust and its aftermath, including Jewish life extending back to the end of WWI and forward to the close of the Jewish displaced persons (DP) camps in the mid-1950s.

The Museum is no longer accepting Nazi paraphernalia. Additionally, unsolicited donations sent through the mail or without an appointment in person cannot be accepted. Museum staff cannot provide appraisal values for donations.

To get started on your artifact donation, please fill out the donor questionnaire below and send it to info@hmh.org or 5401 Caroline St. Houston, Texas 77004. Items offered for donation are reviewed by a collections committee.

Download Questionaire

Artifacts support the mission of Holocaust Museum Houston and play an important role in teaching against the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and apathy. Conservation and preservation are necessary to protect the Museum’s collections for future generations. To aid our efforts, please consider a monetary donation.

Make a Donation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why support conservation?
Artifacts are used to teach the lessons of the Holocaust. Our Survivors will not be here forever, but their materials can be saved for future generations with proper care and maintenance.
What is conservation of artifacts?
Conservation is the preventative care and treatment of items in a museum’s collection to ensure the long-term preservation of historical materials. Conservation preserves items in their present condition to stop further deterioration
Why does it cost so much to care for Museum artifacts?
Many steps are involved in caring for and documenting individual objects. To properly care for them, each artifact should be stored in acid-free containers in a climate-controlled storage space.
Will my donation go to conserve a specific artifact?
Please refer to the “Choose An Artifact” tab. All monies donated to the “Holocaust-Era Railcar” or “Danish Rescue Boat” will directly support these objects. All monies donated to “General Conservation” will support all of HMH’s objects, including photographs, documents and textiles
Can I view any of the artifacts?
Yes, several are currently on display in our permanent exhibition. However, artifacts are rotated periodically for conservation purposes, so do not be alarmed if some are not currently on view.
Will you send me a letter for tax purposes?
Yes, you will receive an e-mail confirmation (watch your spam filters to make sure it is not intercepted). You will also receive written confirmation within two weeks of your donation.