Imperial War Museum [antikvár]

The purpose of the Imperial War Museum is to collect preserve and display material arid information bearing upon the two World Wars and other military operations since August 1 914 in which Great Britain or other members of the Commonwealth have been involved. Other museums, both national and provincial, exist or contain departments to deal with particular aspects of warfare from remote times, but the Imperial War Museum alone in this country is solely concerned with all aspects of war, military and civil, allied and enemy, social and strategic, and the inter- action of them in this, the age of the two greatest wars in history. 'Whatever we may say or think,' Her Majesty The Queen declared when she visited the Imperial War Museum on 2 November 1 966 to open its extension, 'organised War is one of the products of civilisation. Modern War, in all its horror, is the outcome of the Industrial Revolution. It became in 1914, for the first time in our history, not the concern of any profession or of any one section of the population, but of every man, woman and child in the Kingdom. War, therefore, in detail, as well as in general, is a subject that even the most peaceable of us should know something about if we wish to understand the way in which we live. For our great Wars— and even some of the lesser ones—have had, and still have, a deep and far reaching effect on our Society. So here you have,' The Queen continued, 'not only the solid exhibits of battle, but pictures which record the impressions made by warfare on the artists who were present, books which have been written about it, and films and photographs and documents which record it.' The Museum is increasingly concerned to improve the coverage of its collections, the manner of their display or arrangement, and the accessibility of the information which they contain and thus to improve the service which it offers to its visitors and correspondents. A part of this endeavour is represented by a major re-organisation of the public exhibitions which, after years of preparation, is now being set in motion. Offers to present relics, medals, works of art, films, photographs, manuscripts, books, maps or other materials within the Museum's field will be much appreciated, and where they will contribute to it, gratefully accepted. Those who wish to support the Museum financially and thus to contribute to its development and improvement, may like to note that contributions are gratefully received by the imperial War Museum Trust. Noble Frankland, Director Imperial War Museum