Originally Posted by
Crius
Didn't most of the Littlefield collection go to the American heritage museum?
https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/
A visit there is definitely on the bucket list, we'll see if I make it, but I believe they have the bulk of the Littlefield collection, and if you use the link I posted it says right on the first page that they feature the Littlefield tanks, and I'll bet they make up most of the museum. If I ever make it there I'll take lots of photos, and if anyone else gets there first I hope you'll do the same.
They had the
entire collection Littlefield assembled. They sold much of it off at an auction on Littlefield's property. I'd gotten the auction info but didn't have the heart to go over there to see it split up. Collings was handed the entire collection as a tax-free charitable donation but ended up selling better than 2/3 of it ostensibly to 'fund' the display of the choicest elements of what they kept. I have to say I understand that they did do those pieces justice from what I've read and seen but still the original fact remains that that family didn't feel strongly enough about maintaining their father's work and legacy to basically do the same thing Collings did, just locally. I was told that
the decision to donate the collection 'would have been what Jacques wanted' but in the 30+ years I knew him I never ever even heard
a hint at that desire and like few others I knew him just before he began that collection and he attributed me as having gotten him started. It's why when he began using a guestbook he asked me to be one of the first, if not
the first one to sign it. (when Littlefield's was closing down I only ever asked for the guestbook but was told it went 'missing' - I suspect there may have been signatures people wanted). I'm sure you all can surmise I wasn't a fan of what happened to his collection, practical considerations aside, and I never will. It may have been the best outcome but through the view from my position I'll never see it. I am aware of a bit more behind this but I've already said enough.
From what I see it isn't just building a museum, that's not enough; especially when its existence relies on one person. If that person
passes or the ability to maintain the museum is compromised through the lack of a proper legal entity to protect and maintain it
the museum is not long for this world. I've seen it several times now and know enough that they are transitory at best unless they're government supported. Even that isn't an iron clad guarantee...The lack of a properly formed and funded umbrella legal entity over Littlefield's collection is as much to blame for its demise as his passing.
Jerry