The ritchie history museum will improve collections processing and storage infrastructure and develop policies and procedures to better preserve and document its material

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. $151,544 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to improve collections processing and storage infrastructure at the museum's Highfield-Cascade, Maryland location.

The museum will purchase equipment to create dedicated storage and processing stations and will hire a collections assistant and intern to survey and assess its collection. The project will develop policies and procedures to better preserve and document material related to the Ritchie Boys, a group of 20,000 men and women who trained in intelligence at Fort Ritchie during World War II. The work will establish foundational collections management processes and staffing, enhancing preservation and public access for veterans, military families, descendants researching service history, historians, museum visitors, and the general public.

The award runs through August 31, 2028.

The museum tells the story of the ritchie boys, a group of 20,000 men and women who trained in intelligence at fort ritchie during world war II. Museum staff will purchase equipment to create dedicated storage and processing stations and hire a collections assistant and intern to assist in surveying and assessing the collection. The project will result in foundational collections management processes and staffing, greatly enhancing overall preservation and access. Preserving and making the collection more readily available will benefit veterans, military families, and descendants researching service history, historians, museum visitors, and the general public.