In 2015 the Veterans History Project (VHP) commemorated its fifteenth anniversary by showcasing the work of volunteer interviewers and featured selected collections from the first five, ten, and fifteen years of the project.
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Author:
Elizabeth Fulford, Program Specialist, Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center
Editor:
Megan Harris, Research Specialist, Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center
Note: This guide replaces two earlier "Experiencing War" features celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Veterans History Project in 2015.
Created: August 3, 2022
Last Updated: August 3, 2022
Introduction
Detail showing the cover of the Veterans History Project Field Kit. Library of Congress Veterans History Project.Marking 15 years of the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress, the highlighted collections here mark the occasion from two perspectives. The first set of interviews showcase a pivotal component of this important national effort: the volunteer interviewers. These individuals work to preserve history by saving the stories of the veterans in their families and communities; engaging through organizations such as the Veterans Administration, Disabled American Veterans and the Red Cross; or partnering with high schools, colleges, libraries and museums. Through their time, commitment and energy, VHP has amassed an archive of more than 100,000 veteran collections. The second set of interviews feature fifteen collections, grouped in five-year segments to feature collections donated to VHP from 2000-2015. While these only represent a handful of the over 96,000 collections donated during this period, these selections shine a light on the diversity of wartime experiences that VHP preserves.
Read a post by Monica Mohindra, Head of Program Communication and Coordination in 2015, honoring the contributions of volunteer interviewers. (Folklife Today Blog: May 22, 2015)
At the 15th National Book Festival, VHP celebrated is 15th anniversary with a program entitled, “The Human Side of War,” featuring some of the nation’s most distinguished writers about war, both fiction and nonfiction. (National Book Festival Blog: August 20, 2015)
These thematic presentations of VHP collections highlight the unique experiences of each person through their own words or creative expressions.
About the Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.
