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Veterans History Project: Celebrating 20 Years

Founded in 2000, VHP collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of U.S. war veterans and civilians for future generations. This guide marks 20 years of the project with collections selected by staff members, event videos, and more.

Introduction

Happy birthday, VHP! In 2020, we celebrated twenty years of preserving the stories of United States veterans. While we are honored to archive every submission, there are particular collections that catch our eye, engage our minds, or touch our hearts, and sometimes do all three. Since 2000, our staff has worked to ensure that these narratives—and all of those in our archive—are preserved and made accessible for generations to come. As part of our anniversary celebration, we asked staff from the American Folklife Center and the Veterans History Project to select collections that resonate on a personal level. We share some of these collections here, and we hope you connect with them as much as we do. To find a collection that speaks to you, please search our full holdings through our online database, or explore our list of online web features like this one.

In addition to the highlighted collections below, you will find links to related blog posts and a series of event videos in the additional sections of this guide.

VHP Collections Selected by Staff Members

Image: Elizabeth A. Allen
Elizabeth A. Allen
ARMY NURSE CORPS

Vietnam

selected by Donna Borden
Video Interview
Image: Leo Joseph Bailey
Leo Joseph Bailey
ARMY
World War I
selected by Justina Moloney
Video Interview, Photos, Memoir, Correspondence, Official Documents
Image: Robert L. Barber
Robert L. Barber
MARINE CORPS
Korea
selected by Megan Harris
Photos, Correspondence, Other Materials
Image: Julius Wesley Becton, Jr.
Julius Wesley Becton, Jr.
ARMY
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War
selected by Justina Moloney

Video Interview, Biographical Materials
Image: John V. Boylan
John V. Boylan
ARMY
World War II
selected by Michelle Stefano
Video Interview
Image: Kathryn Mary Doody
Kathryn Mary Doody
ARMY NURSE CORPS
World War II, Korea, Cold War
selected by Nicki Saylor
Video Interview
Image: Miguel Encinias
Miguel Encinias
NAVY
World War II, Korea, Vietnam
selected by Kerry Ward
Video & Audio Interviews, Photos
Image: Marva Lucille Gray
Marva Lucille Gray
ARMY
Iraq War
selected by Matt McCrady
Video & Audio Interviews
Image: Samuel Tom Holiday
Samuel Tom Holiday
MARINE CORPS
World War II
selected by Nathan Cross
Video Interview
Image: Anthony D. Lopez
Anthony D. Lopez
ARMY
World War II
selected by Nathan Cross
Audio Interview, Photos
Image: Ernest T. Maxey
Ernest T. Maxey
COAST GUARD
World War II
selected by Owen Rogers
Audio Interview, Photo
Image: Janis Alyce Nark
Janis Alyce Nark
ARMY NURSE CORPS
Vietnam, Persian Gulf War
selected by Kerry Ward
Video Interview
Image: Kenje Ogata
Kenje Ogata
ARMY AIR CORPS
World War II
selected by Megan Harris
Video & Audio Interviews, Photos, Memoir
Image: Joseph V. Parrino
Joseph V. Parrino
ARMY
Cold War
selected by John Fenn
Photos, Art Works
Image: David W. Polhemus
David W. Polhemus
ARMY
Korea, Vietnam
selected by Rachel Mears
Video Interview
Image: Joseph C. Rodriguez
Joseph C. Rodriguez
ARMY
Korea
selected by Nathan Cross
Video Interview
Image: Tammy Smith
Tammy Smith
ARMY
Afghan War
selected by Monica Mohindra
Video Interview
Image: Kenneth Stepherson
Kenneth Stepherson
ARMY AIR CORPS
World War II
selected by Todd Harvey
Video Interview
Image: Tracy A. Sugarman
Tracy A. Sugarman
NAVY
World War II
selected by Stephanie Hall
Video Interview, Photos, Art Works
Image: Kenneth Tinsley
Kenneth Tinsley
ARMY
Vietnam
selected by Yvonne Brown
Video Interview

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.