What We Collect

The focus of the Veterans History Project is first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans and civilians who supported them in these wars:

World War I (1914-1920)
World War II (1939-1946)
Korean War (1950-1955)
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)
Civilian supporters: war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.

Other stories of service are a secondary focus (please review
this list of related repositories that also collect veterans' materials).

Please Note: PDF files require Acrobat reader, freely available on the Web.

What We Accept

Recording Formats

Video:

digital video
Hi-8/8mm
VHS video
DVD ( do not copy-protect )

Audio:

audio cassette
CD
do not use microcassettes

At least 30 minutes long.

Use the highest-quality equipment you can!

Documents & Photos

We also collect:

original narratives/memoirs, and wartime diaries or journals of at least 20 pages
collections of letters (10 or more)
official military documents
collections of original photos or artwork (10 or more)

What about electronic documents?

Please submit both electronic and original paper copies of documents
Use .txt, .rtf, .gif, .jpg formats when possible

In the absence of an interview, a submission may constitute a collection of several of these items to the left.

Send originals.

VHP will accept any approved material on behalf of living and deceased veterans

What We Cannot Accept

Please Do Not Send:

Photocopies of anything. Originals only, please.
medals
canteens
uniforms/helmets
dog tags
weapons or military equipment
flags
Framed materials. Materials must be removed from their frames

Who accepts these items?

Other repositories may accept artifact donations.
Please check with them.

How to Participate » What We Collect

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The Library of Congress >> American Folklife Center
February 7, 2008

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