2006-2007 News Releases | 2000-2005 News Releases

Four-city book tour for "Forever A Soldier" planned
10/18/2005 -- “Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service” will be published by National Geographic Books in association with the Library of Congress on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Author and Veterans History Project historian Tom Wiener and several of the 37 veterans featured in the book will participate in a four-city book tour in November and December. A book-signing with the author will follow each program. All programs are free and open to the public.

"Forever A Soldier" Book Published on Veterans Day
9/2/2005 -- “Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service” will be published by National Geographic Books in association with the Library of Congress on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Advance copies of this compilation of stories of 37 servicemen and women will be on sale in the Library of Congress Pavilion at the Library’s National Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Dance, Music Commemorate End of WWII
9/1/2005 -- To mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Veterans History Project, of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, is sponsoring two special concerts to be held in November in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Veterans' Day Special on Public Radio
8/31/2005 -- The Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project will present a one-hour special titled “While the World Watched,” which will be aired on and around Veterans Day, November 11, 2005 on Public Radio International (PRI) affiliate stations around the country. “While the World Watched” is the fourth program in the acclaimed Experiencing War series. Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland is host of this series, which is created and produced by Lee Woodman.

Book Talk on Schneller's Breaking the Color Barrier
7/28/2005 -- Author Robert J. Schneller Jr. and Wesley Anthony Brown will discuss Schneller’s new book, “Breaking the Color Barrier: The U.S. Naval Academy’s First Black Midshipmen and the Struggle for Racial Equality,” at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the Whittall Pavilion of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Veterans History Project Featured on C-SPAN
8/4/2005 -- On Saturday, Aug. 6, at 9 p.m., C-SPAN will air a 90-minute block on the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project on their "American Perspectives" show, featuring material from an interview with Tom Wiener, VHP historian and author of the forthcoming book "Forever a Soldier," to be published this fall by the National Geographic in cooperation with the VHP. The piece also includes oral history interviews with Sen. John McCain, Rep. Sam Johnson and Rep. Benjamin Gilman. Additional oral histories from the VHP will air on C-SPAN's "American Perspectives" at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, and Saturday, Aug. 20. “American Perspectives” can be heard at http://www.c-span.org/.

Veterans History Project Honors Top Interviewers
7/12/2005 -- The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project (VHP) will honor 14 individuals, who have conducted more than 3,200 interviews of veterans for the Veterans History Project, at a reception on Monday, July 18. The oral histories resulting from their prodigious efforts are now part of the permanent collections of the Library of Congress. All of the top-producers have each conducted more than 100 interviews.
Read tips from the top interviewers [2 pages, PDF 88.85 KB]

Webcast of War's End symposium, May 26, 2005

Photos from War's End symposium, May 26, 2005

Veterans History Project Highlights Stories From the National WWII Memorial Dedication
7/1/2005 -- During the National World War II Reunion held over Memorial Day weekend in 2004 the Veterans History Project collected nearly 3,000 veterans' stories of wartime service. To celebrate that historic reunion, selected stories are being presented in their entirety online. These stories capture memories of battle, heroic moments, stark realizations about the realities of war, and much-needed comic relief as told by the men and women who were there.

Authors of "The Bonus Army: An American Epic" Will Speak on June 22
Authors Paul Dickson and Thomas Allen will talk about their book, “The Bonus Army: An American Epic,” at noon on Wednesday, June 22, in the West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the Library's James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C. The event, cosponsored by the Humanities and Social Sciences Division and the Veterans History Project, is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

Veterans History Project to Host Book Talk June 17
6/3/2005 -- Journalist Karen Spears Zacharias will discuss her book, “Hero Mama: A Daughter Remembers the Father She Lost in Vietnam and the Mother Who Held Her Family Together,” at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 17, in the West Dining Room of the James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. [view a recording of this Book Talk]

Memorial Day Activities Honor Veterans and Civilian Wartime Workers
5/25/2005 -- To mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II this Memorial Day, the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project (VHP) has planned a variety of activities, including interviews of veterans, presentation of stories from the collection assembled to date, and an advertising campaign to urge the general public to participate in this nationwide, volunteer effort to collect and preserve veterans’ stories.

Deputy Librarian of Congress to Deliver Memorial Day Speech
5/20/2005 -- Gen. Donald L. Scott (retired from the U.S. Army), deputy librarian of Congress and veteran of the Vietnam War, will deliver the keynote Memorial Day address at Boots-Dickinson American Legion Post # 74. The program is free and open to the public.

May 26 Symposium Marks 60th Anniversary of End of World War II
5/13/2005 -- “War’s End: Eyewitness to History,” a half-day symposium cosponsored by the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will take place from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

New Experiencing War Presentation Features Stories of VE Day and VJ Day
5/12/2005 -- A new selection of 13 fully digitized collections of materials submitted by veterans and civilians is now available for the first time on the Library of Congress Web site at http://www.loc.gov/warstories. The latest addition of stories focuses on “VE” and “VJ” (Victory over Europe and Victory over Japan), highlighting personal accounts from veterans recalling the hours after the announcement of the end of World War II.

Veterans History Project Named "Top 50" in Government by Harvard
3/21/2005 -- The Library of Congress Veterans History Project was selected as one of the “Top 50” for the 2005 Innovations in American Government Award competition. Often referred to as the “Oscar” of government prizes, the award recognizes 50 of the most creative, forward-thinking, results driven government programs at the federal, state, county and city levels. The “Top 50” are now eligible to win one of six $100,000 grants.

New Experiencing War Presentation Features Stories of Military Medicine
3/3/2005 -- A new selection of 20 fully digitized collections of materials submitted by veterans and civilians will be available for the first time on the Library of Congress Web site on Mar. 3 at http://www.loc.gov/warstories/. The latest addition of stories focuses on military medicine and highlights personal accounts from doctors, nurses and individuals providing medical support. With this new set of fully digitized stories, the Veterans History Project site offers 1,024 digitized collections online, comprising more than 48,000 individual items.

Veterans' Stories Featured in More Than Love Stories Radio Program from PRI
2/7/2005 -- The Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project will present a one-hour special titled “More Than Love Stories,” which will be aired on and around Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, on Public Radio International (PRI) affiliate stations around the country. The program is hosted by former U.S. Seantor Max Cleland, and features 19 U.S. war veterans whose oral histories are part of the American Folklife Center's Veterans History Project.

VHP Encourages African American Veterans to Share Stories of Service
1/28/2005 -- During Black History Month and throughout the year, the Library of Congress and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) urge all African American veterans to share their wartime memories with the Veterans History Project.

VHP Honors Veterans On Week of Veterans Day 2004
11/5/2004 -- A series of special programs to honor veterans and renew the nationwide call for all Americans to record veterans’ wartime stories is planned to accompany the release of the Veterans History Project's new book, Voices of War.

American Place Theatre Production Features Story of VHP Veteran
11/2/2004 -- Produced by New York’s American Place Theatre (APT) and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, “Voices of War: A Vietnam Nurse’s Journey,” will premiere at the Library in honor of Veterans Day at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 101 Independence Ave S.E., Washington, D.C. The program is free, but reservations are requested by calling (202) 707-1071. The production features the story of Rhona Marie Knox Prescott, a participant in the Veterans History Project.

Voices of War Book Features Stories From Veterans History Project
11/1/2004 -- “Voices of War: Stories of Service From the Home Front and the Front Lines” will be published by National Geographic Books in association with the Library of Congress on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

VHP at the National Book Festival
10-9-2004 -- See the Veteran's History Project staff and visitors to the Library of Congress tent at the Book Festival.

Oral History Organization Holds Workshop at Library of Congress 10/22/2004
9/9/2004 -- Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region (OHMAR) will hold an oral history workshop at the Library of Congress on Friday, October 22. The event is open to the public; pre-registration and a fee are required. Information is available at http://www.ohmar.org/workshopcurrent.html.

VHP Becomes New Home of 95th Bomb Group’s Oral History Collection
9/9/2004 -- The Veterans History Project is very pleased to be the recipient of the 95th Bomb Group’s oral history collection. The donation will be made in connection with the Group’s 2004 reunion in the Washington, D.C. area. Presiding will be Mr. William “Dub” Vandegriff, President, 95th Bomb Group Association and Mr. Gerald Grove, President, 95th Bomb Group Foundation.

VHP to Participate in Fan Appreciation Day with the Potomac Cannons
8/18/2004 -- At 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, the Potomac Cannons -- the Carolina League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds -- will host their annual Fan Appreciation Day. As part of the Potomac Cannons’ effort to honor service men and women, the Cannons are partnering to promote the Veterans History Project.

400 Volunteers to Collect Veterans' Stories During WWII Reunion
5/23/2004 -- In an unprecedented effort, the Library of Congress will collect on-the-spot interviews from World War II veterans and civilians who served in support of them during the National World War II Reunion, May 27-30, 2004. In teams of two, Library of Congress staff will roam the National Mall to record the wartime experiences of World War II veterans and home front workers.

New Edition of Experiencing War Web Site Features D-Day Veterans
5/20/2004 -- A new installment of 21 digitized collections of materials submitted by veterans and civilians who were involved with D-Day are now avaialble online at http://www.loc.gov/vets/. This edition of the web site brings the total number of individual wartime stories online to 348. These personal narratives focus on three topics: experiences during the June 6, 1944, D-Day landing of American and British troops in Normandy, France, called “On the Beach”; efforts in support of the battle, “Beyond the Beach”; and struggles in the days that followed, “D-Day Plus 1, D-Day Plus 2….”

Veterans' Stories Featured in Lest We Forget Radio Special from PRI
5/19/2004 -- "Lest We Forget" is the second program in the acclaimed Experiencing War radio series. Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland is host. The program features stories from World War II veterans, drawn from the oral histories gathered by the American Folklife Center as part of its Veterans History Project and will be aired on and around May 31 on some 90 Public Radio International (PRI) affiliate stations around the country.

Veterans History Project Collects Veterans' Wartime Stories at National WWII Reunion
4/29/2004 -- During the Reunion, the Veterans History Project will gather veterans' stories on the National Mall. Written memoirs, oral histories, and other documents will be accepted in addition to on-the-spot interviews, conducted by a corps of roving volunteer interviewers.

Veterans History Project Participates in National WWII Reunion
The Veterans History Project (VHP) will participate in the National World War II Reunion to be held on the National Mall from May 27-May 30, 2004. Information about the activities and plans within the VHP Pavilion is available online.

National Foundation for Women Legistlators joins VHP
2/23/2004 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is joining forces with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to record interviews with veterans for presentation to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

2004 Partner Meeting Information

Online Stories Illustrate Lessons of War
2/16/2004 -- On February 16 the Veterans History Project releases the latest stories added to its online exhibit, Experiencing War. The 18 fully digitized collections added for this release of the site focus on three themes: "mission," "hurry up and wait," and "life altering experiences."

More Veterans' Stories Featured on Experiencing War Web Site
11/11/03 -- On Veterans Day the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress will release 23 more veterans' stories featuring their fully digitized interviews, memoirs, letters, photographs, artwork, and more. The stories illustrate the themes of Buddies, Family Ties, and Sweethearts.

Veterans History Project Announces New Initiatives on 50th Anniversary of Veterans Day
11/11/03 -- The Veterans History Project is featuring three new initiatives for Veterans Day of 2003: a public radio special featuring veterans' stories, a new online exhibit featuring fully digitized collections, and new Field and Memoir Kits for potential participants.

Veterans' Stories Featured in Coming Home Radio Special from PRI
10/16/03 -- Veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War speak about surviving the horrors of war and subsequent adjustments than came about on returning home after their service. The 60-minute Public Radio International program is narrated by former U.S. Senator Max Cleland and was made possible by the generosity of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust. The program will air on PRI-affiliate radio stations beginning in early November; a list of stations/cities carrying the program is available with the full press release. A transcription of the program is also available.

Folklife Center News Highlights Veterans History Project Collections
Winter 2003 -- This article from the Winter 2003 issue of Folklife Center News (Vol. XXV, No. 1) illustrates the variety of materials and experiences documented in the Veterans History Project collections through the examples of several project participants.

Veterans' Stories Go Online on Library of Congress Web Site
5/20/03 -- This Memorial Day, May 26, 21 fully digitized collections of materials submitted by veterans and civilians will be available for the first time on the Library of Congress Web site at http://www.loc.gov/vets/. The digitized materials are part of a larger effort by the Library to make its collections accessible online so that more people can take advantage of the rich materials at the Library. This initial presentation of personal narratives will be followed by many more culled from the 7,000 submissions the Veterans History Project has received to date. The poignant stories cover the themes of "courage, patriotism, and community."

Veterans History Project Releases National Registry of Service
11/11/02 -- On Veterans Day, November 11, 2002, the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project at the American Folklife Center launched its National Registry of Service. This online resource is a new component of the Project's recently redesigned Web site, http://www.loc.gov/vets/. The National Registry of Service, http://www.loc.gov/vets/vets-registry.html, honors all those military veterans and civilians whose oral history interviews or other personal wartime accounts have been donated to the Library of Congress, by providing each person's name, date and place of birth, branch of service, war(s), unit and location of service, interviewer or donor of material, and the donor's institutional affiliation, if any. To date, more than 2,400 names appear on the Registry.

Veterans' Stories Celebrated at D-Day Anniversary Aboard U.S.S. Intrepid
06/06/02 -- Hundreds of New York area veterans joined in a national call to action aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City to celebrate the Library of
Congress's Veterans History Project. The Library of Congress, with the support of AARP, hosted this D-Day celebration to encourage all Americans to get involved in this historic undertaking.

Veterans History Project Seeks Histories of Women Veterans
03/04/02 -- The Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center, is issuing a special call to women veterans, defense workers, wartime volunteers, entertainers, and home front supporters to record their personal stories and experiences for long-term preservation in the Library of Congress and other trusted repositories.

Veterans History Project Seeks African-American Veteran Histories
02/08/02 -- Especially during African-American History Month, individuals, family members, veterans, civic groups and organizations are invited to interview African-American veterans by contacting the Veterans History Project, where staff will provide guidance to ensure that an audio or video interview be made and preserved at the Library of Congress as part of the permanent record of our nation's history.

Veterans History Project Seeks World War I Veterans' Histories
11/16/01 -- The Library of Congress and its American Folklife Center are urgently seeking the assistance of Americans throughout the nation to identify World War I veterans in their communities who are willing to be interviewed about their wartime memories and experiences.

Inaugural Meeting of the Five-Star Council (Cybercast)
11/08/01 -- On November 8, 2001, Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington and Veterans History Project director Ellen McCulloch-Lovell convened the first meeting of the Five-Star Council, a twenty-six member advisory board to the Veterans History Project. Following this meeting, members of the Council addressed the press and public in the Members Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. Also present was Tess Canja, president of AARP, who announced that her organization has pledged $3 million to support the Veterans History Project over the next three years.

Librarian of Congress Inaugurates Council to Lead Veterans History Project
10/30/01 -- Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will announce 100 partners participating in the Veterans History Project and the founding sponsorship by AARP, the nation's leading organization for people 50 and over, at the first meeting of the Five-Star Council on Thursday, November 8 at 10:30 a.m. in the Members Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E.

Ellen McCulloch-Lovell Appointed to Head Veterans' History Project
05/25/01 -- Ellen McCulloch-Lovell has been appointed director of the Veterans' History Project, a project of the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress to collect and preserve oral histories and documentary materials from veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars.

Congress Establishes Veterans' Oral History Project in American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress
11/09/00 -- On Veterans' Day, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will launch a program to collect and preserve the personal experience stories and oral histories of America's war veterans and make selections available to the public over the Internet.