The LOC Veterans History Project, Part 1: Getting Ready

This summer, I helped to plan my husband's participation in the US Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. He had served in the US Army decades ago, during peace time. We were able to do a video interview that I've just submitted (with a short stack of paperwork) to the Library of Congress. This is a great way to keep an aspect of family history safe in another repository.

Although I won't hear for weeks (or months) whether the video will be accepted for posting on the LOC website, I'm blogging about the process so you can see how to plan for a military veteran (maybe yourself or someone in your family or your community) to have their first-person account of military experience included in the Library of Congress's archives.

The vet does not have to have served during a war to participate. Peacetime service memories are welcome because they reveal different aspects of life in the military. My hubby focused his memories on day-to-day life in the US Army, training, skills acquired, people he met, and lessons he learned.

There's a bit of detailed paperwork to participate. IMHO, this is worthwhile because allows us to tell much of the veteran's story in writing, not just verbally or via video or through letters from back in the day. 

Learn what will be needed

First, review the "field kit" for the LOC Veterans History Project and download it here. This is not just an overview of how to participate, it also has documents you can fill out online or print and fill out by hand, if you choose. Plus the documents explain what can be submitted, and who may submit these materials. I downloaded this entire package of documents to have handy.

Above, a snippet from the guidance for veterans on how to participate in this LOC project. 

Read the FAQs

Next, look at the frequently asked questions page for additional info about this veterans project. I learned from the FAQs, for instance, that the vet (and interviewers) retain copyright for submitted interviews (and other materials). Anything recorded for the Library of Congress can be shared with relatives, historical societies, community groups, and other folks if the vet would like. Note that if you plan an audio or video interview, it cannot be too short. See this image.

Interview and/or more materials 

The Library of Congress would like a veteran to submit an interview (audio or video) of at least 30 minutes in length. It can be longer, but no shorter. No editing, no previous interviews with new intro added. The interview for the LOC should include an intro about who, what, when, and where. (I'll explain more in a later post.)

An interview can be accompanied by 10 original photographs/letters and/or 20 original, unpublished documents/diaries/memoirs pertaining to the vet's military service. Not mandatory to have more than one type of medium.

Note that this is AND/OR for each item. Interview alone, or with photos and/or documents. So one category or two categories or three categories of original media can be submitted if you choose.

My husband and I decided on an interview alone, no other materials to be submitted except the documents to go with the video. But he did have some props handy to show during the interview.

Start by reading and thinking ahead

Before you do anything else, read through the overview and the FAQs so you know what to expect and how to prepare. This project requires careful documentation and preparation; submissions that don't meet the requirements will not be accepted. 

Let me reassure you: one step at a time and you can get this done for the veteran(s) in your life! 

Tune in next time for more.