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. Nor does the vet need to be an officer, or career 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 in four and a half years of service.

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.

Future Heirloom: My Hubby's Military Memorabilia

The framer did an incredible job with this custom, archival shadow box displaying my wonderful husband's wonderful US Army memorabilia. It was a worthwhile investment in preserving these items for the future, including an archival envelope on the back. His discharge papers and his many stories about peacetime Army life will be put into that envelope for posterity.

In the center is a b/w photo of hubby as he looked on his way to lunch in camp one day. The framer took my high-resolution scan of the original photo and had it printed on cotton to preserve the smallest details and prevent yellowing over the years.

The chronology of his military service as a personnel clerk begins to the left of the photo, with a stint in the First Cavalry (notice the horse on the patch) and below that patch, the combat engineer unit badge, combat engineer brass, and his US Army brass. 

Going clockwise, above the photo is my husband's 32d Infantry badge, 7th Division patch, and infantry brass. This last item was purchased from eBay because the original was cruddy-looking.

To the right of the photo is his US Army Japan patch, 8th Army patch, Sgt's stripes, and good conduct medal.

Below the photo, hubby's dog tag showing name, serial number, blood type, and religion (obscured for privacy here).

We put a brass name plaque on the bottom edge of the frame (blocked for privacy here) to permanently identify who this is. Descendants are actually excited about this future heirloom! And it is neat and attractive, putting these important items on display rather than leaving them in a box or drawer.

Future Heirloom: My Hubby's Military Memorabilia Shadow Box

Last year, I had a specialty frame shop create a custom archival shadow box to hold my Dad's military memorabilia from World War II. I tried an off-the-shelf shadow box but it wasn't nearly as beautiful and it wasn't nearly as sturdy as the custom version, which is entirely archival, even including an archival envelope attached to the back. Admittedly, custom is considerably more expensive, but I decided that the items were worthy of the expense.

This year, my husband and I returned to this wonderful frame shop to order a custom shadow box for his own US Army memorabilia. The framing experts listened carefully and respectfully as my hubby described the significance of each item and then together, we grouped items and adjusted the layout to tell the story of hubby's time in the military. 

At top, the "final" arrangement of his shoulder patches, buttons, badges, dog tag, and other items. In the center is a 5x7 black and white photo taken when Sgt. Wood was overseas in the US Army decades ago. 

The wooden frame will be black and the background behind the items will be ecru linen. The glass will be museum-quality, and each item will be attached to the linen backing with adhesive or sewing that is safe and removable. A brass plaque attached to the front of the frame will show my husband's full name.

We will put into the archival envelope an explanation of what each item means, plus a timeline of my hubby's military service, and his discharge papers and a few other photos from his time in the Army. This professional shadow box will be a focal point for saving the artifacts and facts of my husband's military service, to be passed down to future generations.

Full disclosure: One of my hubby's items was too damaged to include, so we found an identical item on eBay and bought it specifically for this shadow box. Why not?