The LOC Veterans History Project, Part 5: Submitting a Vet's Memories

Last post in this series! Earlier posts explained each step of planning, completing, and documenting my husband's interview plus required paperwork for participation in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. 

My sister says this sounds like a lot of work and in a way, she's correct. But how often do we have the opportunity to have a relative memorialized in the US Library of Congress? Just take one step at a time and pay attention to the details, which genealogy folks are very good at doing. 

In this post, I'll describe the process of submitting the veteran's memories (interview, documentation, the works) to the LOC. 

Interview on USB or...

The lovely volunteers who recorded my video interview with my vet (my husband) gave me the recording in MP4 format on a USB drive I had provided. I watched it from beginning to end, to be sure the interview was complete and looked good. I watched it a few more times to create the video log described in the previous post. 

Then I made several copies, on my computer and on other USB drives. (I don't use CD or DVD at this point, although these are allowed by the LOC guidelines for submissions.)

The Library of Congress will accept a USB drive, but it does not want any label or writing on the drive. So I put my USB into a small envelope, sealed it, and marked the outside with the vet's name, etc. 

Paperwork too

After making a copy of the small stack of LOC paperwork required to go with the interview (plus having pdfs on my computer), I checked the cover letter checklist one more time. Yup, everything was there.

I clipped the pages together and put them into a small box. On top of the papers I put the USB in its envelope. Then I added a bit of clean filler to keep the box's contents from shifting or rattling. I addressed the box as directed by the LOC and sealed it very securely to keep the contents safe. (I love the sound of packing tape being ripped from the dispenser as I wrap boxes and envelopes.)

Sorry, no postal carriers involved

The LOC warns against using the US Post Office for submitting materials. Why? Because of special screening for materials mailed to the LOC (and other US government entities in Washington, D.C.), as noted on the image above.

Instead, any submission for the Veterans History Project must be made by UPS or FedEx or, if you live nearby, delivered in person.

I sent my vet's package via the cheapest ground shipping of UPS, and it was delivered within two days. It cost more to ship than the US Post Office but rules are rules. My hubby's military veteran memories are worth the small extra expense to be included in the venerable Library of Congress. 

In less than three weeks, I received a postcard acknowledging the submission. The LOC also told me the wait time is 8 to 10 months to hear whether the submission meets requirements and is processed into the collection. I do hope my hubby's interview will be processed by late spring of 2027!

The LOC Veterans History Project, Part 3: Recording the Interview

This post looks at plans to record an interview for the Library of Congress's Veterans Oral History Project.

You can do it yourself! The LOC shows how, with recommendations for both iPhone and Android devices. Download their pdf handout here with suggestions, plus the specifications for which types of files are accepted.

Below, part of the LOC page showing that interviews can be submitted on DVD, CD, digital video media, audio cassettes, or USB flash drives. (I submitted on a flash drive. More on this in a later post.)

Library of Congress media specifications for Vet Oral History

Audio or video?

Originally, my husband and I planned to do an audio interview using a digital recorder from a decade in the past. Sadly, that recorder no longer works. Our even older micro-cassette recorders no longer worked, either. We didn't want to use our iPhones or iPad because we were unsure of how good the quality would be, how long the interview would go, and how much storage would be needed. If we were more tech-savvy, we would have done this ourselves. But we weren't confident.

Then we thought about our local senior community center, which has a modest video studio. We visited to see the layout. There is room for two to sit on comfortable chairs, plus space for a video operator and a sound operator. Just as important, the studio recently acquired lavalier microphones to clip on our collars, which would mean better, clearer sound than sharing a single mic on a stand or putting one iPad between the interviewer and interviewee to record.

The awesome studio volunteers offered to record the vet interview and, depending on how it turned out, let us choose to submit video or audio. We explained that our practice sessions ran about one hour, and that we would bring a few small props to hold up for the camera. 

Writing the intro

According to the Library of Congress guidelines, the interviewer must state the following info at the outset:

• Interviewer's name and organization affiliation, if any (such as a Scout who is doing this interview as a special project). No organization affiliation in the case of interviewing my hubby.
• The veteran's full name.
• The date and location of the interview.
• The names of any others present, such as recording equipment operators.
• Say that the interview is being conducted for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
• NO private info (no military serial numbers, no home addresses or phone numbers, etc).

I wrote this intro separately from the questions, and checked with the recording operators about how to pronounce their names. Also, the operators (and anyone else present at the interview) needed to sign release forms, because their names would be mentioned in the interview intro.

Recording in progress!

On the day of the interview, my hubby and I brought our list of questions, written intro, drinking water, props, and release forms when we went to the studio. We also brought a large capacity USB flash drive. We dressed neatly, avoiding loud prints or plaids that might distract, and I made sure our faces didn't look sweaty before we began. If your vet has a uniform or hat or shirt, I think that would be acceptable to wear for an interview.

I sat in the easy chair on the left while my hubby sat in an easy chair on the right. Between us was a table with props (shoulder patches, etc). We also put a prop or two on the arms of our chairs, handy for when we needed them. The wonderful operators clipped on lavalier mics, tested sound levels a few times, and did a quick test video of the intro to be sure we were in focus and the lighting was good.

Then...they put a sign on the outside door, "recording in progress," and rolled the camera. Actually, they had an older, compact pro TV camera mounted on a tripod plus a newer iPad on a tripod for redundancy as they recorded. I love suspenders and belt people who go the extra mile to be sure nothing gets lost.

After they gave the signal to begin, I read the intro, and eased into questions about hubby's parents, birthplace, and siblings; his education prior to entering the military; and his decision to volunteer for the draft after high school graduation. He spoke of being inducted into the US Army, going through Basic Training, then Second Eight, then answered the questions about how the rest of his military service unfolded. Sometimes we smiled at a story, letting our natural reactions show.

As my hubby talked, he occasionally reached down for a prop. The camera operator did a closeup on each prop as my husband spoke about it. Occasionally during a story, the operator also did a closeup of my hubby's face. We were so fortunate to be working with people who know what they're doing and wanted to get this oral history recorded properly for the sake of future generations.

In the moment

During the interview, hubby and I were in the moment, not nervous, not conscious of being in a studio, just concentrating on our conversation. We didn't have to worry about whether the recorder was working or the light was wrong or the mic was off. The operators said nothing, never moved, carefully focused on the equipment working properly and letting us get on with the content in our own way.

As he spoke of his military experiences, my hubby's face and voice grew quite animated here and there, recalling something humorous or surprising. He told a story that was brand new to me--in our many years of marriage, I had never heard that anecdote! I now refer to that as the "box of rocks" story. Spontaneous and fun. 

Although we had anticipated the intro and planned for the interview itself, we hadn't planned what is, these days, called an "outro." At the end, I just turned to my husband and thanked him for sharing details of his life as it was before I ever knew him. He smilingly thanked me for asking about his service, and then we reached out and held hands for a moment before the cameras stopped rolling. Spur of the moment, from our hearts.

Remember: 30 minutes minimum, no edits

The LOC doesn't allow edits. We knew from the start that we wouldn't be able to cut anything from the interview, so our practice sessions were extremely helpful in planning what to cover and what to omit, and how to frame a question and an answer. 

Also, having practiced, we were sure the interview would last at least 30 min, the minimum allowed for inclusion in the LOC collection. 

The studio volunteers told us they would review the recording to be sure everything came out fine. Based on their on-the-spot assessment, they told us to go ahead with the video, not just audio. They would convert to one of the content types (as shown in the handout) and put it on the USB I had brought to them.

Importantly, I would also be able to duplicate the video to put on USB drives for our family, who would be able to view this interview at their convenience.

Next: paperwork before submission.

The LOC Veterans History Project, Part 2: Plan and Practice the Interview

If you want to have a veteran's story accepted into the US Library of Congress's Veterans History Project, this series will walk you through the steps. It's a way to keep a special part of family history safe by having it included in the collection of a major repository, which shares the story with the world. My hubby, a peacetime veteran of the US Army, sat for an interview with me a few weeks ago, and that interview has now arrived at the offices of the LOC. Your vet can be from any branch of the military, have served at any time, to be included in this project.

In my earlier post, I suggested beginning the process by downloading and reviewing the LOC field kit. Now, in preparation for an oral history interview, I recommend watching a few of the interviews already posted on the LOC site. 

Audio or Video?

For example, take a look at the Jacob Lux interview here. You'll be able to view the recorded interview, look at the transcript, and also see what additional info was collected at the time of the interview (such as the veteran's service history, service branch, location of service, and more).

Not all the interviews have good, clean audio and video. In this one, the interviewee can be seen clearly and his answers are loud enough and clear enough. Just check a few to get a sense of what might work for your vet. 

Note that some interviews are audio-only, which is definitely allowed by the LOC. Think about your veteran and how comfortable that veteran would be with being recorded on camera or via audio recorder. Also think about what your veteran might want to wear and any props that would improve the interview (for the interviewee and the viewer). Take notes to help you plan!

Plan Questions

Also take a look at the listing of sample interview questions and share the list with the veteran to be interviewed. This is a downloadable pdf of the sample questions.

Which questions would the veteran like to answer--and which would not make sense or are not of interest to the veteran? These are sample questions, not mandatory. In fact, the oral history interview will be much better with questions tailored to the vet and their experience, whether you choose audio-only or video recording.

My husband read through the questions, checked off those he wanted to answer, and I typed up an interviewer list with those questions, allowing space between questions for notes as we continued our pre-interview planning. Because I already had his military background on a separate piece of paper, I was able to add questions that allowed him to expand on his personal experience in the military.

Above, part of my retyped list of questions. Note the parenthesis in question #10, "you can type," which was a reminder to ask him how his ability to type affected hubby's military service. (If you interview a vet you don't know well, have a good conversation first with the vet to get some highlights you can follow up on during the interview.)

Also note the all-caps NAME PLATE in question #11, a reminder to hold his special office name plate up to the camera while he explained the significance of each symbol. Then a few more phrases ("primitive conditions, laundry story") that I could weave into a question if my husband didn't lead into one of these stories.

Oral history is about the interviewee

If you're going to be asking the questions, think about how to keep the focus on the interviewee. There are lots of good sites with advice about oral history, such as this one from the Smithsonian. I planned my hubby's LOC interview to revolve around his military experiences within the context of his family background, education, friendships, and work career (before and after the service).

In fact, I created a brief timeline of my husband's service, showing dates and corresponding activities (entering service, being sent abroad, being sent back to the US, etc.). This would be handy in case I needed to clarify a date or unit or place during the interview.

As with all oral history, it's a good idea to ask questions that are open-ended, relevant, and to the point. Allow sufficient time for the veteran to formulate a response to each question, especially if their military service was decades in the past. If the vet wants to "tell a story," that will make the interview even more lively and interesting. Stories are what make family history especially memorable!

Practice once or twice

Whether you propose to do an audio-only or video interview, you and the vet will want to practice the questions and responses. Not really a rehearsal, this is an opportunity to see which questions make sense, see whether the questions should be asked in a different order, and time the entire thing. It also lets the vet retrieve memories and smooth out answers before being recorded. Think of this as a conversation with the vet, not public speaking. Keep the pace conversational, not rushed, and allow time for the vet to respond.

Be aware that the Library of Congress wants an interview to be at least 30 minutes. My hubby and I practiced twice, tweaking the questions and the order while he dug deep into his memories for fresh answers. He never told a story the same way twice, which is good. We had props handy for him to refer to (such as shoulder patches from different units). I wrote down where to remind him in case he left out pertinent details or a good story in the actual interview.

Next: Recording the interview. Plan your wardrobe, be sure your glasses don't reflect off the camera, powder down your shine so you and your vet look good!

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.

Video to Audio to Transcript to Translation via AI

The well-known speaker Thomas MacEntee recently gave a presentation to my local genealogy club about how to use AI. During the Q&A period, I asked him whether AI could translate and transcribe foreign language audio for free. His answer was a definite yes. So this week I began to experiment.

I have a 1998 video interview of my mother's first cousin, Viola, speaking emotionally about her experiences as a Holocaust survivor and her early years with her family. The interview was conducted in Russian in Israel through the USC Shoah Foundation. A decade ago, a friend who knows Russian kindly translated the gist of this video interview. Now I wanted to see what AI could do for me, for free, in better understanding family history comments that Viola made early in the interview. 

Process: video audio to digital audio to transcript

First, I popped the DVD into my player and as soon as the interview began, I started recording a voice memo on my iPhone. My first audio recording was 11 minutes long. This was important because Thomas said that without a paid AI account, it's better to keep projects shorter and simpler to get things done.

Next, I had to change the m4a recording to mp3 format, which I did with a free online converter (I used CloudConvert but there are other sites out there). 

I tried uploading the mp3 to ChatGPT (free version) and asked for a transcription and translation from the Russian. But the AI responded: "It looks like I can’t run Whisper (speech-to-text) directly in this environment, so I can’t transcribe the MP3 automatically here."

So I uploaded the mp3 recording in Russian to TurboScribe (one of many sites that do this) and I asked for a free transcription. I chose the best quality/accuracy and within minutes, I downloaded the written output as a pdf.

Formatted translation from the Russian

Finally, I took the pdf of the Russian transcription and uploaded it to ChaptGPT, explaining a bit about this being an interview. I asked for this transcript to be translated into English and formatted as interviewer and interviewee. 

The AI had no difficulty distinguishing between the words of the person asking the questions and the person answering. It did ask whether I wanted a summary or a complete transcription (I wanted everything). Also it asked whether I wanted some original terminology left as is, with translation in brackets (yes).

ChatGPT finished that initial translation and asked for me to upload more so it could create a single, seamless document. So I went back and recorded 6 more minutes, going through the audio to digital audio to mp3 conversion rigamarole, next getting the free transcription, and then uploading the pdf from this second segment to ChatGPT.

This time, I named Viola as the interviewee and the AI showed her name in front of all of her responses. In the blink of two eyes, the answer showed me both segments compiled into one seamless interview about Viola's mother, father, and grandparents and their life before World War II. The top of page one is shown here.

Output: Formatted to my specs

Chapt GPT preserved some of the original terminology (see image at top, look for the word for tavern) and some of the less distinct words were picked up and translated, too. 

No cut and paste for me. I just asked for a .docx Word document, which was quickly created for easy and free download. The output is in complete sentences, with proper punctuation, a smooth read. I added a note that ChatGPT had created the document and the date. Done!

Use with caution

ChatGPT warns that it can make mistakes (see image here). I also asked it to please delete the file at the end, after I had finished my download.

Given how many steps were needed to go from video interview to final document, there are multiple opportunities for mistakes/omissions/typos to creep in. Very likely there are some nuances that got lost along the way but in the end, I believe this was a successful experiment. Thank you to Thomas MacEntee for the encouragement!

If I Could Do It Over: Oral History

A few years before my late father-in-law Edgar J. Wood passed away in 1986, my husband sat down with him on two occasions, to ask questions about the past. He had a microphone set up on the coffee table and a cassette ready to tape his father's oral history. 

This was a first-ever attempt to ask the last of the older generation about family history and his personal history. Great idea, and I'm grateful my husband did this.

Because hubby has a journalism background, he was prepared with lots and lots of questions for Ed, and held a pad and pen to take notes. (Me, looking back now with hindsight: Pages of questions, taking notes--maybe too direct, maybe a little overwhelming for the interviewee.)

Of course, my husband did many things right: He tested his recording device just before the interviewee began. He smiled and looked interested even when the story seemed old. He asked for the time to interview and made sure the place was quiet and free from interruptions. He got his father's agreement to do the interviews. And afterward, he transcribed the recordings to share with family.

Set the stage for a solid oral history

If we could go back in time and redo this opportunity to capture oral history from Ed, I would:

1. Ask open-ended questions that encourage freewheeling answers. "How did you and Mom meet?" encourages the interviewee to tell a story. This should be a conversation, NOT an interrogation. Interviewers can guide the conversation but not force it or make the interviewee feel cornered. The beginning of an interview sets the tone. My late father-in-law was nervous and not comfortable for the first half an hour, I could hear from the recording, but then he got into story-telling mode and recounted some fascinating tales!
2. Allow time for thinking and remembering. It takes time to retrieve memories from decades in the past. When there are pauses in the conversation, take a deep breath and be patient. Don't push the interviewee, don't rush into the next question. 
3. Allow for natural follow-up. Reporters might have to get through a list of questions, but not family historians. Listening to answers, reflecting on what the interviewee says, will naturally lead to gentle follow-up comments and questions. Being overeager is a trap. After Ed got more comfortable, he was able to recall more vividly some high and low points of his life, and he did share some of his stronger feelings.
4. Try not to interrupt. There are stories that folks just love to tell, over and over. But those stories may lead down a fresh path if we listen with interest and respect...and wait for the right opportunity to pose a natural follow-up comment or question. While my husband was listening to a well-worn story, suddenly his father remembered a key new detail! Some of these memories may be positive, some painful, so I think it's best to let the interview unfold without rigid structure, but with an occasional subtle, supportive comment and open, accepting body language.
5. Interview for fairly short periods, with flexibility. Ed sat for two interviews, each an hour long. Now I think that was too long per interview. I would aim for half an hour and see how things go and continue if the interviewee would like to keep going (depending on age and health, etc). I would also encourage the interviewee to jot down stories he or she would enjoy telling in an interview. This should be a positive experience, not a chore. 

Questions and issues

Back in the day, nobody could envision how much genealogy research would or could eventually reveal about the past. So my late father-in-law had no way to know that eventually we would uncover some irregularities in his stories. Not just timing mismatches, but deliberate obfuscations. Looking back, we now know Ed left out certain details and deflected some questions to avoid disclosing difficult facts or feelings.

Even if we had known about these issues at the time of the interview, I believe it would have been a bad idea to challenge the interviewee's version, what that person wanted to remember/convey. 

If I could go back in time and help my husband redo those oral history interviews, I would recommend that he listen with his heart to what the interviewee was saying and the reason for telling the story that way. Maybe I would suggest rephrasing a particularly direct or sensitive question or give a gentle followup question, nothing confrontational. I wouldn't want the interviewee to get upset or to stop talking.

As the family historian who is lucky enough to have oral history content like Ed's interviews, I can always provide context if and when I retell parts of the story for the benefit of future generations. 

If something was too sensitive to disclose at this time (and that was NOT the case with Ed), I would simply leave a note in my files and let the next generation decide what and when to disclose.

What do you think? 

Contribute "Oral History" With or Without Artifacts

Earlier this year, my husband's Wood family sought to donate a 1950s book about the Hermit Club, an iconic club in Cleveland, Ohio, to an institution in that city or state. We had approached three institutions, but only Ohio History Connection wanted this book--the others already had copies in their collections. 

Curate and donate unneeded family history items

Donating books like this slims down our genealogy collection to focus specifically on materials directly related to our family tree. Just as important, these non-family items will now be available to researchers and other folks for today and tomorrow.

Cleveland State University (CSU) didn't want the book but was particularly interested in any oral history about the Wood family's involvement with the Hermit Club. CSU is actively recording and transcribing oral histories about the Cleveland area. I couldn't offer any actual recording but I could offer excerpts from a longer oral history. They said yes, please submit.

Transcribed and annotated oral history 

Back in 1984, my husband had interviewed his father, Edgar James Wood (1903-1986) about his life, including his personal and professional association with the Hermit Club. The taped interview was long and mostly about immediate family, but there were key sections where Ed talked of the Hermit Club in detail.

With my husband, I wrote an annotated oral history based on the interview, explaining background so non-family members would be able to follow along. We inserted quotes from the transcribed oral history in indented paragraphs to show that they were drawn directly from my father-in-law's words. 

So, for example, on the first page we explained how Ed became interested in the piano, admired the Hermit Club, and ultimately was invited to join--unlike other musicians, who had to apply and cross their fingers that they would be chosen. Then we let direct quotes from the taped oral history tell that story in his own words.

Later on the same page, we introduced Ed's story of taking his future wife, Marian, on a first date to a musical evening hosted by a Hermit Club friend. Ed's quote reflects how vividly he recalled that pivotal evening, even more than 50 years later.

To go with the annotated oral history, I submitted a photo of Ed and his wife Marian, plus a close-up photo of the personal book inscription from the Hermit Club historian to Ed. Now these digital items, and Ed's story in his own words, are in CSU's collection, keeping Wood family history alive in an institution in his home town.

Who wants your family's oral history?

Many institutions collect oral histories and written memories, so I encourage you to do an online search for the city or state where ancestors lived plus the phrase "oral history." 

Whether you are the interviewee yourself or someone in your family tree tells of people and places from the past, these stories add to the historical and genealogical record. Save them now for the sake of future generations.

Please, share your family's history--now!

Translating Facts and Artifacts into Family History

Last week, one of my younger relatives asked about the World War II service of our ancestors. Little did he know that he would get answers, lots of answers!

For this young man and other descendants, I'm preparing a little photo book with snapshots, documents, and stories of our ancestors who served. The focus is on my immediate family: Dorothy Schwartz (maternal aunt, a WAC), Fred Shaw (maternal uncle, US Army), Harold Burk (Dad, US Army), Sidney Burk (paternal uncle, US Army Air Corps). Plus a paragraph about my Mom doing her part at home (see below). After all, it is Women's History Month, so Mom and her twin should both be included!

Facts into stories

Dad's honorable discharge documentation recorded the facts of what he did overseas, but no details or explanation (see at top). I had other documentation, from Fold3 and other sources, as well as from family files. I wanted to translate the facts into readable snippets about his role in WWII.

Doing an online search for his 3163d Signal Corps unit, I stumbled on an oral history from someone who served at the same time in the same unit! After reading a summary of the background provided by Alan B. Conlin Jr. in 2013, I was able to write a few lively sentences about the unit's vital wartime role, exactly where they were stationed, and when. 

This fleshed out the facts of Dad's wartime service into a brief story of how the Signal Corps installed and managed communications such as radio and teletype, extremely vital for transmitting troop orders and bombing instructions in the European Theater. 

Artifacts into stories

Meanwhile, my wonderful husband was intrigued by the wartime shoulder patch my father had saved all his life. After a bit of online searching, hubby discovered a detailed explanation of the symbolism on the Pritzker Military Museum website. Someone had donated the unit patch and the museum summarized what each element means, as you can see here. 

In the book I'm preparing, the photo of the patch will be accompanied by a rephrased version of what the patch represents. For sure I wouldn't have recognized that the twin thunderbolts represent V for Victory. Now descendants will know that part of the artifact's story, along with a clear photo of Dad's own patch (being passed down to heirs).

On the home front

Not to leave out my Mom, Daisy Schwartz, I included this image of her Air Warden service in 1943. She didn't serve in the armed forces, but she did work as deputy communications director for the New York City units. 

My book will include a brief description of the function of an air warden, so the document is "translated" into a story of my Mom doing something meaningful to support the war effort on the home front.

With younger folks in mind, these bits of research helped me turn bare facts into actual stories to capture my audience's attention and bring family history alive. 

"Translation" is this week's #52Ancestors theme from Amy Johnson Crow.