History of Medicine
Guide to Oral Histories in Medicine and the Health Sciences
Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project
American Folklife Center
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington DC 20540-4615
(202) 707-4916
Toll-Free (888) 371-5848
(202) 252-2046
Sarah Rouse, Senior Program Officer
Reference--onsite and online
Volunteer interviewers conducted oral histories (plus other documentation) of individuals who fought for the US in wartime (20th-century wars, plus 21st-century Afghanistan and Iraq wars) and civilians who supported the war effort. Over 40,000 stories plus 200 more each week. Online database, online exhibits, two books, radio programs.
40,000 individuals, ca. 20,000 tapes, 250,000 photos, 100 letter collections, diaries and memoirs. About 200 more resources are being added a week. 3000 digitized histories are avaliable online with about 1000 more added per year
40,000 individuals stories--veterans of all branches of US service incl. Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. WWI, WW2, Korean and Vietnam wars, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. Men and women, all ranks. Civilians who worked in support of war, including all medical personal in services.
Audio and video
The interviewees must give permission for use beyond study and "fair use"--they retain copyright.
About 10% have transcripts. About 300 are on the web.
