"It is in the nation's best interest to collect and catalog oral histories of American war veterans so that…Americans will always remember those who served in war and may learn first-hand of the heroics, tediousness, horrors, and triumphs of war."
—Veterans' Oral History Project Act
Necessity
Of the 19 million war veterans living in the United States, 1500 are lost every day. In the year 2000, action was taken to preserve the unique perspective these men and women have on war, peace, and the very nature of this country.
The Veteran's History Project Act
Also known as Public Law 106-380, this act calls upon the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to collect and preserve audio- and video-taped oral histories, along with documentary materials such as letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and home movies, of America's war veterans and those who served in support of them.
Participants
The Veterans' History Project covers World Wars I and II, as well as all other military conflicts of the 20th Century. It includes all participants in those wars--men and women, civilian and military. It documents the contributions of civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers as well as the experiences of military personnel from all ranks and all branches of service.
About the Local Project
Partnerships
Started with a grant from the Riverside Public Library Foundation, the Riverside Veterans' History Project is an official partner of the National project and focuses on our area's veterans and their experiences. Other partnerships with local museums, veterans organizations, and schools will be established as well.
Interviews
The materials gathered are housed in the Local History Resource Center of the Riverside Public Library. The names of those interviewed appear on the Library of Congress' online National Registry of Service. Copies of the materials are available for study at the Riverside Local History Center. A list of interviewees organized by military branch, rank, war, etc. is also available.