The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

How did the Veterans History Project start?

The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000.

The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.

The Project collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following wars:

• World War, 1914-1918
• World War, 1939-1945
• Cold War
• Korean War, 1950-1953
• Vietnam War, 1961-1975
• Grenada--History--American Invasion, 1983
• Panama--History--American Invasion, 1989
• Operation Restore Hope, 1992-1993
• Persian Gulf War, 1991
• United Nations Operation in Somalia
• Haiti--History--American intervention, 1994-1995
• Operation Allied Force, 1999
• Peacekeeping forces--Bosnia and Hercegovina
• Operation Joint Guardian, 1999-
• War on Terrorism, 2001-2009
• Afghan War, 2001-
• Iraq War, 2003-2011

How can I participate?

There are two ways to participate in the Veterans History Project.  

The first is to sit down with one of our volunteers and have a conversation about your military service.  

This will be a videotaped interview and must be a minimum of 30 minutes.  

The other way is to submit a collection of original photographs or documents that tell your story.  

We are able to use photographs or documents from a deceased veteran so that their perspectives of their military service is not lost.