The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center collects and preserves the firsthand interviews and narratives of United States military veterans from World War I through the present. In addition to audio- and video-recorded oral history interviews, VHP accepts memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, diaries, maps and other historical documents from veterans who served in the US armed services from World War I through the present. The Project makes accessible the materials that comprise this important national archive, which contains submissions from every state, and includes the US territories. VHP relies on volunteers, both individuals and organizations, throughout the nation to contribute veterans’ stories to VHP. VHP also collects oral histories with Gold Star Family members, defined as a parent, spouse, sibling, or child of members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war.

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

Never Alone Initiative is a partner with the Library of Congress and conducts and preserves veteran and civilian oral histories. Trained volunteers and history students conduct interviews in assigned locations or travel to veterans' homes. If you would like to be interviewed please contact our office at 318-450-2875 or email vhp@neveraloneinitiative.org to arrange an interview.

Yes! The Veterans History Project collects stories and materials from the homefront as well as from the battlefield. Any wartime veteran or U.S. citizen civilian who was actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) has a story in which we are interested.

All Veterans History Project participants (both interviewees and interviewers) retain the copyright to their materials. As a publicly supported institution, the Library of Congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Permissions need to be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication.

The 2016 Gold Star Families Voice Act (Public Law 114-246) expanded the original scope of the Veterans History Project to also include oral histories by immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, or child) of “members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war.” Due to the sensitive nature of the Gold Star oral histories, the Veterans History Project requires a minimum age of 18 for both the interviewers and the interviewees.

Veterans who served in the U.S. military, in any capacity, from WWI to the present, regardless of branch or rank, and are no longer serving are eligible. VHP accepts the stories of veterans as defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs: “A person who served in the active military service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” Under the Gold Star Families Voice Act, VHP also accepts oral histories by immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, or child) of “members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war” (Public Law 114-246). Due to the sensitive nature of the Gold Star oral histories, the Veterans History Project requires a minimum age of 18 for both the interviewers and the interviewees.

Yes. The Veterans History Project (VHP) accepts collections of original, firsthand materials (such as photographs, memoirs, correspondence, etc.) on behalf of deceased veterans. Please note: we do not accept oral history interviews with family members of deceased veterans, except in the case of those collected under the auspices of the Gold Star Voices Act. We can accept the “proxy” oral history if there are additional original materials that meet our minimum requirements. The Veteran’s Release Form may be signed by the veteran’s power of attorney, estate executor or legal heir. Any materials submitted on behalf of a deceased veteran must be accompanied by all VHP required forms and meet our minimum collecting standards. VHP also accepts the stories of deceased veterans collected under the auspices of the Gold Star Voices Act (Public Law 114-246). Email vohp@loc.gov to request Gold Star guidelines.

Yes, if you are the copyright holder to the material (interviewer or interviewee), you may submit a duplicate copy to another repository such as a local public library or historical society. However, we do not accept duplicate copies (such as photocopies or digital scans) of paper material like photographs or letters.

The Library of Congress requires the following forms in order to clarify how the Library can use the collection and facilitate access for researchers. It also guarantees the veterans’ legal copyright to their materials. The Veterans History Project (VHP) will return collections to the contributor if they do not include the required VHP forms. Please see the VHP Field Kit for additional information. a. Biographical Data Form b. Veteran’s Release Form c. Interviewer’s Release Form (if enclosing an interview) d. Audio & Video Recording Log (if enclosing a recorded interview) e. Photograph Log (if enclosing any photographs) f. Manuscript Data Sheet (if enclosing a manuscript, memoir, letters, diary or other written materials)

No. Providing demographic information is optional; however, when you self-identify, you help our researchers locate collections that may be of specific interest, as well as allow the Veterans History Project to highlight the rich diversity found in our collections.

When you donate a collection, please protect your privacy. DO NOT label DVDs, CDs, tapes, memoirs, photographs or other materials with personal mailing labels, military identification numbers or social security numbers. In addition, private information (e.g., social security numbers, etc.) should be removed from all collection material (e.g., military papers such as the DD-214) prior to submission. Interviewers should not ask for private information from the veteran during the interview, such as their home address, military identification number or social security number. All Veterans History Project (VHP) required forms (e.g., Biographical Data Form, Veteran’s Release Form, etc.) are kept on file and not made available to the public or researchers unless they are in redacted form. VHP advises all participants to avoid sharing any classified information as a part of your collection materials.