Top of page

Students Connecting with Veterans: The Harlem Veteran Project

Share this post:

Head and shoulders image of man in red with red and white flag stripes behind him.
Still from video interview with Harold Lawler, one of the veterans interviewed by the Illinois Veterans & Community Classroom Project. Harold Lawler Collection, Veterans History Project (AFC2001/001/86266).

In a satisfying moment of blog synchronicity, while we at the Veterans History Project are celebrating the accomplishments of our volunteer interviewers, another LC blog is focusing on student interviewers–specifically, those at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois.

In a blog post on  Teaching With the Library of Congress, Harlem High School teachers Nick Stange and David Johnson relate how conducting veterans’ interviews has captured their students’ attention and helped them hone a variety of different skills:

Students from Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois, have begun recording and preserving oral histories of local veterans, from the homefront and abroad. Students learn interview techniques, as well as script writing and storyboarding of ideas, both abstract and concrete. These activities foster critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership. Students learn editing software, filming techniques, and the massive logistics of film direction and production. These skills provide students with 21st Century tools for success.

Be sure to check out the the full blog post on Teaching With the Library of Congress and read more about the Harlem Veteran Project!

Add a Comment

This blog is governed by the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You are fully responsible for everything that you post. The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. Nevertheless, the Library of Congress may monitor any user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments. We further reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to remove a user's privilege to post content on the Library site. Read our Comment and Posting Policy.


Required fields are indicated with an * asterisk.