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Posted by: Lisa Taylor
The hit Broadway musical-turned-film “The Wiz” is one of my all-time favorites. It is a retelling of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” with an African-American twist. I have vivid childhood memories of seeing R&B recording artist Stephanie Mills play Dorothy live on stage, then being blown away by Michael Jackson’s portrayal of Scarecrow in the …
Posted in: Home, Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
The following is a guest post by VHP Liaison Specialist Andrew Huber, and is the last in a three-part series. Where thou art, that is… Home. For many people, the most treasured part of the holidays is traveling back to their hometowns to see their families and everything else that makes a place feel like …
Posted in: Holidays, Home, Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
The following is a guest post by VHP Liaison Specialist Owen Rogers, and is the second in a three-part series. Trying to make it… Home. A permanent fixture in our lives, “home” has both place and meaning, and many veterans meticulously documented their journey home through photographs, manuscripts and correspondence. Numbering among the “transplant” community …
Posted in: Home, Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Megan Harris
Thanks to VHP researcher Larry Minear for his input on this blog post. Happy 378th birthday to the National Guard! On December 13th, 1636, a colony-wide militia was established in Massachusetts, the precursor to the modern National Guard. Much like their colonial counterparts, the majority of today’s Guard members hold civilian jobs in addition to …
Posted in: Veterans History Project
Posted by: Megan Harris
The following is a guest post by VHP Liaison Specialist Christy Chason, and is the first in a three-part series. There’s No Place Like… Home. That sweet, safe place your heart resides. Where your family connects and memories are made. The place you long to return to when away for too long, lest the pang …
Posted in: Home, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
December 7, 2014 will mark 73 years since the infamous attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Americans far and wide felt the collective trauma of the attack, which led to the United States’ entry into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it, “a date which will live in infamy.” He was …
Posted in: Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
When talking about United States military veterans, there is a group that often gets overlooked–that of American Indian and Alaskan Natives. In fact, growing up, I don’t recall learning too much at all in school about their rich history and culture. Their story would only be a small part of the chapters on Christopher Columbus, …
Posted in: Cultural Heritage, Narratives, Native American History, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Megan Harris
A belated Happy Birthday to the US Marine Corps. On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to create two battalions of Marines to assist with amphibious operations, and to serve on land and at sea. Click here to access digitized narratives from more than 1200 Marine Corps veterans in the Veterans History Project …
Posted in: Veterans History Project
Posted by: Megan Harris
This post was written by Lisa Taylor, VHP Liaison Specialist. A version of this blog post is also running on the Library of Congress blog today. Millions of Americans across the country observe Veterans Day every November 11th. What originated as Armistice Day 95 years ago is a holiday dedicated to veterans of all wars–a …
Posted in: Veterans History Project