The presentation examines 19 digitized collections found in the VHP archive, all of which include original creative works produced during wartime. The works run the gamut from cartoons and photographs to watercolor sketches and illustrated envelopes produced by veterans from a wide variety of branches, service locations and military roles.One of the featured collections is that of Joseph Farris, a World War II combat veteran whose collection includes nearly 400 letters that he wrote home to his family, along with sketches of combat zones, the European countryside and architecture. After the war, Farris became a professional artist, illustrating cartoons for "The New Yorker." His 2011 illustrated memoir, "A Soldier’s Sketchbook: From the Frontlines of WWII," which chronicles his wartime experiences in France and Germany, includes the original sketches in the Library’s collections.
While serving on Iwo Jima, World War II Marine James Allen Scott drew portraits of his comrades to be sent home to their families. He also created watercolor paintings of the Pacific landscape. His collection includes more than 40 creative works.
Normand Carleton was a newlywed serving with the tank battalion in the European Theater during World War II. During the war, he not only wrote several letters to his wife, Lora, but he also illustrated the envelopes. His rich collection includes a recorded interview, a transcript of the interview, more than 100 photographs, 30 illustrated envelopes, 13 pieces of correspondence, a diary and much more.
Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 to collect, preserve and make accessible the first-hand remembrances of America’s war veterans from WWI through the current conflicts, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/vets/ or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848. Subscribe to the VHP RSS to receive periodic updates of VHP news. Follow VHP on its newly launched Facebook page, www.facebook.com/vetshistoryproject.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
Source: Library of Congress
