The Institute of Historical Survey Foundation (IHSF) has created a division at the Archive which is devoted to the gathering, preservation, recording  and publishing evidence of historical and antiquarian interest of a military nature for the purpose of promoting academic research and promulgating  historical information focusing on the service of our nation's military veterans throughout history. 

Our Goal The goal of the Veterans History Archive is to gather and preserve documents, photographs and other artifacts which provide a glimpse into the personal histories of our local veterans. To date, IHSF has received hundreds of items ranging from the Civil War to World War I, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. These include Civil War diaries, WWI correspondence, photographs of aerial bombing raids in WWII and Base Camps in Vietnam, as well as 8 millimeter movies from Vietnam. Generous veterans have donated diaries and scrapbooks including maps, medals, flags and even several World War II and Vietnam uniforms!

One Veteran’s Gift George Anderson “Andy” Fisher was a tailgunner in a B-24 bomber during the China- Burma- India theatre of operations during World War II.  During his military service he saved virtually every document given him: Photos, orders, menus from restaurants where he ate while on R&R and training documents detailing the accomplishment of tasks required of a B-24 crew member.  He brought his scrapbook in to IHSF and we were privileged to scan several of his documents, including the one above.

Photograph of   B-24 Crew in China-Burma-India theatre of operations during World War II, donated by George A. Fisher.

 

The IHSF facility (see the "About" page) The Archive at the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation is a state-of-the-art repository for photos, documents, books and miscellaneous artifacts. The storage area is climate and humidity controlled in order to provide the best environment for gifts of any kind and of any age  and, as a result, will retain their current state for many years to come. Veterans History Project The Veterans History Project is a subdivision of the Veterans History Archive whose purpose is to conduct interviews with veterans and preserve those stories as a personal enhancement to the published military history of our great nation. In 2000, The United  States Congress created the Veterans’ History Project (VHP) as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. In 2002, IHSF became a partner of the Library of Congress in this endeavor, and since then has conducted more than one hundred fifty interviews.  Officers and  enlisted men and women, serving as commanders, medics, nurses, infantrymen and airmen in US bombers and many other  duties, have  donated their time to be interviewed.  Stories  of  heroism,  bravery  and daily  life all  have enriched  our  understanding of America’s conflicts by providing a social history of the efforts of the men and women of our Armed Forces. These stories have been methodically collected, documented and forwarded to the Library of Congress for inclusion in the nationwide Veterans History Project database for scholars and laymen alike. The history of  America’s service men and women and  those who  support them during times of conflict is an integral part of the history of our country. The Veterans History Project (VHP) at  IHSF is conducted under the auspices of the Library of Congress, Washington DC,   with a goal of collecting and preserving those histories for generations to come. One veteran’s story:

Each veteran's interview is approximately ninety minutes in length, and the basic questions are provided to each interviewee prior to the interview. Once the interview is completed, either at IHSF or elsewhere on-site, it will be transcribed, reviewed by the service member and, once finalized, provided to the service member as well as the Library of Congress (LOC). The LOC then enters the service information and transcription on the nationwide database located at www.loc.gov/vets. IHSF also accepts service related items for preservation and archiving. You are invited to bring along your war memorabilia, so they can be also be preserved for future generations. Frequently Asked Questions What happens to my interview and other donated items? The items that you donate to the Veterans’ History  Project are housed in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress and/or the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation. Your stories and collateral materials are available to you, scholars, students and anyone else  visiting the Library of Congress web site after a six month processing period. In fact, once the transcript of your interview is finalized, we will provide you a copy. How do I access the VHP Web site? The web address for the Library of Congress VHP web site is www.loc.gov/vets(Click on Search the Veterans’ Database). Once your interview transcription is completed, IHSF will forward your biographical information and interview to the Library of Congress, where your information will be used to create a web page containing your service history and other information, as well as instructions on how to  obtain copies of the transcripts of your interview.

What can I do?  First of all, grant IHSF an interview!  You can also help by spreading the word about VHP to your fellow veterans.  We are always looking for volunteers to help the program by interviewing or typing interviews. Finally, since IHSF is a nonprofit agency, donations are sought to help offset the cost of the program. A Program in its Infancy The United States Congress created the Veterans’ History Project (VHP) in 2000 as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. In 2002, IHSF became a partner of the Library of Congress in this endeavor, and since then has conducted more than one hundred-fifty interviews.  Officers and enlisted men and women, serving as commanders, medics, nurses, infantrymen and airmen in US bombers and many other duties have donated their time to be interviewed. Stories of heroism, bravery and daily life all have enriched our understanding of America’s conflicts by providing a social history of the efforts of the men and women of our armed forces.

David Ogas Tellez was born on February 12, 1920 in Anthony, New Mexico.  He volunteered for the United States Army on March 25, 1941 and completed Basic Training at Fort Bliss, Texas.  In July 1941, he was sent to San Francisco, California to prepare for deployment to the Philippines. He arrived in Manila on September 16, 1941 and was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg near Clark Field. The Japanese attacked the air field, destroying all of the aircraft, and the Americans were forced to deploy to the jungle north of the Bataan Peninsula.  Corporal Tellez performed many critical missions as a truck driver with the 200th Coastal Artillery, moving supplies and personnel in and around the island until the surrender of the island to the Japanese.  He survived the rigors of the infamous Bataan Death March, ending up in Manchuria, where he remained until the end of the war.  He returned to Las Cruces in October 1945, and remained in the reserves until 1946.  He eventually became a successful insurance agent, and was a member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corrigidor (Philippines), Disabled American Veterans and an honorary member of the Special Forces Chapter 80 of Las Cruces. He was a constant fixture at all veterans’ activities until his death on October 4, 2006.  Corporal Tellez’s is just one of many stories of the men and women who have served our country in times of war.

Come share your  story—It’s  an important part of America’s History. As of September 2008, the following veterans have taken the time to share their stories with IHSF:

Herbert  Adams Casey Ancker Jack Ancker Amil Anderson Walter Baker Elsa  Baker Nina Baker Stanley Bardwell Al Becchetti Archie Beckett Robert Bell Shirley Bertrand John Bianco Terry R Bloom Eva Bolents Ben Boykin Ed Boykin Jim Boykin Darla Brizee John Broderick Dorman Brookey Hugo Burleson Frances Butler Thomas Carlton Rex Carpenter John Chappell Frederick Clem Robert Cox Harry Crane William Daum William Davis Marjorie Day Robert J Decker Rita Decker Betty Sue DeuPree Charlie De Vries Albert Dimsha Joe Ecsedy Ralph Emerson William Endruweit Herculano Ferralez Clarence Fielder Chester Finch	George Fisher Lillie Fitzhugh Ray Fleming Quentin Ford John Freyermuth Carol Gaines Robert Gaines Ronald Gall Edward Gamboa William Gassert James Gundersen Ken Guynn John Hadsell Weldon Hamilton Elsie Harkness William Harrell Carl Hartley William Haynes Wade Hedgecoke Harry Helmuth Dolores Hoffman Jeanine Hopkins Gordon Hopper Evelyn Horst Ruben Hunt Bobbie Hutson Franklin Jenkins Eino Jenstrom Richard Johnson David Jones Frank Jones Willa Judkins Robert Kaufman Laurence Kennon Ruth Kennon John Kidner Charles Kirkpatrick Stanley Kotovsky Arnold Langston Richard Larsen Robert Lory James Martin Mitchell Mauer	Bobby Mayfield Roger Mayfield Jr. Thomas McCarter Flavia McCormick Stuart Meerscheidt Frances MeiKrantz Roger Miller Ida Miyake John Mott Marion Nygard Gordon Owen Stephen Phillips Robert Pick Michael E. Popp Randy Ranels Ruth Rawie Suzanne Richter Paul Roach Ethel Rottstedt Julie Smith Richard Sommerville Dennis St. George Sr. Lupe Sierra Stamm Eugene Stern Gerald Stickles Barnett Sugarman Leonard Sugerman Margaret Sweitzer Donald Taylor Wilbur Taylor David Ogas Tellez Tobby Theodore Gerald Thomas Nelson Tobey Thomas K. Todsen Ruth Van Liew Eldon Weehler Carl Westbrook Daniel White Darrell Willey Frances Witt Cynthia Zaklan

If you would like to obtain a copy of any of the above interviews, contact military@ihsf.org for fee information.

 

VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT 2007 - 2008

The Veterans History Project at the Institute for Historical Survey (IHSF) has enjoyed a very successful year.  We conducted more than twenty interviews in 2007, and have already exceeded that mark in just the first six months of  2008.  The VHP was updated to encompass additional requirements by the Library of Congress, including the submission of data files containing the transcripts and voice recordings of each interview. This was made possible by the procurement of four digital voice recorders which made it possible to quickly download files into computers, and more importantly, has provided the ability to interview veterans off-site, in their homes or other locations, if necessary. For instance, on April 11 interviews were conducted at the Good Samaritan Village complex, and a second visit is planned.

During 2007, IHSF trained additional interviewers and transcribers in anticipation of  an increase in interviews, enabling multiple interviews at locations and times most convenient to the veteran being interviewed.  Additional trained transcribers reduced the turn-around time from date of interview to completed rough draft in less than a week!

IHSF has spread the word about VHP to various military organizations by conducting talks and developing media such as posters and brochures.

Accounting for the interviewers' and transcribers' time, office supplies such as recorders, data discs, paper, computer supplies, postage and correspondence with the Library of Congress, each interview costs IHSF between eighty and one hundred dollars.  Since the VHP is not funded by the Library of Congress, and there are currently no available grants to cover costs, the entire program must be funded by generous donors.

Since its establishment at the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation, the Veterans History Project has interviewed more than 150 veterans, and we fully expect to speak with more than fifty veterans by the end of 2008.  We have developed the program and the infrastructure that will support an ever increasing number of interviews, so the potential is virtually unlimited! Please contact us with any questions at military@ihsf.org.