Veterans' Day
Exhibits & Activities
The Library of Congress has two Exhibitions and the Learning Page has one activity related to Veterans' Day. Below, you will find a brief description and links to the resources.
From the Home Front and the Front Lines
This exhibition consists of original materials and oral histories drawn from the Veterans History Project collections at the Library of Congress. With an emphasis on World War I (1914-1918), World War II (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), the Vietnam War (1965-1975), and the Persian Gulf War (1991), the Veterans History Project, by act of Congress, collects and preserves the experiences of America's war veterans and those who supported them.
You can find:
- photographs
- diaries, bound collections, and albums
- correspondence
- maps and flags
- military papers
- special collections and other items
Women Come To The Front: Journalists, Photographers and Broadcasters During World War II
Women Come to the Front: Journalists, Photographers and Broadcasters of World War II spotlights eight women who succeeded in "coming to the front" during the war--Therese Bonney, Toni Frissell, Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, Clare Boothe Luce, Janet Flanner, Esther Bubley, Dorothea Lange, and May Craig. Their stories - drawn from private papers and photographs primarily in Library of Congress collections - open a window on a generation of women who changed American society forever by securing a place for themselves in the workplace, in the newsroom, and on the battlefield.
You can trace each women's journey throughout World War II in this exhibit.
- Therese Bonney
- Toni Frissell
- Marvin Breckinridge Patterson
- Clare Boothe Luce
- Janet Flanner
- Esther Bubley
- Dorothea Lange
- May Craig
On The Homefront
Even though World Wars I and II did not take place on American soil, both wars were fought in multiple ways on the American homefront. This activity showcases a sampling of American Memory resources that illustrate homefront contributions during both wars. By studying these primary source historical documents, students can begin to understand how citizens of all ages, families and businesses pitched in to help fight for freedom abroad. They can also consider these actions as possible models for community contributions to peace efforts today.
This activity ties well into the Exhibit, "Women Come to the Front: Journalists, photographers and Broadcasters During World War II." There are five different areas to explore within the activity - Volunteer Work, Civil Defense, Conservation Efforts, Economic Initiatives, and Patriotic Support.
