Director of the National Center for History in the Schools Gary Nash examines the stories of African Americans during the Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States. Nash focuses on the search to define identity by these African Americans, whether slave or free.

Director of the National Center for History in the Schools Gary Nash considers whether or not the Founding Fathers, in forming the United States of America, could have successfully abolished slavery.

Director of the National Center for History in the Schools Gary Nash discusses African-American history in the Revolutionary War and memory of that history constructed by historians, the public, and researchers. Nash focuses on what is and was taught and published about African Americans in the Revolutionary War.

Historian Alfred Young, author of Masquerade, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich examine Americans' public memory of Deborah Sampson (a woman who fought in the American Revolution disguised as a man) and other Revolutionary-era women. Performer and storyteller Joan Gatturna also brings Deborah Sampson to life in a dramatic first-person performance.

Historian Robert Allison details the life of Stephen Decatur (1779-1820), the young U.S. Navy captain who became a hero of the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars.

Audio and video options are available.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Charles Fuller discusses his life and motivations as an African-American author. The presentation also includes discussions and performances which bring the testimonies of slaves, soldiers, reporters, and activists from the Civil War to life, focusing on African-American history during the Civil War and African-American memory of the war.

World War II U.S. Navy veteran Francis Murphy talks about his experiences during the war, in the Atlantic theater.

Audio and video options are available.

World War II U.S. Navy veteran Gerald Halderman talks about his experiences during the war, in the Pacific theatre.

The audio of this clip is available as a downloadable MP3 file.

World War II welder and wife of a veteran Margaret Spalluzzi talks about working as a welder during the war, life as a civilian during the war, and communicating with her husband overseas.

The audio portion of this oral history is available independently as a MP3 file.

World War II veteran Theodore Akimoto shares his personal memories of the war.

The audio from this clip is available independently as a MP3 file.