Vietnam War veteran Robert Vinson talks about his experiences in Vietnam and returning home on leave during the war and after his service in the war, including his struggle with PTSD and use of massage and movement therapy.
Christian Appy, associate professor of history at MIT, discusses perceptions and memories of the Vietnam War from all possible sides: American civilians, antiwar protestors, and soldiers, as well as Vietnamese civilians and soldiers.
World War II veteran Mary Ginnerty shares her personal memories of the war.
The audio of this oral history is available independently as a MP3 file.
Pulitzer-Prize-winning author and history David M. Kennedy discusses American participation in World War II, looking at its perception as "the Good War" and in what ways the war could be considered a "good war"—particularly in its consequences for the U.S. He details the atmosphere in the U.S., both politically and popularly, following the war.
The Sidney Lanier Cottage House Museum is the birthplace of noted poet, musician, and soldier Sidney Lanier (18421881). Among the objects on view at the Cottage are one of Sidney Lanier's flutes (a silver, alto flute made by the Badger Flute Company), Mary Day's wedding dress of 1867, and several portraits and first editions.
The museum offers exhibits and tours (include tours specifically designed for schoolchildren).
This Museum of the Confederacy website offers access to 31 paintings created during the Civil War by a Confederate soldier.
The simplest way to navigate the site is to click the "next" arrows located at the bottom right of each page. This will flip to the next "page," causing the website to read like a book. The exhibit is not overly long or text heavy, so this is a pleasant way to approach the material. The first page introduces you to Conrad Chapman and his father John, U.S.-born artists who largely lived in Europe. Conrad traveled to the U.S. in 1861 to join the Confederate Army. As a soldier he was ordered to sketch the defenses of Charleston, SC. These sketches became the basis for the 31 oil paintings which constitute the majority of the exhibit. Chapman and his father both painted scenes based on Conrad's sketches for 25 years.
Additional pages include a map of Charleston's defenses; a small amount of information on General P. G. T. Beauregard, Chapman's commanding officer; and images of the paintings accompanied by commentary by Chapman himself.
Note that prior to viewing the paintings, the website will have a page suggesting the purchase of prints. As a result, it may be wise to access the page and select images prior to your classes rather than allow students to navigate on their own.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian James McPherson details the bloody Battle of Antietam during the Civil War and discusses its impact on the soldiers who survived; its perception today; and political perception of it, both domestically and globally, at the time. He examines it as a turning point of the war.
Colonial Wiliamsburg Librarian Juleigh Clark describes her research into the events described in Revolutionary-War-era newspapers, both in articles and advertisements.
Note: this podcast is no longer available. To view a transcript of the original podcast, click here.
Lance Pedigo, the drum major of Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums, talks about the place of the fife and drum in colonial- and Revolutionary-era militia and armies and the training needed to play for the Fifes and Drums today.
Greg James, an interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the Rhode Island Regiment, an all-black American army unit that fought in the Revolutionary War.