Monica Mohindra (Library of Congress) - Preserving the Voice of America's Veterans

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project is the most extensive oral history project in American history, with over 120,000 collections, encompassing oral, physical, digital artifacts and recordings of U.S. veterans — across generations of servicemembers and conflicts dating back to the First World War.

In today's episode join us as we sit down with the dynamic Monica Mohindra, Director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. who heads up a team racing against time to collect, preserve, and share these priceless stories.

We explore the significance of collecting and preserving the stories of over 120,000 U.S. veterans, emphasizing the personal connections and the impact of sharing them with the next generation. With a significant history of military service in her own family, Monica shares her own experiences that drive her and underline the importance of maintaining curiosity in storytelling, while highlighting the ripple effect that these stories can have on individuals and communities, for both veterans and with surprising effects on their interviewers. The discussion also touches on the living legacy of oral histories and the future of the project as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.