Oral Histories

Eleanor Mae and Marco Cramer. c. 1941-1945

Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area.

World War II oral histories are the stories of everyday people. They're the written moments shared by those who were there on the front lines and on the home front during the War. The stories of men and women who served in the military, in factories, on farms, and in some cases faced discrimination and incarceration. They are the unsung heroes of World War II - our fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, elders - all fellow citizens.

Through the collecting of oral histories the National Park Service works to preserve the stories of World War II. Oral history is a way to gather and preserve the voices and memories of people and communities. It's the oldest way of passing on history and cultural traditions, older even than written language. Today, through the use of digital technologies, it's also one of the most modern ways of preserving people's stories. An oral historian collects memories in the same way a museum collects artifacts, helping to preserve the words of the past for future generations to contemplate and study.