From Monroe Park to Saigon: VCU and the Vietnam War
This blog is by Emilie Raymond, Ph.D.
Students enrolled in my History 657: Controversy in Public History prepared an exhibit about the VCU community during the Vietnam War that is currently on physical display in the History Department and on digital display in the below slide show. The idea for this project originated from an exhibit I am guest curating at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture about Virginia and the Vietnam War to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon (opening in Fall 2024). My initial research into the VCU campus during the war showed various ways students and faculty were affected by and responded to American involvement in Vietnam, whether as service members and veterans, activists in support of or against the war, or as Vietnamese refugees. So I offered students a challenge: create a small exhibit for the History Department that gives insight into their various perspectives without taking sides AND finish it in 6 weeks!
Four students answered the call, and took on various roles: Meredith Glasco wrote the script, Elliott Martin conducted two oral histories, Kayla Payne served as art director, and James Randall researched campus and local publications. I acted as exhibit coordinator. We met weekly to make group decisions about themes and what topics to highlight and to give each other feedback. Although the last week was a hectic flurry of activity, we got it done (with the help of a sturdy laminator)! There is more research to be done and stories to find, and we certainly don’t view this as the definite word on VCU and Vietnam. Nevertheless, we are proud of what we accomplished in a short time, and hope you enjoy the digital display below (& that it will possibly inspire you to stop by the History Department to see the physical display!)
Categories Class Projects