Divisions: World War II, the US Military, and the Making of Race in America

Professor Thomas Guglielmo
Department: American Studies
The Project
Celebrations of America’s World War II military, comprised of that “greatest generation” of citizen-soldiers and their larger-than-life commanders, surround us. Blockbuster movies, television specials, bestselling books, packed museum exhibits, and a glistening, granite memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. all sing its praises. That this military was deeply divided along color lines, however, is seldom seriously discussed. Even among specialized scholars, many of the details of these lines remain a mystery. What exact form did they take? Whom did they divide precisely? How were they instituted and, in some cases, mightily struggled over? What impact did they have on the country? My book project explores these important questions.
Research Assistant Tasks
I’m looking for a student who will carefully review and take notes on World War II veteran oral histories. These oral histories, housed at the Library of Congress as part of its Veterans History Project (http://www.loc.gov/vets/), come in several forms – audio tapes, video tapes, and written transcriptions. And so the student will read, listen to, and watch these oral histories and transcribe for me the relevant portions. As noted, my research project focuses on race-making during the war, and so the student will be looking in particular for instances in which that topic is discussed.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Contact Email: tgugliel@gwu.edu
Additional Instructions for Applying: The student must be exceedingly meticulous and responsible; have excellent typing skills; and be willing and able to visit the Library of Congress regularly. An interest in World War II, and in race relations, would be a plus. Please submit a resume and a transcript.