FAQS
Video Oral Histories
How many video oral histories does the Museum have?
The Museum has nearly 7,000 oral histories and has made access to these interviews a top priority. Beginning with the initial set of 150, the Museum will digitize and provide access points to our interviews through annotation and indexing with eventual transcription planned.
Personal stories play a significant role in the Museum’s mission to tell the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world. Oral histories provide a firsthand look at the events of the global conflict of WWII through the eyes of those that lived it.
Do these interviews have transcriptions?
These interviews have not yet been fully transcribed. In an effort to provide access to a large range of interviews in a short period of time, the Museum has processed 150 interviews using annotation and indexing. The annotations―near real-time summaries provided by Museum staff―should not be seen as transcriptions, but rather as summations of the sentiments of the interviewee. The annotations should not be quoted as the verbatim text of the interview. If a direct quote is desired, the viewer/researcher should transcribe the quoted portion directly from the video.
How do I cite these videos?
The interviews from The National WWII Museum should be cited as below:
[Name of Interviewee] Interview, The National WWII Museum, [url], [date of review of site]
Example:
Abe Baum Interview, The National WWII Museum, http://ww2online.org/view/abe-baum/segment-1, 8 October 2013
Can I download or purchase these videos? What does it cost to purchase video oral histories from the Museum?
Video oral histories are not available for downloading. If you are interested in purchasing one of these oral histories, you may obtain digital video by placing an order via email to digitalcollections@nationalww2museum.org. Please provide a link to the video you wish to purchase and include the subject line: Video Oral History Order.
Why does the Museum charge for oral histories?
Collecting and preserving oral histories is a costly process. Museum staff travel the country to collect high-definition interviews that must be processed and cataloged. Once this labor-intensive process is complete, the large digital files then need to be backed up, allowing the Museum to indefinitely preserve the stories of our veterans and share them with the public online. The sale of these oral histories enables the Museum to continue this process and provide the best care for these collections.
Digital Photographs
How many photographs does the Museum have?
The Museum has an estimated 100,000 print photographs in its collections. The collection includes both public domain images created by the United States government and military, and personal photographs taken with personal cameras during the war years. Both types of collections offer unique insight as to lives of all those affected by World War II.
Does the Museum catalog photographs using the original captions?
Yes, captions are the original text describing a photograph. They are recorded along with staff-generated descriptions. Captions are written either by official US military branches, by individual soldiers, or by their family members. They are set in quotation marks to distinguish them from the staff-generated descriptions. Some of the caption language is considered racist or otherwise culturally insensitive today, but we include all original captions to provide the exact, historical phrases used during the war for research purposes and to remain truthful to the language of the time.
How do I purchase high-resolution images? How much do they cost?
To license images please email digitalcollections@nationalww2museum.org. Include the link to the photograph(s) that you would like license and note the intended use of the image(s). Use the Fee Schedule below to determine the appropriate fee.
The price of images varies based on use and the commercial or non-commercial status of the user.
In all cases, it is the researcher and licensee’s obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in The National World War II Museum’s collections.
Fee Schedule - Photographs
Fees are based on the definition of the ultimate client. If you are a commercial venture operating on behalf of a non-profit client, the non-profit price will apply.
Private Study/Student Projects - $20
Print Publications
- Non-Profit Print run up to 5,000
Book/Periodical/Newsletter/Newspaper$60 - Non-Profit Print run up to 5,000
Cover Image$240 - Commercial Print run up to 5,000
Book/Periodical/Newsletter/Newspaper$100 - Commercial Print run up to 5,000
Cover Image$275 - Print run 5,001 – 40,000
Book/Periodical/Newsletter/Newspaper$150 - Print run 5,001 – 40,000
Cover Image$400 - Print run over 40,000
Book/Periodical/Newsletter/Newspaper$200 - Print run over 40,000
Cover Image$450
- Multiplatform (print plus digital media)
- Nonprofit Clientadd $50 to initial fee
- Commercial Clientadd $100 to initial fee
Television or other video production
- Nonprofit/Educational/Local
(Broadcast Only/Perpetuity)$100 - Nonprofit/Educational/Local
(Broadcast and promo use/Perpetuity)$120 - Nonprofit/Educational/Local
(All Media/Perpetuity)$225 - Commercial television
(Broadcast Only/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$200 - Commercial television
(Broadcast and promo use/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$250 - Commercial television
(All Media/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$350
Film
- Feature Film (All Media/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$500
- Feature Film (All Media plus promo/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$600
- Indie / Documentary Film (All Media/Worldwide/Perpetuity)$250
- Film Festival (Worldwide/One Year)$100
Exhibits
- Nonprofit/Educational temporary < 3 Year Span$50
- Nonprofit/Educational temporary 3-5 Year Span$100
- Nonprofit/Educational temporary 5+ Year Span$200
- Nonprofit/Educational Permanent$200
- Nonprofit/Educational Traveling$90
- Commercial Temp/Permanent/Traveling$200
- Multiplatform (exhibit use plus website)
- Nonprofit Clientadd $50 to initial fee
- Commercial Clientadd $100 to initial fee
Website Only / Worldwide / In Perpetuity
- Website (Nonprofit/Educational)$60
- Website (Commercial)$120
- Mobile App$120
Inflight / Corporate / Advertising
- Inflight$120
- Corporate$200
- Advertising$600
Why does the Museum charge for digital images?
Digitization of images is a costly process. These fees help to offset the cost of the technology involved in digitization process, the storage of large, digital files and the preservation of the original photographs, as well as staff time.
What is the Controlled Vocabulary on the advanced search page?
A controlled vocabulary is used to create specific access points and provide organization to large bodies of knowledge. The Museum developed a special list of indexing terms, a WWII-specific controlled vocabulary, designed to describe the experiences echoed throughout our collection. This vocabulary focuses on describing stories and experiences in order to provide an effective way to share these narratives. Researchers can search and filter by the specific access points created by the application of the controlled vocabulary terms through both the images and oral histories. Learn more about the creation of this vocabulary here: http://ohr.oxfordjournals.org/content/40/1/126.abstract
Social Media Policy
We welcome your comments and encourage all of our users to express their opinions freely and enter into informed debate. Please note that you are individually responsible for the content of your comments. Opinions expressed in posts not administered by The National WWII Museum are not necessarily those of The National WWII Museum and its staff, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these posts.
We want this to be an open and honest forum and we also want posts to be courteous and to not cause offense, therefore we reserve the right to delete any of the following:
- Violent, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist posts, links or images
- Comments that threaten or defame any person or organization
- Solicitations, advertisements, or endorsements of any financial, commercial or not-for-profit organizations, websites, contests or promotions
- Comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
- Multiple successive off-topic posts by a single user
- Repetitive posts copied and pasted or duplicated by single or multiple users