Law Student Volunteers At Vietnam Archive

To learn more about the effects of the Vietnam War and the Vietnamese American immigration process, Cam Xuan Nguyen (Carrie) began volunteering at the Vietnam Archive on October 31, 2008. Carrie helps prepare the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association Collection files for digitization by numbering folders, removing corrosive materials, and providing help with translation. Carrie speaks and writes Vietnamese, English, and Spanish. She is a Vietnamese American from Saigon. Carrie immigrated to the US in 1994 at age 10. She is a graduate student from UT Austin with a BA in English and Government (Political Science). Her hobbies include: reading, traveling, and cooking. Among the things she enjoys in the U.S. are driving and eating Mexican Food . Carrie came to Texas Tech University to get a J.D. in Business Law . She will take her BAR exam in July and hopes to work in International Law, hopeful in the Washington D.C. or New York area.

Student Spotlight: Natalie Swindle

Natalie Swindle has worked as a graduate assistant for the Oral History Project of the Vietnam Archive since August of 2007. She came to the archive after graduating from Angelo State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Natalie is the interview transcription editor for the OHP, and she also conducts oral history interviews with Lubbock area veterans. Originally from Kerrville, Texas, Natalie is working on a Masters of Education in Counselor Education on the community counseling track. Her long term career plan is to become a counselor for veterans.

A Winter Wedding for Anh & Van

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Lovelady, Senior Editor

Congratulations, Anh & Van!

Anh Ho Nguyen and Van Thanh Nguyen were married over winter break on December 28th, 2008, in Hanoi, Vietnam. Anh is a Vietnamese graduate exchange student from Hanoi who is working at the Vietnam Archive while earning his Masters in Business Administration at Texas Tech University. Prior to coming to the U.S., Anh studied Electrical Systems at Hanoi University of Technology. His choice to attend TTU in August of 2007 was due to his family’s connections to and good relationship with the Vietnam Archive. Anh became interested in working at the Vietnam Archive because it has so much information on Vietnam. On October 14, 2008, Anh began scanning and digitizing documents for the Vietnam Archive. His work will make these documents searchable and accessible to the public through the Virtual Archive. Anh’s ability to read, write, and speak English and Vietnamese fluently has been a great help and asset to the Vietnam Archive.
Anh enjoys tennis, playing games, and watching movies. Anh’s favorite things about his educational experience at TTU are the people & infrastructure of Texas Tech. The people of Lubbock, skiing (not in Lubbock), and sightseeing are what Anh enjoys most about his experience in the U.S.
We at the Vietnam Archive wish Anh and Van a bright future. May they share many happy years together filled with love!

Student Employment Opportunity: Collection Processing

Are you a TTU student looking for an interesting and educational work opportunity? The Vietnam Archive is currently seeking applicants for a Student Assistant (Collection Processor). This new hire will work under the supervision of Associate Archivist Ty Lovelady, and will involve processing incoming collections of documents, photographs, books, maps, artifacts, and other primary sources from the Vietnam War Era.

Student Spotlight: Jacob Furr

Jacob Furr was born in Fort Worth, Texas and has been a student assistant at the Vietnam Archive since August 2006. Jacob was originally hired by the Vietnam Archive to digitize collections for the Virtual Vietnam Archive, but moved to collection processing for the archive in Spring 2007. Jacob will soon be leaving the Vietnam Archive as he will receive his BA in History this month. In fact, it was his interest in 20th Century American history that initially led him to the Vietnam Archive where he has done a tremendous job. Jacob is not sure what his future plans will be, but he is contemplating a graduate degree in History. Whatever he decides, we wish Jacob the best and know he will be a success.

Student Spotlight: Aaron Alford

Aaron Alford has been a graduate assistant processing collections at the Vietnam Archive since November 2006 after graduating from Texas A&M with a BA in History and English in May 2006. While at Texas A&M, Aaron served as editor of the Aggie student newspaper, The Battalion. Aaron will graduate from Texas Tech with an MA in Creative Writing this August. His thesis was a collection of creative nonfiction essays, titled "Boy Wonders: A Collection of Essays" that documents life in rural southeast Texas; an area in which Aaron is well versed since he is from Hull, Texas. One of the essays found in his thesis is titled “The Quick” and will be featured this month in the literary journal River Teeth.

Aaron first became interested in fiction and nonfiction about the Vietnam War from taking a writing course taught by National Book Award-winning author Larry Heinemann at Texas A&M. This interest led Aaron to the Vietnam Archive when he arrived at Texas Tech where he has been a tremendous asset. Sadly for the Vietnam Archive, Aaron will become a Teaching Assistant in the English department at Texas Tech when he begins his PhD program in the Fall and will no longer be at the archive. We will definitely miss him, but wish him the best for the future.

Student Spotlight: Melinda Moser

Student Assistant Mindy Moser has worked as a transcriptionist for the Oral History Project for three years. She recently completed her degree in Nutritional Science and is currently in the graduate program at Texas Tech. This summer, Mindy spent three weeks in Nigeria as a volunteer for the Children's Emergency Relief International, providing basic health care and teaching children in the country's largest AIDS orphanage. She is originally from Dallas, Texas.

Mindy will soon leave us to work for Covenant Health Systems. Good luck in all your future endeavors, Mindy!

Student Spotlight: Jake Bitonel

Student Assistant Jake Bitonel has been with the Vietnam Archive since February 2007. Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Jake is majoring in Exercise Sports Science. A cadet in the R.O.T.C. and U.S. Army Reserves, Jake will serve five years on active duty after graduation. His long-term career plans include becoming a pilot and an athletic trainer. Jake is currently digitizing the Ron Frankum Collection. He's taken some time off this summer for Army Reserve training and to visit his father, who has recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq.

Student Spotlight: Kindra Walker

Kindy Walker has been a student assistant with the Vietnam Archive since September 2006. She is originally from Winters, Texas. Her major at TTU is Clinical Laboratoy Science and she hopes to go on to medical school after graduation. At the archive, Kindy works on scanning individual collections, photographs, and other tasks as needed.

Student Spotlight: Sebastian Arandia

Sebastian Arandia graduated from Texas Tech University on May 10, 2008 with a BA in History. He has been accepted into Texas A&M University's History graduate program and will begin in August of 2008. Sebastian started working at the Vietnam Archive in May of 2007 and began working on the Familes of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association (VAHF) collection on July 17th 2007. He has proven himself a very conscientious, dedicated, and hard working student assistant with a passion for History and learning. Sebastian chose to work at the Vietnam Archive so that he could have “… the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with the history of the Vietnam War.” Sebastian enjoys working with the FVPPA (VAHF) collection because by doing so he is “…preserving and making known the history of the thousands of Vietnamese refugees who left their country after April 30, 1975.” Congratulations and Good Luck Sebastian. We wish you best. We know you are on the road to a bright future.