About
About the January 6 Oral History Project
Vandalism inside the Capitol (Melina Mara/Wash. Post)
The United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) is part of a coalition of Washington, D.C.-based, national organizations that have come together following the horrific events on January 6. We continue meeting to determine how best we can help the nation heal and address the underlying issues that created the environment for this tragedy. We also strongly believe that without an exhaustive study of January 6, the United States will be unable to take the steps necessary to prevent such an attack from happening again. Unfortunately, today’s polarized political climate has made examining that fateful day nearly impossible. That is why the coalition asked the U.S. Capitol Historical Society if we would conduct a large-scale oral history project to ensure that the facts of January 6 are not lost to history. We agreed with firm resolution, believing that this project’s objectives align with the mission of our organization and the best interests of the country we love.
We are currently working to acquire resources and build this project to scale so that it’s worthy of its subject matter and those who were impacted by it.
We are currently working to acquire resources and build this project to scale so that it’s worthy of its subject matter and those who were impacted by it.
Mission Statement of the January 6 Oral History Project
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The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization, founded in 1962 and chartered by Congress in 1978 to promote the history and heritage of the U.S. Capitol in a “manner that inspires informed patriotism.” We watched with horror as our precious Capitol was attacked on January 6, 2021. Unfortunately, deep partisan divides cloud how the story of that day is being told. We are providing an archive to collect people’s stories of that day while memories are still fresh and invite you to share your personal experience. The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is not part of any investigative committee. We are a nonpartisan organization funded through private donations. We simply want to preserve these oral and written personal statements, photos, and videos for future generations of American citizens, scholars, and patriots.
About the U.S. Capitol Historical Society
USCHS Founder and former U.S. Rep. Fred Schwengel giving a tour of the Capitol
The United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) was founded in 1962 by U.S. Representative Fred Schwengel. It is chartered by Congress, in part, “to undertake research into the history of the Congress and the Capitol and to promote the discussion, publication, and dissemination of the results of such studies.” The Society continues exploring and instituting new and creative ways to bring the fascinating story of the Capitol, its institutions, and our national history to people around the world. Societal activities include educational tours, scholarly symposia, enhancement and preservation of the Capitol’s collection of art and artifacts, sponsorship of research on the public careers of those who have served in the Capitol, and assistance to Congressional and other Capitol offices. The USCHS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational 501(c)3 organization. To learn more about the Society, please visit uschs.org