At the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, our archives are the cornerstone of much of our work—not only do they bring Medal of Honor Recipients’ stories to life in a tangible way, but they also help inform our education programs, shape our museum, and connect us to Recipient families across the country.

In honor of American Archives Month, we’re spotlighting Laura Jowdy, the brilliant archivist who oversees our historic collections. It’s thanks to her meticulous work that we continue to learn more about the Recipient experience—and are able to share their stories with others.

How would you describe your role at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society?

My main role is to organize, maintain, and preserve the legacy and history of the Medal of Honor and its Recipients, which is a fancy way of saying, “keeping the memory of our nation’s heroes alive.”

Recipients’ stories are emblematic of all America. They come from all backgrounds, temperaments, personalities, ethnicities… often the only concrete thing that links them together is military service and this medal on its blue ribbon. I love that—each Recipient forms a link in our country’s history, leading back to the Civil War (when the Medal of Honor was created).

“Each Recipient is an individual with his or her own story, and each story is incredible. And I get to keep their stories alive! Trying to make sure I live up to what I’ve been asked to do is simultaneously the most terrifying and the most fulfilling work I’ve ever tried to do.”

What drew you to archival work? 

I fell in love with archives and curatorial work as a result of my love for history. I mean, how can we know the stories if someone isn’t preserving and sharing them. My first job in an archive was in my undergraduate college’s library (shout out to Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio!). Discovering behind-the-scenes archival work was a revelation. I went on to get a Master’s in Library and Information Science with an emphasis on archival and preservation work.

I got massively lucky, in a million ways, when I got the job at the Society right out of grad school. How often does something like that happen—when you walk smack into the best job you could ask for, and then they offer you the position?

What purpose do the archives serve within the greater CMOHS organization? 

Our historical collections form the bedrock of what we do. They are the basis of our educational program, the Character Development Program, which is offered free of charge to teachers across the country. The collections also form the core of our website data and our museum on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC. Both the website and the museum are the primary outreach mechanisms the Society uses to share the Recipients’ stories.

What does it look like when a family comes to you with potential archival objects? 

We work through what they have, how they would like to transfer the items to us, what our responsibilities are, and what the family desires. I’m big on documenting everything I can about the items—any history or personal stories about them, as well as additional items or memories the family might have about the Recipient in question. I write everything down. You never know what little tidbit might be the most important bit!

Do any past discoveries stand out as especially memorable? 

The items that tend to be the most memorable are the unexpected ones that turn up in larger collections. I’ve found shrapnel a Recipient pulled from his own leg; a pair of boxers (luckily laundered); and letters that describe a Recipient’s Medal of Honor action or their Medal of Honor presentation ceremony.

Others that stand out are those that require some heavy research. We got a sword from a WWII Recipient; it turned out that it most likely belonged to a German WWI veteran and was part of a ceremonial uniform. We also have a Civil War field mirror, which would have been one of the personal items a Recipient carried with him for personal hygiene.

What is one part of your job as an archivist that might surprise people?

Most people don’t know that most of my time is spent systematically organizing and cataloging, which means a lot of data gathering about our historical collections and then making inputs into a cataloging system. It’s not the most glamorous part of my job, but it is the most necessary, and more than a little satisfying. I also spend a lot of time researching the background of what we have, as well as the Recipients themselves. You can’t preserve a story unless you understand it.

This month celebrates the value that archives and archivists bring to American society. In your eyes, how do physical archives and historical collections help us understand our history? 

There’s nothing like seeing something that came directly from the hands of another human being. You can read or hear about it, but actually seeing something tangible that was handled by someone else makes them a real person that we can identify with and understand.

History isn’t just a string of dates, like they may have taught you in school. History is a living, breathing thing that informs everything we do today. When we preserve the physical objects that link us to those who came before, we’re preserving our own story and informing those who come after us.

How can readers support and engage with the Society’s archives and historical collections?

A big way to engage is through our website and our museum at Patriots Point. My email is on our website, and there are several places where you can submit questions. Of course, we accept donations of historical items related to the Recipients or the Medal of Honor. In addition, we work solely on monetary donations. CMOHS is a non-profit organization that receives no government funds, despite our name. We are always grateful to our donors. If people want to support our mission, they can donate here.