About the National Archives

Welcome Remarks for "1967: The Year of Fire and Ice"

Good afternoon. I’m David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States. I’m glad you could be with us today, whether you are sitting here in the William G. McGowan Theater or joining us through YouTube.

Before we hear about Victor Brooks’s new book, 1967: The Year of Fire and Ice, I’d like to tell you about two other author lectures and book signings coming up next month.

On Wednesday, January 10, at 7 p.m., Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Maria Tatar will be here to tell us about their new book, The Annotated African American Folktales. The illustrated book celebrates nearly 170 stories across several continents and is a kaleidoscopic study of the African American folklore tradition.

Then on Friday, January 12, at noon, legal historian Paul Finkelman will speak about his book Supreme Injustice, which highlights the three most important Supreme Court Justices before the Civil War—John Marshall, Roger B. Taney, and Joseph Story—and the proslavery positions they upheld in ruling after ruling.

To learn more about these and all of our public programs and exhibits, consult our monthly Calendar of Events online at Archives.gov. Check our website or sign up to get email updates. You’ll also find information about other National Archives programs and activities.

Another way to get more involved with the National Archives is to become a member of the National Archives Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Pick up your application for membership in the lobby or become a member online at archivesfoundation.org.

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In November we opened the exhibit “Remembering Vietnam,” which explores the Vietnam War through historical records and contemporary interviews with Americans and Vietnamese, both veterans and civilians. By opening in 2017 and continuing through 2018, we mark the 50th anniversary of the height of America’s war in Vietnam.

In 1967, hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops were on the ground in Vietnam, while at home, anti-war sentiments became more vocal. As a large cohort of the Baby Boomer generation entered its 20s, a sense of a “generation gap” heightened midyear, during the “summer of love.”

To learn more about the definitive events and popular culture of 1967, we now turn to today’s guest author, Victor Brooks, and his book 1967: The Year of Fire and Ice.

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Victor Brooks is an internationally recognized author of 14 books on military history, political history, the history of children and education, and the history of American popular culture. His passion for these areas of research dates back to his childhood, when the Brooks family visited Gettysburg and Europe.

In addition, Dr. Brooks is a professor of education at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia. He received an undergraduate degree in history from La Salle University, and earned his master’s degree and a doctor of education degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Victor Brooks.

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