‘Picturing Nam’ National Archives Exhibition

April 17 – May 25, 2019 | Art Annex

Photographs are a powerful part of our collective memory of the Vietnam War. Many of the iconic photographs were taken by photojournalists working for newspapers, magazines or wire services. But there were also military photographers in Vietnam serving in our armed forces. They took thousands of photographs that covered every aspect of the conflict — photographs that are now part of our National Archives.

Their assignments sent them everywhere: the jungles and swamps, forward bases, hospital ships, rivers and air bases. Unsanitized and uncensored, these indelible images give an intimate and ground up view of the war and those who fought it.

Picturing Nam focuses on three photographic themes: landscapes, objects and faces.

Picturing Nam is organized by the National Archives and Records Administration, and traveled by the National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service (NATES). It is presented in part by the Lawrence F. O’Brien Family, Pritzker Military Museum & Library, AARP, and the National Archives Foundation.

Minnesota Remembers Vietnam is an initiative led by Twin Cities PBS (TPT) and aimed at inspiring Minnesotans to remember, share stories, recognize bravery, express their reasons for dissent, and foster understanding around the lasting impact of war. TPT is partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center to bring public conversations around these topics to communities across the state, thanks to support from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.