The Monuments Project crowdsources the research of and storytelling about World War One service members buried in American cemeteries abroad. Where did these individuals come from? Where did they serve? What did they experience? How can we tell their stories better and what can we learn about the time period by looking at that period through their lens?

It started with a Problem

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) maintains these cemeteries. Many of the commemorated individuals' stories remain untold. The Monuments Project will engage students from around the world in this addressing this challenge, utilizing local and digital archives to find what evidence they can and share it with the world. 

Participants identify a Service Member...

...Research their story...

...& Share their Findings.

A TRANSATLANTIC EFFORt

​The Monuments Project started in the Spring of 2017 with a collaboration between schools in the US and France.

Students from the American School of Paris partnered with students from Lopez Island Middle High School in Washington State to research the stories of Washington service members commemorated in the Suresnes American Cemetery, located just outside of Paris, France. The range and source of contributions expanded quickly.

ASP and Lopez were soon joined by students from Stuyvesant High School in New York and independent researchers in Illinois, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, all working to uncover and share the untold stories of Suresnes.

Suresnes American Cemetery

The cemetery in Suresnes was dedicated in 1919. 
​It is one of 26 ABMC-maintained cemeteries abroad.
2,515 World War One service members are commemorated in Suresnes.
3 schools  and 3 independent researchers have collaborated to uncover and share nearly 150 untold stories.​

​What about those stories still untold?


What if schools from around the country got​ involved?


What if students in every state participated? 

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​What lingering questions might we answer together? 













And what skills might our students develop in the process? 

Next Steps

Get Involved

Follow steps outlined here to get started.

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Follow Our Efforts

Follow successes and struggles on our blog and use the app to learn about the service members researched so far.

Share

Tell folks you know so they can get involved or follow as well.

More on the Monuments Project...