The Vietnam Center was established by the Board of Regents in 1989, as a unit of the university's College of Arts and Sciences. Its principal functions are to encourage the continuing study of all aspects of the American Vietnam experience, and to guide and assist in the development and growth of The Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University.

The Center is guided locally by The Vietnam Center Advisory Board, a board comprised of local Vietnam veterans ranging in former rank from sergeant to lieutenant general, and of key members of the university's faculty and staff. The Advisory Board's current officers are:  President: Mr. Phil Price, President & CEO, The Price Communications Group; Vice-president: Mr. David Shelly; Secretary: Mrs. Mary Ann Harrison. Ex-officio board members include: Dr. Jane Winer, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Dr. James R. Reckner, Executive Director, the IMCDR; Dr. Donald R. Walker, Associate Director (Finance), The Vietnam Center; Khanh C. Le, Vietnamese Language Specialist, The Vietnam Center; Steven Maxner, Deputy Director (Archives).

The mission of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University is to support and encourage research and education regarding all aspects of the American Vietnam experience; promoting a greater understanding of this experience and the peoples and cultures of Southeast Asia. Its functions are threefold: collection and preservation of pertinent source material; education through exhibits, classroom instruction, educational programs, and publications; and encouragement of scholarly research through exchanges, publishing of noteworthy research, symposia, and financial support.

National Council

In addition to the local advisory board, a National Council provides general guidance and support to the project. The Council is currently comprised of Ambassador Bui Diem (former South Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States); Major General Kenneth Bowra, USA (Ret); Colonel Roger H. C. Donlon, USA (Ret and first recipient of Medal of Honor in Vietnam); Lieutenant Colonel James G. Zumwalt, USMC (Ret); Dr. Charles E. Neu, Professor Emeritus, Brown University; Dr. Larry Berman, Professor, UC Davis; and Dr. Keith Taylor, Professor, Cornell University. Former members of the National Council include Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. (former Chairman), Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson (former Chairman), General William C. Westmoreland, Ambassador William E. Colby, Professor Douglas Pike, and the Hon. William P. Bundy.

Friends of The Vietnam Center

The Center is strongly supported by a group of friends throughout Texas and the world who share our interest in preserving the record of the Vietnam War and encouraging continuing study of all aspects of it. If you wish to join the Friends of The Vietnam Center, we urge you to complete the membership form and return it to us. In turn, The Center will ensure that you receive The Center's periodic newsletters and invitations to functions and conferences hosted by The Center. To supplement the newsletter, the Vietnam Center & Archive now has a free mailing list. Signing up to receive these emails will ensure you receive timely and up-to-date information about the project. More information is available on the mailing list page.

Symposia and Conference Program

The Vietnam Center's mission to encourage continuing study of Vietnam is fulfilled through a program of triennial Vietnam symposia, and smaller conferences during the years between symposia. The Center's first triennial symposium, Vietnam: Paris + 20, was conducted in April 1993.  Our Fourth Triennial Symposium was held in April 2002. 

In addition to the major symposium series conducted triennially, The Center also hosts smaller meetings during years when no symposium is scheduled. In 1995 The Center co-hosted with the U.S. Army War College a Vietnam Roundtable entitled "On Winning and Losing: The Summers Thesis and The Vietnam War." This meeting was attended by about 100 academics and Vietnam veterans. The roundtable's luncheons were enlivened by presentations by Douglas Pike, who reviewed the current situation in Vietnam, and General Nguyen Khanh, who reviewed his role as prime minister of South Vietnam and speculated on Vietnam's future. Since then The Center has hosted a conference on teaching the war for college and high school teachers (April 1997), a conference on Vietnamese history, culture and language (April 1998), and a conference for high school teachers (June 1998), and a conference that focused on The Advisory Effort and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. (April 2001).

In 2003 the Center hosted the conference, "The Rise and Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem: Its Implications for Vietnam and the United States." This conference was scheduled for 24-25 October, 2003, to more closely coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1 November 1963). Information on this and future events can be found on the Vietnam Center Calendar of Events page.

The Vietnam Archive

The Texas Tech University Board of Regents created The Vietnam Center and The Vietnam Archive in 1989. The missions of the Vietnam Center include promoting the study of the Wars in Southeast Asia and supporting the collection and preservation activities of the Vietnam Archive. Although linked by our goals, missions, funding, and activities, The Vietnam Center and The Vietnam Archive currently have separate offices.

The Vietnam Archive houses a rapidly growing collection of original documents, published and unpublished works, and microfilm research collections relating to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Archival staff are pleased to respond to specific, limited requests for research support; however, the staff will not undertake extensive research projects for individuals. For information, and to talk with Archival staff, call (806) 742-9010, fax (806) 742-0496 or e-mail vietnamarchive@ttu.edu.  Our mailing address is:  The Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, Box 41041 SW Collections 108, Lubbock, TX 79409-1041.

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