Summary Information
Victor A. Ames Papers and Photographs
1994-2000
WVM Mss 933
1.0 linear ft. (2 archives boxes and 7 oversized folders) of papers, 7 folders of photographs, 7 folders of paper prints, 1 videocassette.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
The papers and photograph of Victor A. Ames, who worked with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.) to locate and remove mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the Dayton Accords (1995) that ended open warfare in the area. Included are maps of Bosnia and the surrounding areas, many of which show mine fields. Posters meant to raise awareness about mines, one of which features Superman, are in the collection along with mine recognition cards that describe the different types of mines present in Bosnia. Materials from two United Nations organizations, including the Mine Action Center, show the work being done to eliminate the threat of mines, especially the location, identification, and destruction of existing mines. Three modern methods of mine removal are highlighted in some promotional materials from private companies. Newspaper articles contain information about Ames and his service, about mine removal in Bosnia, and about Bosnia in general. A color photocopy of an informational packet given to Diana, Princess of Wales shows her signature. Photographs include many shots of mines, mine explosion sites, and mine damaged vehicles. There are also three photographs of members of the multi-national Division Salamandre practicing mine identification techniques. Also included is a short promotional video advertising a mine removal device.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00933 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Victor A. Ames, born in 1969, grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota and graduated from West Point. He served in Germany with the 9th Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division in the early 1990s. From October 1996 to November 1997, working through N.A.T.O., he served as the director of the United Nations' Mine Action Center for the U.S. sector in Bosnia focusing on the location and destruction of land mines.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Victor Ames are divided into 3 series: Papers, Photographs, and Video.
Papers (1994-2000) contains scattered documents relating to Ames' work to locate and remove mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the Dayton Accords (1995) that ended the war in the area. Included are maps of Bosnia and the surrounding areas, many of which show mine fields. The maps range in size and clarity but provide an interesting look at the size of the mine problem in Bosnia. Posters meant to raise awareness about mines are in the collection along with mine recognition cards that describe the different types of mines present in Bosnia. One of the posters features the DC Comics character Superman warning children about the dangers of mines. Materials from two United Nations organizations, the Mine Action Center and the Mine Fusion Center, show the work being done to eliminate the threat of mines, especially the location, identification, and destruction of existing mines. Three modern methods of mine removal are highlighted in some promotional materials from private companies including two aimed at large scale mine removal and one at individual cases. Newspaper articles contain information about Ames and his service and about mine removal in Bosnia. Other articles provide background information about the conflicts in the region and other consequences of the war, including a war crimes trial. A color photocopy of an informational packet given to Diana, Princess of Wales shows her signature.
Photograph (1996) include many shots of mines, mine explosion sites, and mine damaged vehicles. There are also three photographs of members of the multi-national Division Salamandre practicing mine identification techniques.
Video (1998) consists of a short promotional video advertising a mine removal device called the Mine Incinerator. The video shows the instrument in action and explains how it works, providing ordering and contact information at the end.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Victor Ames, Madison, WI, 2000. Accession Number: TR1121. This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).
Processed by Russell Horton in 2005.
Contents List
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Series: Papers
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Briefing to Diana, Princess of Wales, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Combat camera image ordering information, 1997
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Subseries: Conferences
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Humanitarian Demining, 1998
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Box
1
Folder
4
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International Committee of the Red Cross, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
5
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History of Bosnia (Stabilisation Force), undated
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Intelligence report, Liberia and Bosnia, 1996
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Journal article, Bosnia, 1995
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Maps, Bosnia, Political and tactical, 1997
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OvDw
1
Folder
16
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Minefields, circa 1997
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Ov
20
Folder
5
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Mine threat assessment, 1997
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Ov
16
Folder
6
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Sarajevo, circa 1996
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Ov
21
Folder
6
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Troop locations, 1996
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Mine awareness training materials, circa 1996
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Ov
19
Folder
6
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Posters, circa 1997
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Ov
16
Folder
7
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Posters (oversized), circa 1997
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Box
1
Folder
10-11
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Mine recognition materials, 1994-1996
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Box
1
Folder
12-13
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Mine removal, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Aardvark mine clearance flail, undated
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Mine clearance system 2000, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
16
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Mine incinerator, 1998
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Box
1
Folder
17
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Mine strike investigation questionnaire, undated
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Subseries: Newspaper clippings
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Victor Ames, 1998
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Bosnia, 1995-1997
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Ov
19
Folder
7
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Oversized materials, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
20
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War crimes trials, 1996
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Box
1
Folder
21
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Mines, 1996-1999
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Removal, 1996-1997
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Box
1
Folder
23
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Proposal for minefield database system, 1996
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Subseries: United Nations Mine Action Center
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Box
1
Folder
24
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Consolidated monthly report, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
25
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Meeting minutes, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
26
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Memoranda, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
27-28
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Mine clearance technical guidelines, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
29
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Smart book, circa 1996
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Subseries: United Nations Mine Fusion Center
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Memoranda, 1996
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Box
2
Folder
2-3
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Smart book, circa 1996
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Color Ph
3
Folder
32
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Mines [1] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
33
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Mines [1] , circa 1996
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Color Ph
3
Folder
33
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Damaged vehicles [2] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
34
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Damaged vehicles [2] , circa 1996
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Color PhOv
5
Folder
1
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Damaged vehicles (oversized) [6] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
49
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Damaged vehicles (oversized) [6] , circa 1996
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Color PhOv
5
Folder
2-3
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Explosion sites [10] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
50-51
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Explosion sites [10] , circa 1996
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Removal
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Color Ph
3
Folder
34
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Division Salamandre [3] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
35
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Division Salamandre [3] , circa 1996
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Color PhOv
5
Folder
4
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Men and equipment [3] , circa 1996
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Paper Print
3
Folder
52
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Men and equipment [3] , circa 1996
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Series: Videos
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Video
2
Folder
6
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Mine incinerator promotional video, 1998
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