Archivist's remarks, July 4, 2015

National Archives Building
July 4, 2015

Thank you to Steve Scully for joining us as emcee of our 4th of July activities.

Good morning! Happy Independence Day! Thanks for joining us in this celebration of the 239th birthday of the Declaration of Independence!

239 years ago, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration. And John Adams envisioned future celebrations of the event. He wrote:

"It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It out to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward for ever more."

That vision of the future got off to a slow, but no less passionate start. On July 5th 1777, John Adams wrote to his daughter from Philadelphia describing events of the first anniversary: Invited to dine with President George Washington aboard the frigate Delaware, Adams wrote:

"…we were saluted with a discharge of thirteen guns, which was followed by thirteen others, from each other armed vessel in the river; then the gallies followed the fire, and after them the guard boats. The President and company were saluted with three cheers, from every ship, galley, and boat in the river. The wharves and shores, were lined with a vast concourse of people, all shouting and huzzaing, in a manner which gave great joy to every friend to this country, and the utmost terror and dismay to every lurking tory."

Adams continues: "In the evening, I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise, and was surprised to fine the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I walked most of the evening, and I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw; a few surly houses were dark, but the lights were very universal. Considering the lateness of the design and the suddenness of the execution, I was amazed at the universal joy and alacrity that was discovered, and at the brilliancy and splendor of every part of this joyful exhibition. I had forgot the ringing of the bells all day and evening, and the bonfires in the streets, and the fireworks played off. Had General Howe been here in disguise, or his master, this show would have given them the heart-ache."

I love that the celebration that started way back then has grown and continues to flourish today.

The National Archives is the final destination for the most important records of the United States Government—that two to three percent of records deemed by departments and agencies to be important enough for permanent preservation. In addition to having the original Declaration of Independence, we also have early records demonstrating our fight for the very independence we celebrate today.

One of my favorite records is the oath of allegiance. During the Revolutionary War, military officers declared their loyalty to the United States through oaths of allegiance. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, and even Benedict Arnold all signed oaths of allegiance which said that they "do acknowledge the United States of America to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third."

The Declaration of Independence is enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building behind me. Just think of the courage it took to sign the Declaration, and how important independence from England meant for them to risk their lives. It was an act of treason for our Founding Fathers who signed it. They became wanted men, traitors to the King. By the end of the Revolutionary War, more than half of the Signers suffered direct, personal consequences for their support of American Independence. We have the Signers to thank for the freedom we enjoy today.

The Declaration of Independence has had an amazing journey since it was signed on August 2, 1776.

During the Revolutionary War, the Declaration was rolled up and moved from city to city as Congress moved to avoid capture by the British.

When the British were burning Washington during the War of 1812, Secretary of State James Monroe directed State Department clerks to get the important documents out of town. They wrapped the Declaration and other precious documents in bags of linen, commandeered wagons, and in the dead of night headed for Virginia with the records of the country. First, they hid the Declaration in an unused gristmill near Chain Bridge in Virginia, then in a private home in Leesburg until the war was over.

During the 1800s, the Declaration was on exhibit for long periods at several locations in Washington, where it was exposed to sunlight, fluctuating temperatures, and humidity—all of which took their toll on the document.

Finally, officials took note of these effects of aging, and wrapped the Declaration and stored it flat at the State Department, where it joined the Constitution until 1921, when President Harding signed an order transferring both of those documents to the Library of Congress.

Just before Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entrance into World War II, the Library sent the Declaration and the Constitution to Fort Knox for safekeeping, where they remained until September 1944, when they came back to the Library of Congress.

Finally, the documents came to their rightful home here at the National Archives. The transfer occurred on December 13, 1952, with great pomp and circumstance and security, as the newly encased Declaration of Independence was carried up these steps with a military procession into the Rotunda.

And the Declaration of Independence was safe until 2004 when the good treasurer hunter, Nicholas Cage, cleverly stole it during a party in this building—to protect it from the evil treasure hunter. And our "National Treasure" was miraculously and circuitously restored to its rightful place and now poses the most often asked question in the Rotunda. "Can we see the map on the back?"

And I can tell you for certain that the only thing on the back of the Declaration are the words "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4 July 1776."

Although the traveling days of the Declaration are over, the spirit of the Declaration continues on today in many ways, including social media.

You can share your pictures and stories from your Fourth of July experience at the National Archives at @usnatarchives on Twitter and Instagram, and share using the hashtag ArchivesJuly4 . Look around the for the big signs with our hashtag and social media information.

In addition, you can participate in two fun social media activities. Snap a picture with one of our reenactors,use the #ColonialSelfie hashtag, and send it to us on Twitter @USNatArchives! You can also tweet questions to any of our special guests, and we'll tweet the answer back.

And finally you can also add your own John Hancock to the Declaration of Independence at our special signing booth, located at 7th and Constitution. Use the hashtag #ISignedTheDeclaration to share the patriotic fun with everyone.

Next we'll hear the words of the Declaration of Independence read aloud by our honored guests. Thank you for coming out today. The National Archives is the home of the Declaration of Independence. Fourth of July starts here!