Mourning the Loss of Former President Jimmy Carter
Today we mourn the loss of former President Jimmy Carter, a humanitarian, Nobel laureate, and the 39th President of the United States. His legacy of promoting peace, justice, and equality will forever be remembered. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. To learn more about funeral arrangements or leave a message of condolence for the Carter family, please visit www.jimmycartertribute.org/
NARA Facility Closures January 9, 2025
President Joe Biden proclaimed January 9 as a National Day of Mourning to grieve former President Jimmy Carter and honor his legacy.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum will be open to the public on Thursday, January 9. All other NARA facilities will be closed.
DC Workshops for Teachers
Join National Archives educators in Washington, DC, for Professional Development opportunities.
Summer Institutes
Primary Sources and Project-Based Learning at the National Archives: A Summer Institute from Maryland Humanities and the National Archives
Annually, end of July
Hybrid format, on-site at the National Archives
Free, advance registration required
- We will welcome K-12 educators to join us in Washington, DC, for a research experience focused on exploring the National Archives. Participants will choose a research topic and use primary sources from the National Archives' physical and online collections. Learn about the National History Day theme, and complete your own mini-research project to take back to your classroom. Explore free teaching resources including DocsTeach from the National Archives and Maryland Humanities' TPS Inquiry Kits. Participants will spend three days on-site at the Archives and will participate remotely mid-week.
- Participants will receive complimentary lunch during on-site days as well as a $50 travel stipend.
Check back in Spring 2025 for registration information.
Teaching with Primary Sources and Portraiture
Annually, early August
On-site at the National Portrait Gallery
Free, advance registration required
- How do we teach a balanced, comprehensive, and complex history of the United States? Get ready for the school year with three days of collaborative learning and idea generation on teaching tough topics. Come hear from historians and educators at the National Archives and the National Portrait Gallery as we explore themes of civil rights, immigration and migration, abolition of slavery, the ethics of medicine, and more. Through document analysis and reading portraiture strategies, we'll shine light on previously unknown stories and consider the pressures and motivations that shaped historical controversies. Educators will leave with ideas and ready-to-use activities as they head into the start of the school year.
Interested? Email education[at]nara.gov with "Primary Sources and Portraiture" in the subject line!
By-Request Educator Workshops
Request a professional development session with National Archives Educators in Washington, DC for an interactive session modeling inquiry-based approaches to teaching with primary source documents.
Archives & Inquiry: Teaching Strategies and Resources from the National Archives
Free, by request only
On-site at the National Archives Museum
- Educators may request a professional development workshop with National Archives Educators in Washington, DC, to visit the Rotunda, explore inquiry-based teaching strategies, and discover how to bring National Archives resources and programs into their classroom.
- For groups of 10-25 participants.
For more information or to request this free program, email education[at]nara.gov with “Archives and Inquiry” in the subject line.