Feature Articles
2024
National Archives Unveils New Mass Digitization Center in College Park
A new state-of-the-art digitization center at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, is allowing the agency to provide greater public access to the country’s most important historical federal government records faster than ever before.
Authors Discuss Russell Lee’s American Coal Miner Photos
In celebration of Lee’s work and the new exhibit, on March 21, 2024, the National Archives hosted Mary Jane Appel and Douglas Brinkley, authors of American Coal: Russell Lee Portraits, for a discussion of his coal miner photos.
Sunshine Week Panel Addresses Impact of AI on Open Government
In recognition of Sunshine Week, on March 14, the National Archives hosted a panel discussion titled, “Artificial Intelligence: The Intersection of Public Access and Open Government.”
Power & Light: Russell Lee’s Coal Survey Exhibit To Open at National Archives on Saturday, March 16
On March 16, the National Archives will open a new exhibit titled Power & Light: Russell Lee’s Coal Survey, which focuses on Lee’s powerful documentary photographs taken in various American coal communities.
Shogan Discusses Civics as a Unifying Force With Education Secretary
To mark the second annual celebration of National Civic Learning Week , Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan hosted a fireside chat with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, March 12.
History Fellow Examines Frances Perkins’s Immigration Policy
Dr. Rebecca Brenner Graham's time as a 2023 Cokie Roberts Women's History Fellow took her from the National Archives at College Park in Maryland to the Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York to trace how Perkins, the first female Cabinet secretary and the longest serving Secretary of Labor, aided German Jewish refugees in the 1930s.
National Archives Remembers America’s First Ladies
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan led a panel discussion at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, March 4, focusing on the impact and legacy of America’s First Ladies.
National Archives Celebrates Elimination of Pandemic-Related Veterans Records Request Back
Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan joined staff at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) on February 27, 2024, to celebrate the elimination of the pandemic-related backlog of military personnel records requests.
National Archives and Arlington National Cemetery host discussion on Freedman’s Village
The National Archives and Arlington National Cemetery hosted a discussion on Freedman’s Village, a community of formerly enslaved African Americans established in 1863 in Arlington, VA.
New Fulbright Scholar Joins National Archives Heritage Science Research and Testing Laboratory
A new Fulbright Fellow has joined the National Archives’ Heritage Science Research and Testing Laboratory with the intent to explore the degradation of modern textiles.
National Archives at Kansas City Reopens Exhibits to Public
The National Archives at Kansas City reopened its permanent exhibit gallery, featuring the exhibit We the People, to the public on February 20.
Conservators Clean National Archives Rotunda Following Vandalism Incident
Dozens of National Archives conservators and other workers conducted a painstaking cleanup for more than two days following a February 14 vandalism attack.
National Archives Supports Efforts to Digitize Important Records from Puerto Rico
The National Archives will work with the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP/Institute of Puerto Rican Culture) to increase access by digitizing records related to Puerto Rican history.
National Archives Celebrates 10th Anniversary of David M. Rubenstein Gallery
The National Archives and Records Administration celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of the David M. Rubenstein Gallery and its permanent Records of Rights exhibit February 12 at the National Archives in Washington, DC.
Records Help Honor Legacy of Trailblazing Black Physician
The National Archives at St. Louis recently helped the Department of Veterans Affairs celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tuskegee Hospital and honor the legacy of Dr. Joseph Ward, a trailblazing Black doctor who served his country and his fellow veterans.
National Archives Resumes Family Sleepover Event
More than a hundred guests from as far as Colorado and Georgia poured into the National Archives Museum for a fun and historic sports-themed sleepover during the first weekend in February.
National Archives Records Lay Foundation for Book and Major Motion Picture
For his bestselling book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, author David Grann relied on National Archives records to tell the harrowing story of a series of murders in the Osage nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s.
Records Help Family Connect With Oneida Nation Activist's Legacy
Original copies of handwritten letters to federal government officials by Oneida Nation activist Mary Cornelius Winder helped connect some of her descendants with her legacy during a visit to the National Archives at New York City this past summer.
2023
25 New Citizens Sworn in During Bill of Rights Day Naturalization Ceremony
In celebration of Bill of Rights Day, 25 people from 25 nations were sworn in as U.S. citizens in front of the nation’s founding documents in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
National Archives Building Designated National Historic Landmark
The National Archives Building, located near the National Mall and the most prominent structure in the Federal Triangle in Washington, DC, has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Olympic Torch on Display at the National Archives Museum
An Olympic Torch from the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles is now on display as part of the exhibit All American: The Power of Sports at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.
In Memoriam: Sandra Day O'Connor (1930–2023)
Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sandra Day O'Connor died on December 1, 2023 at the age of 93.
Medicine Lodge Creek Treaty on View at NMAI
The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek (1867) is currently on view at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) as part of their Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations exhibit.
In Memoriam: Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023)
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, 96, died in Plains, GA, on November 19, 2023. She served as First Lady from 1977 to 1981 while her husband, Jimmy Carter, served as the 39th President of the United States.
Top Ten Veterans and Military Questions on History Hub
In honor of Veterans Day, which is observed every year on November 11 in the United States, the National Archives is sharing the top 10 types of questions asked about veterans and military records on History Hub.
World Series Trophy on Display at the National Archives Museum
The 1998 World Series trophy is now on display as part of the exhibit All American: The Power of Sports at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.
Weekend-long Celebration Marks President Carter’s 99th Birthday
America’s longest living former President, Jimmy Carter, turned 99 on Sunday, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum celebrated the occasion with a whirlwind of activities held in his honor.
Shogan Speaks at Historical Society Event, Visits New York City Archives
Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan traveled to New York City in September 2023 to speak at the New-York Historical Society and to visit the National Archives office in lower Manhattan.
National Archives Welcomes 25 New Citizens During Naturalization Ceremony
In celebration of Constitution Day, 25 men and women from 24 nations took their oaths of citizenship in front of the nation’s Founding Documents (the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence) in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, DC
National Archives Reflects on Last 20 Years of Preserving the Founding Documents
Analysis over the last several years by the National Archives shows that encasements installed to display the Founding Documents 20 years ago continue to fulfill their role in safeguarding these fragile historical records.
Shogan Sworn in by Chief Justice During Ceremony Attended by First Lady
Dr. Colleen Shogan was ceremonially sworn in as Archivist of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts on September 11, 2023, in the National Archives Rotunda.
Fulbright Scholar Tests Synthetic Paper in Heritage Science Research Lab
Cancy Chu, the National Archives’ first Fulbright Scholar, spent the last year at the agency’s Heritage Science Research and Testing Lab determining the best tear-repair methods for synthetic paper.
Distance Learning Team Wins Pinnacle Award for Third Consecutive Year
For the third year in a row, the National Archives Distance Learning team won the Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration (CILC) Pinnacle Award.
Civil Rights Exhibit Opens at Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum's feature exhibit, Black Americans, Civil Rights, and the Roosevelts, 1932–1962, allows the library to share its extensive collection relating to Black American history.
National Archives Marks 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington With Film Screening
The National Archives and Records Administration marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom with a film screening and discussion of director James Blue’s 1964 film The March on August 25 at 7 p.m. ET in the William G. McGowan Theater in the National Archives Building.
Nuremberg Photos Spark History Fellow’s Interest in Women’s Role at Trials
Jessica Kahkoska, one of two 2022 Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellows, spent March 2023 at the National Archives at College Park researching the role American women played at the Nuremberg Trials and is developing two projects based on her research: one for scripted television and the other as a documentary series.
Philadelphia 15 Exonerated Thanks to NARA Personnel Records Research
The National Personnel Records Center, part of the National Archives and Records Administration, recently helped bring closure to one family’s efforts to right an 80-year-long historical wrong by successfully identifying 15 Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) from the National Archives’ permanent holdings.
Biden Marks 75th Anniversary of Armed Forces Desegregation at National Archives Event
President Joe Biden joined Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan at the National Archives Building on Thursday to honor the 75th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce.
National Archives Marks 75th Anniversary of Executive Orders Integrating the Armed Forces and Federal WorkforceTo mark the 75th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce, Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 are on display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, from July 25 through 31.
SAA/CoSA Attendees Visit National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration welcomed hundreds of visitors from the joint annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) this week.
National Archives Displays Women’s World Cup Trophy
The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is now on view at the National Archives Museum, coinciding with this year’s Women’s World Cup games.
Remembering the 1973 NPRC Fire
In 1973, a fire destroyed millions of military personnel documents at the National Personnel Records Center. The event—unprecedented in the scale of its damage to federal records—changed how the National Archives builds its facilities, maintains its holdings, and serves veterans and the public.
Improving Access, Reducing Barriers Top Priorities for New Archivist
Dr. Colleen Shogan laid out her hopes for the agency in an interview with National Archives News during her first week as Archivist.
History Fellow Mines Immigration Records for Forthcoming Book Chapter
Dr. Randa Tawil, one of two 2022 Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellows, spent November 2022 at the National Archives, researching Immigration and Naturalization Service case files to explore the correlation between pregnancy and deportation for early 20th-century migrants to the United States.
Superhero Goats Return to Protect Reagan Library from Wildfires
Hundreds of high-achieving goats returned to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, in June 2023 to chomp their way through underbrush and buffer the facility from future wildfires.
Fellowship Recipient Traces History of Formerly Enslaved Union Spy
Lois Leveen, one of two inaugural Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellows, spent spring 2022 at the National Archives at Washington, DC, researching the history behind the woman known as Mary Bowser, a formerly enslaved Black woman turned Union spy during the Civil War.
In Memoriam: Harry Belafonte (1927–2023)
Internationally acclaimed singer and actor Harry Belafonte died on April 25, 2023.
National Archives Hosts Canadian Library and Archives Delegation
Acting Archivist of the United States Debra Steidel Wall welcomed Librarian and Archivist of Canada Leslie Weir to the National Archives in April 2023.
Fellowship Recipient Explores History of Women’s Conscription
Cokie Roberts Women's History fellow, Kara Dixon Vuic, has spent the last year traveling to the National Archives at College Park and Presidential Libraries around the country, researching her book project, “Drafting Women,” on the history of women and selective service.
Sunshine Week: 15 National Archives Stories About Making Access Happen
At the close of Sunshine Week, the National Archives looks back at stories that explore the ways in which the agency connects the public with records and advances this year’s theme, “Make Access Happen.”
We Make Access Happen: FOIA Q&A with OGIS Director Alina M. Semo
OGIS Director Alina M. Semo shares why Sunshine Week is important at the National Archives, what FOIA is, and how the National Archives makes access happen in light of so many requests for information.
March Madness Comes to the National Archives
Two NCAA Basketball Championship trophies are now on view at the National Archives Museum as part of the exhibit All American: The Power of Sports, and just in time for March Madness.
Civic Learning Week Forum Explores Why Civics Matter
The first national Civic Learning Week got off to an enthusiastic start with the opening forum on Tuesday, March 7 when the National Archives and National Archives Foundation joined iCivics to co-sponsor Civic Learning Week, and the Archives hosted the forum in the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
Bisa Butler Quilts Harlem Hellfighters into History
Artwork inspired by a World War I–era photo of Black soldiers known as the Harlem Hellfighters turns a National Archives record into a larger-than-life quilt at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC.
Social Media Series Highlights Women’s Achievements at National Archives
March is Women’s History Month, and this year the National Archives is marking the occasion with a series on its social media channels that focuses on the achievements of women who have worked at the agency over the years.
Civic Learning Week Debuts at National Archives
The National Archives will host the opening forum for Civic Learning Week on March 7 in Washington, DC. The forum will bring together experts from around the country to discuss why civics matter, what resources are available, and what excellent civic education looks like.
New Exhibit Opens at Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
By The Numbers is open at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and the new exhibit will run through December 2023 and features artwork from the Eisenhower Library’s own collection.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and at the National Archives, women use science every day to make significant contributions to preserving our cultural heritage–including the women of our Heritage Science Research and Testing Lab.
2022
Brazilian soccer legend and three-time World Cup winner Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known as Pelé, died on December 29, 2022.
New Citizens Swear Oath of Allegiance in Rotunda Ceremony
Thirty-nine people from 25 countries swore the oath of allegiance in the National Archives Rotunda on Bill of Rights Day to become new U.S. citizens.
National Archives Loans Prairie du Chien Treaty for NMAI Exhibit
The 1829 Prairie du Chien Treaty negotiated with the Chippewa (Ojibwe), Ottawa, and Potawatomi Nations went on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian thanks to an ongoing collaboration with the National Archives.
National Archives Begins Work on 1960 Census Records Release
Though genealogists and other researchers are still busy researching the 1950 U.S. Federal Census, which the National Archives released entirely online April 1, the agency is already preparing for the next launch: the 1960 population census.
New National Archives Catalog Debuts
A new, modernized National Archives Catalog has launched online. The new Catalog’s focus on scalability will allow the agency to reach its goal to get 500 million digitized pages in the Catalog by September 2026.
National Archives at Riverside Collaborates With California Universities to Digitize Chinese Heritage RecordsMore than 2,200 Chinese Exclusion Act case files held by the National Archives at Riverside are now available online in the National Archives Catalog, thanks to a collaboration with the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.
Eleven Military Stories Honoring Veterans at the National Archives
As the U.S. marks Veterans Day on November 11, the National Archives shares 11 of the most-read stories from National Archives News related to military service.
National Archives Tops 200 Million Digitized Pages in Online Catalog
The National Archives Catalog now contains more than 200 million digitized pages. Our next goal: 500 million digitized pages in the Catalog by September 2026.
Fulbright Scholar Joins Heritage Science Lab
Cancy Chu, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Melbourne’s Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, joined the National Archives at College Park as the agency’s first Fulbright Scholar.
National Archives Makes Voting Happen
As Americans head to the polls this midterm election, the National Archives and Records Administration continues its history of promoting access to voting.
National Archives Debuts Sports GIF Pack to Fuel Your Retro Workout
For our exhibit on sports, the National Archives has created GIFs from videos and photos from our holdings to provide versatile ways for the public to learn about and access NARA records.
National Archives Displays Annie Leibovitz Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz is on display at the National Archives Museum through October 11, 2022.
Naturalization Ceremony Tradition Resumes at National Archives
Before a small group of family, friends, and government officials, immigrants from 21 countries swore their allegiance to the United States steps away from the Constitution on September 14, the first such ceremony celebrated at the National Archives in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First Pitch Showcased in All American Exhibit Demonstrates How Sports Helped Unite Nation After 9/11
When visitors walk into All American: The Power of Sports, the new exhibit opening at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, they will be greeted with images of President George W. Bush throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium before Game Three of the 2001 World Series, and they will also be able to view the custom FDNY jacket he wore that day.
In Memoriam: Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
During her 70-year reign, the Queen Elizabeth II met with nearly every U.S. President beginning with Harry S. Truman. The queen died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022.
National Archives Museum Displays Title IX Documents Ahead of All American Sports Exhibit
To commemorate half a century of Title IX, documents relating to the civil rights law are on view at the National Archives Museum, and Title IX will be on display as part of the new exhibit, All American: The Power of Sports, when it opens on September 16, 2022.
NARA’s Digital Preservation Framework Goes Live as Linked Open Dataset
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) makes its Digital Preservation Framework available as a Linked Open Dataset, a first for the agency.
National Archives Examines Sports History with New Exhibit
All American: The Power of Sports, a new exhibit showcasing the impact sports have had on America, will open at the National Archives Museum September 16.
In Memoriam: Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022)
Nichelle Nichols, who rose to prominence portraying Lt. Nyota Uhura on television's Star Trek from 1966 to 1991, died on July 30, 2022.
National Archives Educators Engage with Navajo School on Civics, Treaties
Distance lessons with students from the Aneth Community School on the Navajo Nation in southeast Utah in June began what the National Archives education team hopes will become a series of remote lessons tailored to Native American classrooms.
Watergate Trial Records Digitized Ahead of Scandal’s 50th Anniversary
For the first time since the Watergate scandal broke 50 years ago, the paper records, exhibits, and artifacts from the United States v. G. Gordon Liddy trial are digitized and available to view in the National Archives Catalog.
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero Reflects on His Tenure Upon Retirement
After leading the National Archives and Records Administration for 12 years, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero reflected on his time at the agency in a recent interview.
Stand Up and Be Counted: Native Americans in the Federal Census
Rose Buchanan traces the counting of Native Americans in population censuses, showing how the information gathered every 10 years changed.
On 50th 'Pandaversary' Archives Marks Gift of Pandas to the Nation
Fifty years ago, on April 20, 1972, First Lady Pat Nixon welcomed two giant pandas, a gift from China, to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
Senate Approves Nominees for Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board
The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board was created by the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018, which requires federal agencies to turn over copies of any remaining records from Civil Rights Era cold cases to NARA for release to the public.
National Archives Publishes 1950 Census Records
The records of the 1950 Census are now accessible through the National Archives and Records Administration for the first time in 72 years.
A Decade of Work Culminates in 1950 Census Release on April 1
From paper to magnetic tape to digital images, the 1950 Census records debuted publicly this week following 10 years of work by National Archives and Records Administration staff.
Standout Census Stories: Using the U.S. Census to Solve Adoption Mysteries
Debra Steidel Wall, Deputy Archivist of the United States, explains how census records helped during her search for her father's birth parents.
Rightfully Hers Exhibit to Close April 10
Rightfully Hers, an exhibit in Washington, DC, that brings to life women’s struggle for the right to participate in their democracy, through photos, records, objects, and even rare film footage, will close on April 10, 2022.
Standout Census Stories: Familial Connections and Federal Records—The Ties that Bind
Miranda Booker Perry unfurls the trajectory of the search into her family’s history starting with her paternal grandmother, who was affectionately called Nana.
Standout Census Stories: Who Are You? Using the Census to Add Context to Family Photos
Rebecca Crawford uses census records to help identify the people in old family photographs and how they fit into the family tree.
Genealogy Series 2022 Kicks Off With “What's on the 1950 Census”
The National Archives and Records Administration debuted the first of seven planned sessions in its 2022 Genealogy Series with an “Overview of What's on the 1950 Census." The events, which focus on the April 1 release of the 1950 Census records, are free and do not require registration.
National Archives Expands Human-Centered Approach to Customer Experience
This year, the National Archives increased its human-centered design staff and resources to further improve the services it offers through the implementation of an agency-wide customer experience framework.
Standout Census Stories: An Archivist Untangles Immigration Records Using Leads from the Census
Census records are useful for immigration research, too. Elizabeth Burnes, an archivist at the National Archives, points out how to document an immigrant ancestor though multiple census years.
Volunteers Can Contribute to Nation’s History by Collaborating on 1950 Census Records
When the 1950 Census is released on April 1, members of the public will be able to use a transcription feature to help refine the name index for better accuracy and easier access to the records.
Standout Census Stories: Schoel to Samuel to Saul Through Four Decades of Records
Jenny McMillen Sweeney used National Archives records in an education activity to follow one man’s life through numerous records, including a passenger arrival record, a draft registration card, and five census records.
Archivist Explores History of 1950 Census Indian Reservation Schedule
Cody White explores the history and context of the Form P8, Indian Reservation Schedule, in the 1950 Census to better understand why the Census Bureau created an entirely separate form to be used in some communities.
Release of 1950 Census Will Increase Access to Records
Census records have long been an important resource for archives staff to help locate a requested individual’s record. The opening of the 1950 Census brings new opportunities.
Explore 1950 Census Resources on New Archives.gov Page
The public can visit a newly launched 1950 Census web page on Archives.gov for information and resources to help prepare for the April 1 release of the 1950 Census.
Standout Census Stories: An Archives Executive Discovers His “Huckster” Grandfather
Chris Naylor, Acting Research Services Executive, shares a story about what can be gleaned from census records, and how personal histories can encapsulate entire eras.
2021
1950 Census Release Will Offer Enhanced Digital Access, Public Collaboration Opportunity
With the scheduled April 1, 2022, release of 1950 Census records a little more than three months away, the National Archives is completing efforts to digitize those records and using technology to make them more accessible than ever.
Utah Honor Flight Veterans Visit National Archives
A group of 74 veterans visited the National Archives in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2021, where they viewed the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
9/11 Archives: “In our New York office: A day like no other”
National Archives News reprints the firsthand account from staff at the National Archives at New York City in the weeks following the 9/11 attacks, first published in an October 2001.
National Archives Joins Forces With Federal Agencies to Prepare for Nation’s 250th Anniversary CelebrationThe National Archives and Records Administration joined an agreement with 20 federal agencies to support the celebration of the U.S. semiquincentennial, which in five years will mark the country's 250th anniversary.
Diplomatic Records Archivist Receives Foreign Policy Prize
The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) awarded archivist David Langbart its first-ever Anna K. Nelson Prize in Archival Excellence.
Buggy on Down: 50 Years Since Apollo 15
For the 50th anniversary of the mission, the National Archives is showcasing images from Apollo 15 as the Featured Documents from July 22 through September 8.
Citizen Archivist Contributions Push Catalog Enhancements Past 2 Million
The National Archives Catalog recently surpassed 2 million pages of records enhanced with tags, transcriptions, and comments, thanks to the record-breaking efforts of citizen archivists, as well as agency employees working from home.
National Archives Releases Recommendations from Internal Task Force on Racism
The task force recommended a robust series of actions to move the agency forward on a path toward diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
Instagram Post Leads to Recovery of 1810 Census Rolls
Local 1810 census records from Massachusetts, long missing from the collection of census records of the time, are finally in Washington, DC, after a 211-year delay, thanks to a social media post.
Noted Historian Discusses Juneteenth’s Place in American History
On June 2, the National Archives welcomed back Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and Texas native Annette Gordon-Reed to discuss her new book, On Juneteenth, the sweeping story of Juneteenth’s integral importance to American history.
Featured Document: Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre
A century ago this month, the Tulsa Race Massacre left scores of the city’s Black residents dead and dozens of blocks—homes, businesses, livelihoods—destroyed. The online Featured Document "Black Wall Street: 100 Years Since the Tulsa Race Massacre," will be up until June 17.
1950 Census on Track for 2022 Release, Despite Pandemic
With less than a year to go before the release of the 1950 census, National Archives staff are working to ensure researchers around the world can access the records as planned on April 1, 2022.
General Mattis Discusses Leadership at Ford Presidential Library Event
Former Defense Secretary and retired Marine Corps General Jim Mattis discussed leadership and passages from his new book, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, during a virtual event hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and the Gerald R. Ford Foundation.
After Atlanta Shooting, Author Revisits Killing of Vincent Chin
Paula Yoo’s newly released account, From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement, revisits Chin’s 1982 death and the ensuing legal battles.
National Archives Releases Catalog, 1940 Census Datasets
The public is now able to download full datasets of the National Archives Catalog archival descriptions and authority records, as well as the entirety of the 1940 census, for the first time.
‘Founding Mothers’ of NPR Recount Trailblazing Early Days of Public Radio
Their voices became familiar to the public throughout decades of news, on commutes and in crises, an “old girls’ network” in the nascent days of public radio: Susan Stamberg, Linda Wertheimer, Nina Totenberg, and Cokie Roberts.
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021
Beginning on the evening of Wednesday, April 7, communities around the world observe Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and remember the victims of the Holocaust. The observance ends the evening of Thursday, April 8.
Virtual Programs Commemorate Women’s History Month
The National Archives celebrated Women’s History Month throughout March with a variety of livestreamed public programs. The wide range of topics included women in medicine, women athletes, First Ladies, abolitionists, explorers, suffragists, and women in the military.
Chinese American Actress’s Story Illustrates ‘Othering’ of Immigrants
The “othering” of immigrant groups is long rooted in American history. Although trailblazing actress Anna May Wong was a third-generation American, the U.S. Government nonetheless viewed all persons with Chinese origins as foreigners.
National Archives Unveils Photos of Buffalo Soldiers at West Point
The National Archives recently shared 12 photographs of Buffalo Soldiers serving at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, decades before the military was officially integrated.
Virtual Programs Commemorate African American History Month
Throughout February, African American History Month, the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation presented a number of live streamed programs on the historical and continuing struggle for Black equality and civil rights.
Celebrating Women's History Month: Pathbreaking Women in Politics
Just over 100 years after women gained the right to vote, a woman stepped into the White House as the Vice President of the United States. This Women’s History Month, we take a brief look at the women who paved the way for Madame Vice President.
Who Tells Your Story? National Archives Start-Up Grants to Expand Cultural Narrative
A grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission will fund a new program, Start-Up Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History.
National Archives Virtual Programs Explore African American History
In advance of African American History month, the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation presented a number of programs in January on the continuing struggle for Black equality and civil rights from the Civil War forward.
2020
Panelists School the Public on Bill of Rights Day
The National Archives marked the 229th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights with a virtual discussion about the intersection of law and education.
Sneak Peek: The Truman Library, Reimagined and Redesigned
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is undergoing a complete rethinking of its exhibit space and recently shared the updates in two virtual Sneak Peek tours.
New Finding Aid Improves Search for Native American Photos
It is now easier than ever to search through more than 18,000 digitized photos from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, thanks to a new finding aid from the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Four Continents: What to do with ‘Problematic’ Public Art
At the entrance to the U.S. Custom House, which houses the National Archives at New York City, are four statues representing Asia, America, Europe, and Africa. Howard Holzer discussed the depictions, known as “The Four Continents,” during a November 9 National Archives virtual public program.
Federal Register Prepares for Electoral College Duties
The Office of the Federal Register, part of the National Archives and Records Administration, plays an important role in the Electoral College process by coordinating certain functions between the states and Congress.
National Archives Launches Voting Rights Records Portal
A new resource on Archives.gov highlights National Archives records related to voting rights and the African American vote. The portal allows users to more easily access the documents that trace the country’s voting history.
Deputy Archivist Hosts Panel on 19th Amendment Centennial
Deputy Archivist Debra Steidel Wall led a panel discussion on the “100th Anniversary of Women Winning the Vote: Reflections on the 2020 Centennial,” which covered the work accomplished, as well as what remains to be done in the struggle for equal rights.
Five-Year Social Media Strategy Released
The National Archives and Records Administration released a new, streamlined social media strategy this week, with a focus on creating more engaging digital content and increasing participation by staff in the spectrum of online platforms.
In Memoriam: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, after a lengthy legal career as a champion of women’s rights and gender equality.
Archives Jackpot: Citizen Archivist Contributions Top One Million
The Citizen Archivists who tag, transcribe, and comment in the National Archives Catalog recently achieved a milestone: enhancing more than a million pages of records.
Celebrate Constitution Day Online
The National Archives, permanent home of the original U.S. Constitution, celebrates the 233rd anniversary of the document’s signing on September 17 with special online programs for all ages.
National Archives Launches Presidential Library Explorer
The Presidential Library Explorer, launched this month, provides a more efficient way for visitors to search through records in the libraries’ holdings.
National Archives Buildings Go for the Gold and Purple
The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and several Presidential Libraries are awash in gold and purple to mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment.
Remembering V-J Day: The Film and Photos That Captured History
The National Archives Motion Pictures staff and film preservation lab worked with filmmakers to provide archival footage from August 1945 that is featured in the new documentary Apocalypse '45.
19th Amendment Centennial Gets Social
Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment on social media. Follow campaigns, use Instagram stickers, and share your own thoughts and memories on the centennial of this voting rights landmark.
National Archives Observes 19th Amendment Centennial
Throughout August, the National Archives and Records Administration commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s certification with a series of online events.
In Memoriam: U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis
The legacy of U.S. Congressman John R. Lewis transcends decades of American history. The National Archives maintains records tracing his work from young civil rights activist in the South to veteran lawmaker in Washington.
In Memoriam: Olivia de Havilland
British-American actress Olivia de Havilland died July 26, 2020, at age 104. In 2008, this photograph, President George W. Bush awarded de Havilland with a National Medal of Arts.
National Archives Safeguards Original ‘Juneteenth’ General Order
On June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free. This day has come to be known as Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, and is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Pandemic Telework Project Sparks Increase in Black History Records Accessibility
The burst of teleworking time during the pandemic has translated to a project that is making it easier for researchers to find and use more than 5,000 records held by National Archives related to Black history.
Woman Suffrage Pop-Up Exhibits Available to the Public
Free pop-up displays of the Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote exhibit celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Building the ‘Digital Reference Revolution’ with National Archives’ History Hub
History Hub, an online community based on a crowdsourced question-and-answer platform, is at the forefront of what can be called a “digital reference revolution.”
Cemetery Time Capsule Artifacts Provide Glimpse Into History
As Arlington National Cemetery marks the centennial of its Memorial Amphitheater this week, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero joined its staff to view and discuss the contents of a 105-year-old time capsule stored behind a cornerstone.
National Archives Displays ‘Surrender Documents’ for 75th Anniversary of V-E Day
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Allies’ victory over Nazi Germany in Europe, the National Archives is displaying the Act of Military Surrender as an online Featured Document exhibit.
Featured Document: First Earth Day Poster
For the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, the National Archives is featuring a poster by artist Robert Rauschenberg.
Citizen Archivists Triple Contributions to National Archives Catalog During Pandemic
With social distancing in place across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, Citizen Archivists are making a major contribution to increase access to historical records.
The Rediscovered Life of the 'Lost Soldier of Chickamauga'
Henry Thomson was living on a farm in Pearlette, KS, when a Springfield, OH, newspaper published a one-column piece on May 3, 1887, about his relentless search to recover his identity.
NARA Behind the Scenes: The 'Lost Soldier of Chickamauga'
Two National Archives staff members familiar with the Lost Soldier of Chickamauga digitization project explain why pension records deserve a second look. You can come at the files from so many perspectives.
National Personnel Records Center Continues Serving Veterans During COVID-19 Pandemic
The NPRC has long served veterans by providing records to help them obtain needed benefits. Recently the Center helped out the Department of Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System by transferring 200 N95 masks.
National Archives Donates Protective Gear for COVID-19 Response
The National Archives transferred masks, gloves, and protective suits to Washington, DC’s Emergency Management Response Team, which is working with the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute and reallocate the donated supplies.
World War II Code Girls: What’s in a Name?
Archives specialist Cara Moore Lebonick takes the audience through the process of tracking down “Code Girl” personnel records at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.
Confederate Slave Payrolls Shed Light on Lives of 19th Century African American Families
Nearly 6,000 Confederate Slave Payroll records have been digitized for the first time by National Archives staff and made available in the National Archives Catalog.
National Archives Helps 100-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Achieve General Rank
Brig. Gen. Charles McGee received copies of his personnel records in a White House ceremony in which he received an honorary promotion to brigadier general.
Journalist Shares Stories Behind Civil Rights Cold Cases
Investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell recounts how, as a reporter in Mississippi, he helped unfurl the paper trail that led to the retrial of four cold cases from the civil rights era.
Student Journalists Advocate for Press Freedom on Campus
The National Archives in Washington, DC, hosted a panel discussion among current and former student journalists who addressed issues surrounding First Amendment rights on college campuses.
Kirk Douglas, 1916–2020Actor Kirk Douglas died on February 5, 2020, at age 103. The National Archives looked into its holdings to select images and documents relating to Douglas.
Camping Out With the Constitution
Dozens of children spent the first night in February with their families and new friends sleeping just a few feet away from the most valuable documents in U.S. history during the most recent National Archives Sleepover.
All-Girl BSA Troops Visit National Archives, See 'Rightfully Hers' Exhibit
Scouts of BSA Troops 214 and 2018—two all-girl troops—celebrated the centennial of the 19th Amendment with a visit to the Rightfully Hers exhibit at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
‘One Woman, One Vote’ Anniversary Screening Honors Womens Suffrage Centennial
As part of its celebration of the centennial year of the passage of the 19th Amendment, the National Archives hosted a 25th-anniversary screening of the 1995 PBS film One Woman, One Vote, which documents the struggle for woman suffrage.
National Declassification Center Celebrates 10 Years of Making Access Happen
The organization responsible for advancing the declassification and public release of historically valuable permanent Federal records, while also maintaining national security, celebrated its 10-year anniversary last week.
9/11 Fireman’s Son Sees Dad on National Archives Instagram
An Instagram post in honor of 9/11 connected the son of a New York firefighter with a meaningful photograph.
2019
Bill of Rights Day Observance Welcomes New Citizens at National Archives
Thirty-one new United States naturalized citizens took the oath of allegiance December 16 at the National Archives in Washington, DC, as part of a special observance of Bill of Rights Day.
Merchant Marine Records Document Maritime Service
The public now has access to previously unavailable information concerning former merchant mariners and their maritime service through Merchant Marine Licensing Files, made available by the National Archives at St. Louis.
Author Highlights Roles of ‘First Ladies in a New Era’
Historian Tammy R. Vigil provides insight into the office of the First Lady of the United States in the context of its two most recent occupants: Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.
Author Discusses Congresswoman Bella Abzug’s ‘Protest Politics’
Historian Leandra Ruth Zarnow, author of Battling Bella: The Protest Politics of Bella Abzug, discussed Abzug’s passion for social equity and role in the Democratic Party’s “New Politics” movement.
Public Interest in UFOs Persists 50 Years After Project Blue Book Termination
For the 50th anniversary of the end of Project Blue Book, the National Archives is displaying a selection of records from the project—the U.S. Air Force's documentation relating to investigations of unidentified flying objects.
U.S. Army Photographers Captured ‘Human Toll of War’ in 1945
Richard Cahan and Mark Jacob, co-authors of Aftershock: The Human Toll of War, discussed their book and the work of U.S. Army Signal Corps photographers in World War II at a recent program at the National Archives in Washington, DC.
Argentine Declassification Project Reviewed at William and Mary
Students at the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, VA, recently got a firsthand briefing on the National Archives’ work in declassifying tens of thousands of pages of records documenting human rights abuses in Argentina.
NARA Makes Access Happen in the Digital Decade
In 2009, the agency’s digital presence was limited to a smattering of websites and about 300,000 digital copies of records in the National Archives Catalog, Today, the agency’s 97 million records are available on more than 25 platforms.
Historian Examines How 13 Documents Defined ‘America’s Exceptional Idea’
In his new book, Give Me Liberty: A History of America’s Exceptional Idea, Richard Brookhiser examines liberty as a concept that requires constant care and maintenance to persist.
Cokie Roberts Receives Posthumous ‘Records of Achievement’ Award
The National Archives Foundation posthumously bestowed its 2019 Records of Achievement Award on Roberts during a November 13 event that celebrated her life and legacy.
How ‘Suffragents’ Helped Women Get the Vote
A recent discussion at the National Archives examined the role of men—“suffragents”—sympathetic to the drive for woman suffrage in the early 20th century.
Filmmaker Explores ‘Just Like Me’ Experiences of Vietnam War
In Just Like Me: The Vietnam War—Stories From All Sides, filmmaker Ron Osgood presented a multiperspective documentary on the conflict, featuring personal accounts from all sides.
‘Undaunted’ Congresswoman Jackie Speier Recounts Jonestown Massacre Survival
Speier recounted her survival of the 1978 Jonestown massacre and her persistence through the many ups-and-downs that followed in her memoir, Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back.
FOIA Ombudsman Helps DHS Improve Process
The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) helped the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) improve its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices through assessments and recommendations.
Archives Audience Among First to See ‘Summoned,’ Story of Frances Perkins
Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare, the first film biography of Frances Perkins, explores the many achievements of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor.
Former Members of Congress, Journalists Examine Evolving Free Press
In the era of social media, the competition to be the first to report challenges the authentication processes that make journalism not only responsible but also ethical. A panel of former lawmakers and journalists discussed these challenges.
Children Enjoy National Archives Sleepover
At the National Archives Sleepover on October 12, children from around the country engaged in activities that encouraged exploration of Archives records and spread their sleeping bags in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
Thomas Paine’s Attitudes Toward Religion Impacted His Legacy, Author Says
Harlow Giles Unger, author of Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence, discussed Paine's often-overlooked accomplishments in writing, poetry, science, and engineering.
OGIS Celebrates a Decade of Resolutions
The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), which acts as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ombudsman, celebrated its 10th anniversary and National Ombuds Day on October 10.
Author Discusses Struggles of Ivy League Women in 1960s
The author of Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant tells the story of five young women as they navigated the turbulent first years of coeducation.
Historian Explores How 'We The People' Fought for Change in Tobacco Regulation
Sarah Milov’s bookThe Cigarette: A Political History examines how everyday Americans prompted change in Federal regulations governing the advertisement, sale, and distribution of tobacco products.
Film Screening at National Archives Honors Peace Corps’s ‘Towering Task’
A Towering Task explores the many facets of the Peace Corps’s 60-year history, from the signing of Executive Order 10924 on March 1, 1961, through the present.
Double Feature Documentary Screening Honors Woman’s Suffrage
In connection with the exhibit Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, the National Archives presented a dual screening of Suffragettes in the Silent Cinema and Silent Feminists: America's First Women Directors.
Justice Gorsuch Reflects on the Constitution
In a conversation with Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch spoke about his new book on the Constitution, A Republic, If You Can Keep It.
‘19: The Musical’ Tells the Story of Woman Suffrage
"19: The Musical" explores the suffragist movement and the countless suffragists whose efforts led to the passing of the 19th Amendment.
National Archives Welcomes New Citizens
Thirty-one new United States naturalized citizens took the oath of allegiance at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, DC, on Constitution Day, September 17, 2019.
Lincoln in the Pre-War YearsSidney Blumenthal, author of The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln: All the Powers of Earth 1856–1860, volume III of his biography of Lincoln, discussed Lincoln's thinking during those four critical years.
Eisenhower Library Exhibit Showcases 1919 Transcontinental Convoy
On the centennial of the Transcontinental Motor Convoy, the National Archives and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library look back at the hardships and accomplishments of the coast-to-coast expedition.
Truman Library Begins Major Renovation ProjectThe Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO, is undergoing a year-long renovation that will result in a new Truman permanent exhibition, new amenities for visitors, and enhanced educational and community programming.
Biographer Defends George Mason
Despite his opposition to the newly drafted Constitution in 1787, George Mason was “one of the ablest constitutionalists of all time,” according to the author of a new biography of the Founding Father.
Leaders Address Evolution of Archives Profession
Archivist David S. Ferriero and several other National Archives staff spoke at the joint annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists and the Council of State Archivists.
Museum Receives Millionth Visitor of the Year
The National Archives Museum welcomed a California sixth grader on her family's first trip to Washington, DC, as the one millionth visitor of 2019 on Friday, August 16.
The Spies Behind Lincoln’s ‘Secret War to Save a Nation’
Douglas Waller stopped by the National Archives on August 8 to discuss the “secret battles” undertaken by Union agents in his book Lincoln’s Spies: Their Secret War to Save a Nation.
Author Investigates ‘Great Partnership’ Between Robert E. Lee & Stonewall Jackson, Implications for the ‘Fate of the Confederacy’On August 6, the National Archives hosted Christian B. Keller to speak about the unique bond between Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson in his book, The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Fate of the Confederacy.
Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison died August 5, 2019, at the age of 88.
Apollo 11 Documentary Creators Speak at National Archives for Film Screenings
In the William G. McGowan Theater on July 18, the National Archives hosted two screenings of the award-winning documentary Apollo 11, which consists largely of archival footage that was provided by the National Archives and digitally scanned by the film’s production company.
Young Women Leaders Visit National Archives During ‘Girl Up’ Summit
Hundreds of young female leaders aged 13–22 from across the United States and around the world visited the National Archives Museum as part of the eighth annual Girl Up Leadership Summit.
Citizen Archivists Digitize Buffalo Soldiers’ Records During Scan-a-thon
Volunteers participated in a “scan-a-thon” at the National Archives in Washington, DC, to digitize pension files of African American soldiers who served between 1866 and 1892.
Volunteer Sheds Light on Story Behind Rotunda Murals
Lester Gorelic, an author and volunteer docent at the National Archives, recently shared the results of his extensive research into the story of the murals in the National Archives Rotunda.
Kids Learn Genealogy at National Archives Camp
This summer a group of kids in National Archives Genealogy Camp learned about the types of records the National Archives holds and how to dig deep into their family histories.
NARA Digitizes More than 500 Volumes of U.S. Navy Muster Rolls
The National Archives partnered with the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of Washington to digitize more than 500 volumes of U.S. Navy muster rolls.
Vice President Welcomes New Citizens During Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony
At a July 4, 2019, naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, DC, Vice President Pence welcomed new U.S. citizens. Forty candidates came from 29 countries.
Truman Library Celebrates Harry and Bess’s 100th Wedding Anniversary
The Truman Library marked the June 28 anniversary with a public celebration that culminated in a marriage vow renewal ceremony with more than 100 couples.
Students 
Create Tool Using Records to Help Navy Vietnam Veterans Get Benefits
When University of Virginia students used National Archives records to compile data for a team project, they had no idea how valuable their research would become to thousands of Vietnam veterans.
Panel Discusses Challenges for Women Candidates for Office
During a discussion on “The Female Candidate for Office: Challenges and Hurdles,” former members of Congress shared their own stories and advice for women considering running for office.
Celebrating Partnerships During International Archives Week
The National Archives has a long history of cooperation with many archives around the world. One example brought together the Archives and the State Records Management and Archives Department of Vietnam.
Display Commemorates 75th D-Day Anniversary
To mark the 75th anniversary of the D-day, the National Archives presents a document display and special programs relating to the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy.
National Archives Celebrates Walt Whitman’s 200th Birthday
Born 200 years ago on May 31, 1819, Whitman remains a fixture in the nation’s literary canon. The National Archives has several unexpected connections to this great poet.
Women’s Voting Rights Exhibit Opens at National Archives
The National Archives launched its newest exhibit, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, today at its museum in Washington, DC, as visitors and tourists eagerly awaited the opportunity to see it for the first time.
Utah Borrows Pacific Railroad Act for 150th Anniversary Display
On this day 150 years ago, the Transcontinental Railroad opened, officially connecting the east and west coasts of the United States. Its completion had dramatic economic, cultural, and political significance for the nation.
National Archives Receives Donation of Monuments Man's Diary
The National Archives received the World War II–era diary of S. Lane Faison, a “Monuments Man” who wrote the official report on Adolf Hitler's looted art collection.
Declassified Records Shed Light on Argentine History
The National Archives recently released the final installment of newly declassified U.S. Government records, marking the completion of the U.S. Declassification Project for Argentina.
National Archives Hosts 'Puzzling' Event
For just a couple of hours last evening after closing to the public, the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, was the scene of a couple dozen clue-gathering, mystery-solving, puzzle-decoding adult sleuths.
The National Archives Celebrates the 19th Amendment
The National Archives will soon unveil a new exhibit, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and its impact on our nation’s history. A range of public and education programs are planned to celebrate the centennial of the amendment that extended the right to vote to women.
Finding an Elephant at the National Archives
An archivist at the National Archives in Kansas City recently discovered a “very unique patent” for an elephant structure among the millions of U.S. patent records in the National Archives.
Archives Hosts Annual DC National History Day
The National Archives and Records Administration hosted more than 325 middle and high school students from the nation’s capital for National History Day. The students competed for a chance to participate in the national competition this June.
Emancipation Proclamation and DC Emancipation Exhibits Celebrate Freedom
The National Archives will display two historically significant documents and offer other related programs this April to celebrate DC Emancipation Day and honor President Abraham Lincoln’s life.
National Archives Presents Rare Chance to View NATO Treaty
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty and the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, DC, the National Archives will display the landmark document in its museum through April 2, 2019.
Celebrating Mr. Rogers at the National Archives
Fred McFeely Rogers, more fondly known as Mr. Rogers by generations of children and their parents, was an American icon and a pioneer in children’s television programming for more than 50 years. In celebration of Rogers’s birthday, the National Archives highlights several records from our holdings, including Rogers’ draft card and his selective service records.
Visitor Makes Last-Minute Trek Across Country to See ‘Remembering Vietnam‘ Exhibit
More than a quarter of a million visitors toured the “Remembering Vietnam“ exhibit at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, during its recent 15-month run. One visitor, Caitlin Merrell from Colorado, made the last-minute, cross-country trek to see it during its final few hours.
National Archives Celebrates Open Government During Sunshine Week
The National Archives and Records Administration kicked off its Sunshine Week celebration with an afternoon of speakers and panel discussions focusing on the role of open government and electronic recordkeeping—past, present, and future.
National Archives Film Footage Fuels Apollo 11 Film
Crafted from unseen film footage and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings, a new documentary transports moviegoers to the heart of NASA’s most celebrated mission—Apollo 11, the one that first put men on the Moon and forever made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin into American icons.
First African American Congresswoman Featured at National Archives
The life and contributions of Shirley Chisholm—the first African American woman elected to Congress—will be celebrated this month at the National Archives and Records Administration.
2018
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Welcomes New American Citizens
The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, welcomed 31 naturalized American citizens during a ceremony in the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, DC.
Miss Saigon Cast Tours "Remembering Vietnam" Exhibit
For some cast and crew members of the Broadway hit musical Miss Saigon, their recent visit to the National Archives exhibit “Remembering Vietnam” transformed the way they will share and perform their story on stage.
National Archives Awards Grant to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
The National Archives grants program, carried out via the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, awarded $325,152 to support a project for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to create an online platform and make historical records in the Dakota/Lakota language publicly available.
Records Tell Story of Women’s Struggles for Equal Rights
Deputy Archivist of the United States Debra Steidel Wall welcomed a panel of experts on women's rights at the National Archives in Washington, DC.
National Archives Mourns Passing of President George H. W. Bush
The National Archives and Records Administration will take part in a national day of mourning for George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States, who died on November 30 at the age of 94.
Canadian Library and Archives Officials Discuss Indigenous Initiatives
Senior officials from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) presented several initiatives taken by that nation to preserve records related to their indigenous peoples during a panel discussion at the National Archives and Records Administration at College Park, Maryland, on November 14, 2018.
Efforts Begin to Digitize 377 Native Treaties
The National Archives and Records Administration has begun an effort to conserve and digitize 377 native treaties for inclusion in the agency’s online catalog. The project will add the treaties and supplemental records to the digital catalog, providing worldwide public access to them for the first time.
New York City Archives Exhibits Native Nations Treaties
The National Archives at New York City recently unveiled a new semi-permanent exhibit, “Be it Remembered: Treaties with Native Nations,” transforming the lower level lobby of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in lower Manhattan into a new museum space.
Vietnam Veteran Pilots Reunited With Helicopter They Flew in Combat
When retired U.S. Army helicopter pilots George Chapman and Matthew McGuire heard about a Vietnam-era helicopter display this week on the National Archives lawn, they knew they had to visit Washington, DC, to see it.
Records Shed Light on Last American Killed in World War I
In a recent video, Archives Specialist Mitchell Yockelson relates the story of the last American killed in World War I—two minutes before the Armistice took effect.
Veteran Pilots Display Vietnam-Era Helicopters at National Archives
Three Vietnam-era helicopters were displayed on the lawn of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, as part of a week-long celebration honoring veterans.
Combat Photographers Talk about ‘Shooting’ the War in Vietnam
In observance of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the National Archives and Records Administration hosted a panel of five combat photographers who shared their war service experiences.
At Native-Themed Sleepover, Guests Learn History with Hands-On Experience
On the night of the National Archives Sleepover, children learned Native American history from guest speakers and an array of primary sources.
Virtual Fair Reaches Thousands of Genealogists Across the Globe
The National Archives hosted its biggest genealogy event of the year on October 24, 2018. This fair was a live, virtual event conducted by webcast with thousands of viewers from more than 40 countries.
Author Connects 1968 Events and LBJ Presidency
By all accounts, 1968 was a tumultuous year in American history. Historian Kyle Longley explores the effects of these events 50 years ago and the role they played during the Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
New Citizens Sworn In on Constitution Day
Thirty-one new United States naturalized citizens from 25 different countries took the oath of allegiance on Constitution Day at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, DC, just steps away from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Records Provide Reminder of Devastating 1938 Hurricane
As much of the southeastern seaboard of the United States braces for “Hurricane Florence” this weekend, records from the National Archives in Boston provide a look back at the deadly “Great New England Hurricane” that devastated much of coastal New England in 1938.
National Archives Aims to Enhance Civic Literacy
At a symposium on the state of civic engagement in America, the National Archives launched a new web page promoting civic education.
Leaders Share National Archives’ Vision for a Digital Future
The National Archives’ strategic plan is a major step toward 21st-century records management, the Deputy Archivist of the United States said last week during a major conference of archival professionals.
Presidential Library Director Named President of Archivists' Society
Meredith Evans, Director of the Jimmy Carter Library, assumes leadership of the Society of American Archivists.
National Archives Works to Release Records Related to Judge Kavanaugh
Each time a candidate is nominated to the Supreme Court by the President, the staff at the National Archives and Records Adminstration immediately begin the task of reviewing and releasing records related to that nominee.
National Archives Guides Federal Agencies on Managing Electronic Records
Earlier this week, the National Archives and Records Administration held its first forum to discuss management of digital records moving into the 21st century.
Tracing a Soldier’s Service at the Archives
Photo historian Larry West acquired an image of a black Civil War soldier and set out to find out details of the man’s history.
National Archives Records Related to Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh
The mission of the National Archives and Records Administration is to provide access to the permanent records of the Federal Government, which include Presidential records from Presidential Libraries.
Archives Recalls Fire That Claimed Millions of Military Personnel Files
The National Archives and Records Administration recently marked the 45th anniversary of a devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, that destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files.
Baseball Records Provide Historical Perspective on All-Star Game
As baseball's annual All-Star Game comes to the nation's capital, the National Archives provides historical context by sharing some of the many artifacts, documents, and images in our records from games past.
National Archives Loans Artifacts from the Titanic
The National Archives loaned 14 original items and dozens more facsimiles to the National Geographic Society for a new exhibition about the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
Records Illustrate American Icons’ Complex Relationship
Author and journalist David Margolick explores the untold story of the complex and ever-evolving relationship between the Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy.
Thousands Celebrate Independence Day at National Archives
The annual Independence Day Celebration at the National Archives featured a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, music, Revolutionary War–era guests, and family activities.
Ferriero Praises Proposal Inclusion in President’s Reform Plan
The Archivist of the United States applauded the inclusion of the National Archives and Record Administration’s reform proposal in the President’s plan to reform and reorganize the Federal Government.
Panel Examines Citizen Engagement in U.S. History
From the nation’s founding and the abolitionist movement to the civil rights marches of the 1960s and student activism in the social media age, citizen engagement has played a critical role in shaping our nation’s history. The National Archives recently hosted a cross-generational, bipartisan discussion on how citizen movements have influenced—or failed to influence—policymakers in the United States.
Rare Home Movies Show FDR Walking
Previously unseen and historically significant home movie footage of President Franklin Roosevelt walking at the 1935 White House Easter Egg Roll—made available by the National Archives and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum—offers a rare glimpse into the life of the former chief executive.
National Archives Awards Grants
The National Archives grants program, carried out through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, recently awarded 31 grants totaling more than $4 million for projects in 15 states. Fourteen of those projects seek to provide public access to historical records.
Workshop Participants Enjoy National Archives ‘Escape Room’ Experience
What do flying saucers, mythical creatures, the lunar landing, Santa Claus, and secret codes have in common? Visitors to the National Archives Museum found the answer through a series of clues, cyphers, and puzzles.
Hockey Exhibit Honors Stanley Cup Win
Hockey mania has taken over Washington, DC. With the Washington Capitals’ recent Stanley Cup victory—the first one in franchise history—Washingtonians are #ALLCAPS these days.
Archives Displays Hamilton Documents in Unique Exhibit
Records related to one of our nation’s founders are paired and displayed with lyrics from a smash Broadway musical, Hamilton, in an innovative new exhibit at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.
Citizen Archivists Help Make Access Happen, One Scanned Record at a Time
Citizen archivists recently helped the National Archives and Records Administration reach a new milestone, collectively scanning their 300,000th page for inclusion in the National Archives Catalog. It’s all part of an agency-wide effort to make more records publicly accessible online.
Archives Welcomes Award-Winning Authors of Children’s Literature
Caldecott and Newbery award–winning authors will share their experiences and inspiration with aspiring young authors at the National Archives Museum for the second annual “Write” Stuff event on June 2, 2018.
Ferriero to Serve on Semiquincentennial Celebration Commission
Ferriero is one of nine Federal Government officials tasked with facilitating national plans to observe and commemorate the occasion along with eight members of Congress and 16 private citizens.
Thief’s Sentencing Sends ‘Strong Message’
When a Federal judge sentenced Antonin DeHays, it marked the end of a long and twisted tale involving the theft of hundreds of American artifacts.
National Archives Hosts Career Diplomats to Discuss Women in Foreign Service
A panel of female career diplomats discussed their personal experiences during a recent event at the National Archives.
Archives Hosts National History Day
More than 270 middle and high school students from Washington, DC, enriched their understanding of history this week with a visit to the National Archives, which hosted an educational event for National History Day.
Combat Artists Share War Experience
Combat artists create art out of the experience of war. Several such artists recently shared their stories at the National Archives, which hosted a panel discussion of their artistic work and wartime experiences.
Archives Exhibit Honors Betty Ford
The National Archives will open a special exhibit this week dedicated to former First Lady Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Ford. The exhibit includes rarely seen objects, documents, and photographs that highlight Betty Ford’s courage and candor when speaking publicly about her own personal battle with breast cancer.
National Archives Shares Hall-of-Famers’ Baseball-Related Patents
As Major League Baseball gets a new season under way, fans around the country are looking forward to rooting for their favorite teams in the months ahead. Lovers of baseball can also look back on some interesting National Archives records related to the all-American pastime, including patents held by former players, some of whom are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Records Help Tell Story of USS Juneau, Sullivan Brothers
Last week, a team of civilian explorers discovered the USS Juneau, which was lost during World War II, near the Solomon Islands. In 1942, torpedoes from a Japanese submarine split the light-cruiser in half, sinking it almost immediately in the Pacific Ocean. More than 600 sailors died that day, including perhaps the most well-known case of siblings lost during the war.
Archives Loans Artifacts to Thai Exhibition
A new exhibition that opened this week in Bangkok, Thailand, highlights 200 years of United States-Thai friendship and features more than 40 records and gifts loaned from the National Archives and Records Administration.
This Grand ExperimentDuring the Civil War era, the Federal Government needed to expand its workforce, but the jobs paid too little for most qualified men to even consider the vacancies. So the Government tried a new approach to filling its personnel shortage: It opened its payrolls to women for the first time.
First Ladies Help Define Early America
The nation’s earliest three First Ladies played a pivotal role in defining the nature of the American Presidency to a fledgling nation and to the world, according to the author of a new book on the subject.
Archives Celebrates Information Access
The National Archives and Records Administration will host several events in observance of Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide celebration of access to public information.
Ohio Girl Attends Archives Sleepover
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero recently invited nine-year-old Ohio resident Madeline Gurbach and her dad, Matthew, to an educational sleepover event held at the National Archives. Learn more about how Madeline received this invitation and activities at the 10th museum sleepover.
Rare Opportunity to See the Emancipation Proclamation
Visitors to the National Archives will have the rare opportunity to view the original Emancipation Proclamation in the East Rotunda Gallery during the weekend of February 17-19, 2018, in observance of African American History Month and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Author Discusses Jefferson’s Daughters
Founding Father Thomas Jefferson had three daughters, but they led very different lives in the newly-colonized America, according to author Catherine Kerrison, who presented the findings of her book research to a packed house at the National Archives last week.
Do Records Show Proof of UFOs?
Over the years, many researchers and scientists have scoured government documents at the National Archives in search of proof that life exists beyond Earth. The National Archives and Records Administration is actually home to several collections of documents pertaining to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or “flying disks.”
Winter Olympic Patent RecordsWhen people think of the Winter Olympics, the National Archives and Records Administration might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But did you know that the agency is custodian of several patents related to winter sports played in those Olympic games?
Citizen Archivists Tag Records
The National Archives held a Citizen Archivist Week of Service this week; the goal was to have citizens “tag” and transcribe primary source documents—2,018 pages to be exact—in the National Archives Catalog. As the week-long event came to a close, more than 3,500 pages had been transcribed by 430 citizen archivists.
2017
Journalists Share Vietnam Experiences
Japanese videojournalist Yasutsune "Tony" HIrashiki and a panel of distinguished journalists discuss the role of the television journalist during the Vietnam War and how it influenced subsequent conflicts.
Utah Honor Flight Veterans Visit National Archives’ Remembering Vietnam Exhibit
Forty-eight Vietnam War veterans came from Utah as part of an Honor Flight to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where they attended the November 10 public opening of the Remembering Vietnam exhibit
Hagel Brothers Share Vietnam War Story
They were two brothers serving in one combat unit, who between them earned five Purple Hearts. Theirs is a tale of military service and sacrifice in Vietnam. Brothers Chuck and Tom Hagel shared their story with the National Archives.
National Archives' Declassification Center Releases Panama Canal Diplomatic Records
These records provide insight and perspective into treaty negotiations, interactions between the American Embassy and U.S. Government agencies on the Canal, the impact of Panamanian politics and elections on treaty negotiations, and the general unrest caused by the U.S. presence in the Canal Zone.
Records Help Author Tell Code Girls' Story
More than 10,000 women played a pivotal role in helping the United States and its Allies win World War II through the highly complex work of deciphering encrypted messages.
Tom Hanks Receives Foundation's Records of Achievement Award
The National Archives Foundation honored Hanks on October 21 for his work in helping to tell America’s story by awarding him the Records of Achievement Award.
National Archives Personnel Train for Disaster Response
National Archives conservators, preservationists, and technicians gained hands-on experience in emergency response and salvage decision-making through a simulated disaster area—enabling them to test their skills in recovery and restoration of water-logged facsimile records and objects.
National Archives Welcomes New Citizens
Thirty new United States naturalized citizens took the oath of allegiance last week at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, DC. Sworn in just steps away from the Charters of Freedom, the new Americans hail from 22 different countries.
Australian Archives Official Shares Digital Records Experience
Anne Lyons, a member of the National Archives of Australia’s executive team, spoke about Australia’s experience transitioning to digital record keeping during an August 31, 2017, presentation at NARA’s College Park facility.
The King and I cast visits the National Archives
The cast and crew of the Kennedy Center’s production of The King and I toured the National Archives for a first-hand look at historic documents from King Mongkut of Siam and the United States.
Historians Discuss Their Discovery of “Sussex Declaration”
There are only two known in the world—parchment manuscripts of the Declaration of Independence dating back to the 18th century. One is held by the National Archives and displayed to the public in Washington, DC. The other was recently discovered in Chichester, England, by two Harvard University historians, who spoke about their discovery at the National Archives.
Hidden Treasure: Uncovering Panoramic Photographs of Alaska at the National Archives
As the National Archives and Records Administration commemorates the 150th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867, the agency’s facility at College Park is hosting an exhibition of panoramic images taken in the territory during the early parts of the 20th century.
Hoover Film Footage Likely First White House Color Home Movies
An audio-visual archivist working at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library discovered that some of former First Lady Lou Hoover’s home movies may in fact be the earliest color home movies ever taken at the White House.
National Archives’ Digital Records Help Irish Author Write History Books
The National Archives and Records Administration’s digitized records collection recently allowed an Irish author across the Atlantic Ocean to write two books, the latest one using NARA holdings as primary resources.
Correcting the Record on Dorothea Lange’s Japanese Internment Photos
To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of FDR’s Executive Order 9066 that interned Japanese Americans during World War II, the National Archives makes widely available its extensive related holdings including photos, videos, and records that chronicle this chapter in American history.
Records Control Schedules
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