National Archives News

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

In January, to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we remember his contributions to the nation and his role in the civil rights movement. Additional resources about African American history can be found on the African American History special topics page and the African American Research page.

Featured Documents and Online Exhibits

Kennedy Library: Correspondence between Martin Luther King Jr. and the White House

Johnson Library: Documents and telephone conversations relating to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today's Document: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

NARA Preservation Tumblr: MLK's Selective Service System Draft Card

NARA Flickr: Civil Rights March on Washington, DC, August 28, 1963

Blogs

Ford in Focus: Dr. King

JFK Library Archives: “Understand Our Urgency:” Oral Histories by Black Americans

Pieces of History: January 18, 1964–Martin Luther King Jr. & LBJ

Pieces of History: LBJ and MLK

Pieces of History: Facial Hair Friday: In Honor of MLK

Preservation at the National Archives Tumblr: MLK's Selective Service System Draft Card

Reagan Library Education Blog: What Goes Into Making a Federal Holiday: Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Rediscovering Black History: The Week of April 4, 1968: A Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rediscovering Black History: “…there is no East, no West..:” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visits Cold War Berlin

Rediscovering Black History: Celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday and Legacy

Today's Document: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Portrait

Unwritten Record: Making The March

Education Resources

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Fight for Civil Rights

Martin Luther King Jr. and Memphis Sanitation Workers

1963 March on Washington

Kennedy Library: Leaders in the Struggle for Civil Rights - Martin Luther King Jr.

Reagan Library: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Video Resources

Martin Luther King at the Lincoln Memorial August 1963

Martin Luther King Clip Reel

Nine short stories on Martin Luther King, Jr., produced by the USIA for Black History month. Stories include: King holiday; wreath-laying at the Lincoln Memorial; Jesse Jackson on MLK; King/Civil Rights; Reagan speaking to schoolchildren; MLK bust unveiled at the Capitol; Andrew Young reflects; MLK celebration/Atlanta;and MLK celebration/Washington, DC.

Martin Luther King Press Conference

Martin Luther King, Jr., was interviewed by four journalists for “Press Conference U.S.A.,” a U.S. Information Agency (USIA) series that was distributed internationally.

The March (1963, restored)

To mark the 50th anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom, the Motion Picture Preservation Lab completed a full digital restoration of James Blue's monumental film, The March, in 2008.