The National Archives Celebrates President Woodrow Wilson's 150th Birthday in December
Press Release · Monday, November 13, 2006

Press Release
November 13, 2006

The National Archives Celebrates President Woodrow Wilson’s 150th Birthday in December

Washington, DC…December 7 - 10, 2006, the National Archives celebrates the 150th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson's birth with free public programming that includes an evening with historian H. W. Brands, a screening of Academy Award®–winning film Wilson, and a special family day filled with hands-on activities and comedic silent films.

The programs will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC. The National Archives is fully accessible. If you need to request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please e-mail public.program@nara.gov or call (202)357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.

H. W. Brands: Wilsonians All!-Thursday, December 7, at 7 p.m.
Woodrow Wilson’s vision of American responsibility for international order—radical when proposed, rejected by the Senate during his Presidency—has become commonplace, even if its implications remain controversial. Join H. W. Brands, historian and author of Woodrow Wilson, 1913–1921, as he examines how this happened and what it means. This program is presented in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in celebration of the Wilson Sesquicentennial.

Academy Award®–winning Wilson (1944)-Friday, December 8, 7 p.m.
Eric Vettel, Executive Director of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia, will introduce this superbly crafted biography starring Alexander Knox as Woodrow Wilson. It chronicles the political career of Woodrow Wilson, beginning with his decision to leave his post at Princeton to run for Governor of New Jersey, and his subsequent ascent to the Presidency of the United States. The film, which won five Academy Awards®, was directed by Henry King and stars Geraldine Fitzgerald and Thomas Mitchell.  (154 minutes.) Presented by The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the National Archives in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

Family Day Celebration -Sunday, December 10, noon–3 p.m.
Games, Hobbies, and Pastimes of the Wilson Era
William G. McGowan Theater and Lobby

Celebrate President Woodrow Wilson’s 150th birthday! Meet Wilson and his wife, Edith, and learn how Prohibition caused Americans to seek a variety of new leisure activities during the Wilson era.

Drink To Your Health-The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale of alcohol. Sip a cup of lemonade and ask a temperance activist why she supports Prohibition.

Play Games Galore-The card games Pit, Rook, and Flinch were popular during the Wilson era. Try a puzzle or build with TinkerToys or Lincoln Logs, both created during Wilson’s administration.

Unravel Puzzling Patents-Advances in technology during the early 1900s resulted in an explosion of newly patented items. Play the Patent Puzzler game, featuring patents found in the holdings of the National Archives.

Plant a Victory Garden-Mrs. Wilson and many American families planted Victory Gardens to help the war effort. Join the effort—decorate a garden stake and take seeds to plant in the spring.

Laugh at Silent Shorts-President Wilson often invited friends to his home to screen silent films. Join the fun by viewing some favorite comedic shorts of the Wilson era. Buster Keaton stars in One Week (1920), Cops (1922), and The Balloonatic (1923). (Each film approximately 20 minutes.)

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 357-5300.

To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events. To contact the National Archives, please call 1-866-272-6272 or 1-86-NARA-NARA (TDD) 301-837-0482.

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