National Archives Continues Year-Long 75th Anniversary Celebration in October
Press Release · Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Washington, DC

Special events, programs, and films celebrate important anniversary

The National Archives continues its 75th Anniversary celebration in October with special lectures, programs, and films. These events are free and open to the public and will be held in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, which is fully accessible. Attendees should use the Special Events Entrance on the corner of 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. National Archives fall/winter exhibit hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Noontime Lecture: 75th Anniversary Author Lecture Series
Wednesday, October 7, at noon Jefferson Room
Fruits of Victory: The Woman’s Land Army of America in the Great War
In Fruits of Victory, Elaine Weiss discusses the little-known story of the “farmerettes” who joined America’s land army when men were called to wartime service. Thousands of women were enlisted to run American farms on the rural home front during WWI to feed a nation at war. A book signing will follow the program, and the book is available from the Archives Shop. Call (202) 357-5271.

Film: 75th Anniversary Noontime Film Series: From the Vaults: The Struggle for Civil Rights
Thursday, October 22, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
This month’s installment presents a selection of short films from the holdings of the National Archives including The March, which documents the 1963 March on Washington, and Japanese-Americans, a 1945 film on the contributions of Nisei troops during WWII. (70 minutes.) Presented by The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the National Archives.

Noontime lecture: 75th Anniversary National Archives Expert Series
Friday, October 23, at noon, Jefferson Room
Featuring staff experts who focus on archival treasures discovered among the holdings of the National Archives
Stacey Bredhoff, museum curator at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, discusses President Kennedy’s inaugural address.

Background on the 75th anniversary

Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 19, 1934, the legislation established a National Archives to preserve the permanently valuable papers of the Federal government. Today the institution has become a cornerstone of our democracy, making billions of documents created by Federal officials available for inspection, thereby holding public officials accountable for their actions. See the 75th anniversary web site for highlights of defining moments in the agency’s history, photo galleries, and notices of special events at National Archives facilities nationwide.

The National Archives is fully accessible. To request an accommodation (i.e. a 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.

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For more information about programs and activities for the 75th anniversary, contact the National Archives public affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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