National Archives Celebrates Big! With Family Day and Films
Press Release · Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Washington, DC

The National Archives celebrates its exhibition “BIG! Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives,” in November with public programs including film screenings and a Taft Family Day. These programs will be held at 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.

BIG! Film series preview screening and discussion Moon Beat

Thursday, November 5, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
This award-winning new documentary from filmmaker Kevin Stirling recalls the 1969 flight of Apollo 11 from the perspective of the print, radio, and television journalists who covered it. Culled from hours of interviews, Moon Beat explores the behind-the-scenes world of the beat reporters, NASA media officials, and others who communicated the stories about the U.S. space program. John L. Wilhelm, former Time magazine senior science correspondent, will join Stirling for a post-screening discussion of the film. (90 minutes.) Presented by The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the National Archives.

Taft Family Day

Saturday, November 7, National Archives Building, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
This year marks the centennial of the inauguration of President Taft, whose recreated BIG bathtub can be found in the BIG! exhibition. Learn more about the biggest president, his life and the events during his administration with special hands-on activities designed for family audiences:

• Meet President and Mrs. Taft—Presidential Conference Rooms
• Participate in a Taft archival adventure—Boeing Learning Center
• Create your own political cartoon about the 1912 Presidential Election—Presidential Conference Room Lobby
• Watch early cinema in Before the Nickelodeon (1982, continuous 60 min. screenings)—Washington Room
• Play President Taft trivia bingo—Jefferson Room
• Take your picture next to a reproduction of President Taft’s bathtub—Jefferson Room
• Play with games and toys from the 1910s that were Taft’s favorites—Madison Room

BIG! Film series screening: The Wizard of Oz

Saturday, November 14, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
Kansas girl Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked by a tornado into the magical land of Oz in this much-loved musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic novel. Dorothy joins the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion on an adventure down the Yellow Brick Road to persuade the Wizard to help her find her way home. Winner of two Academy Awards.® (1939, 102 minutes.)

Don’t miss the BIG! Exhibition

The National Archives celebrates its 75th year in 2009 with an exhibition featuring big records, big events, and big ideas. At a time when many people struggle to see documents and images on smaller and smaller screens, the National Archives exhibition “BIG!” presents the nation’s original record in its full-scale glory. From the 13-foot scroll of the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, to the size 22 sneaker of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, the items in the exhibition are pieces of the American story—writ large. The exhibit, on display in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Building, runs through January 3, 2010. Fall/Winter hours (through March 14) are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily. (Closed Thanksgiving and December 25). Admission is free. BIG! related items are available in the Archives Shop. Call (202) 357-5271.

All programs are free and open to the public. To verify dates and times of the programs, call 202-357-5000 or view the Calendar of Events online.