National Archives Continues Year-Long 75th Anniversary Celebration in November
Press Release · Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Washington, DC

Special films and author lecture celebrate important anniversary

The National Archives continues its 75th Anniversary celebration in November 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. (Closed Thanksgiving and December 25).

Film: 75th Anniversary Noontime Film Series: From the Vaults: War & Conflict
Thursday, November 12, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
From the Vaults: War & Conflict continues the 75th Anniversary Film Series with a selection of short films from the holdings of the National Archives including Our America at War (1941), John Huston’s The Battle of San Pietro (1944), UN Offensive (1950), and others. (75 minutes.) Please note—some scenes may be disturbing to younger viewers.

Noontime Lecture: 75th Anniversary Author Lecture Series:
Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS– by Elizabeth P. McIntosh
Wednesday, November 18, at noon, Jefferson Room
Within the ranks of America’s intelligence community, former agent Elizabeth P. McIntosh is a legend. A one-time war correspondent, the young McIntosh joined the fledgling Office of Strategic Services in 1943, plunged into her assigned task of running morale operations against the Japanese, and went on to become a longtime employee of the CIA. In Sisterhood of Spies, McIntosh tells the story of undercover women, including Marlene Dietrich and Julia Child. A book signing will follow the program, and the book can be purchased in advance at a discount by calling the Archives Shop at 202-357-5271.

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.

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.

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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