National Archives Public Programs in July and August
Press Release · Thursday, June 29, 2023

Washington, DC

In July and August, the National Archives will present free public programs at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, at its Presidential Libraries nationwide, and online. Programs this month include our annual July 4th at the National Archives! Celebration, as well as Young Learners Program offerings. 

(In Person and Online) National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy
Saturday, July 1, at 2 p.m. ET
William G. McGowan Theater and Online
Register to attend in person; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
In this book, Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, hosts of the National Treasure Hunt podcast, set the record straight, taking a scene-by-scene approach to prove that the 2004 film National Treasure, like protagonist Benjamin Franklin Gates, is not crazy but rather one step short. Their analyses unearth lesser-known stories from history while considering the ethics of character decisions, assessing comparisons with similar film franchises, interpreting key deleted scenes, and revealing behind-the-scenes secrets from filming. A book signing will follow the program.

(In Person Only) National Treasure
Saturday, July 1, at 5 p.m. ET
William G. McGowan Theater
Register to attend in person
Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), third-generation treasure hunter, has been searching for a great treasure hidden by America’s Founding Fathers. Gates’s pursuit leads him to an incredible clue—a secret message hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. When confronted with a rival treasure hunter (Sean Bean), Gates realizes that, in order to protect the world's greatest treasure, he must now steal the most revered, best-guarded document in American history before it falls into the wrong hands. Also stars Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight. (2004; 131 mins.; rated PG)

(In Person Only) Sunday Concert Series at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Sunday, July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 2 p.m. PT (note time change on July 2)
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
July 2:     Huntington Beach Concert Band Independence Day Concert from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the East Room 
July 9:     Eric Marchese and Friends - Ragtime Piano
July 16:   Roman Rudnystky - Pianist 
July 23:   Chamber Music Institute Concert
July 30:   Orange Empire Barbershop Chorus

(In Person Only) July 4th at the National Archives!
Tuesday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET 
National Archives Building, 701 Constitution Ave. NW
The National Archives Museum will have Extended Hours Until 7 p.m. July 1–4.
The National Archives marks the 247th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence with its traditional Fourth of July program in person! Highlights include welcoming remarks by Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, a variety of educational and family-friendly interactive programs with historical figures and Archives educators, and a lively, patriotic reading of the Declaration of Independence with WUSA9 News Anchor Allison Seymour as the event announcer. All July 4th activities are free and open to the public. The full schedule can be found here.

July 4th at the National Archives is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of John Hancock and Dykema.

(In Person and Online) Meet Frederick Douglass
Tuesday, July 4, at 2 p.m. ET
William G. McGowan Theater
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Meet Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838. He became an influential force in the abolition movement with his powerful speeches, including “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” and his antislavery newspaper, The North Star. Douglass continued to fight for rights of African Americans after slavery was abolished with the 13th Amendment. Douglass is portrayed by Phil Darius Wallace, actor, director, and writer. 

(Online Only)  Kid Detectives: Virtual History Camp at the National Archives 
July 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET
Register via email 
Discover how your family’s past connects to American history during this exciting and fun week at the National Archives. Work with other kid detectives and the National Archives Education staff to sleuth out your history using the resources of the National Archives! To register, email education@nara.gov, with “Kid Detectives History Camp” in the subject line.

This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation.

(Online Only) “Civics for All of US” Teacher Workshop - We the People: Teaching the Constitution for Elementary Educators
Tuesday, July 11, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Register to attend online
Looking closely at the Preamble of the Constitution, teachers will work with primary sources from the National Archives and consider how the interpretation of “We the People” has changed over time. Participants will leave the online program with strategies for teaching the Constitution in ways that expand its accessibility in their K–5 classrooms. Educators will also discover how to bring the Constitution to their classrooms through the Civics for All of US distance learning programs of the National Archives.

This program is a part of Civics for All of US,  the national civic education initiative from the National Archives. Our interactive teacher workshops draw upon the vast holdings of the National Archives to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need for civic engagement in the 21st century. Each program is led by one of our educators located at National Archives sites, the Center for Legislative Archives, and Presidential Libraries across the country. Visit civics.archives.gov for more information.

(Online Only) The Continental Dollar: How the American Revolution Was Financed with Paper Money with Speaker Farley Grubb
Wednesday, July 12, at 1 p.m. ET  
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
The Continental Dollar is a revelatory history of how the fledgling United States paid for its first war. Farley Grubb upends the common telling of this story, in which the United States printed Continentals to serve as an early fiat currency—a currency that is not tied to a commodity like gold but rather to a legal authority. As Grubb details, the Continental was not a fiat currency but a “zero-coupon bond”—a wholly different species of money. As bond payoffs were pushed into the future, the money’s value declined, killing the Continentals’ viability years before the Revolutionary War would officially end.

(In Person Only) Swing Era Music and Dance with the Beantown Swing Orchestra 
Wednesday, July 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
The Smith Center at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Register to attend in person
Join us for an evening of music and dance with the Beantown Swing Orchestra. In between sets and dance lessons, the group will lead an educational session on Swing Era music and its significance in World War II.     
The full schedule includes:
5 p.m. Dance set
5:45 p.m. Shim Sham line dance lesson
6 p.m. Swing Era presentation
6:50 p.m. Group swing dance lesson
7:15 p.m. Dance set

No partner or experience necessary for lessons. This program is part of a summer Late Nights at the Library series at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Our museum galleries, including the new special exhibit Service and Sacrifice: World War II—A Shared Experience, will be open free of charge from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food and drink options will be available for purchase, and our Museum Store will be open. 

(In Person Only) Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul
Wednesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. CT
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO
Register via email. 
New York Times best-selling author A. J. Baime shares the thrilling story of the 1948 Presidential election, one of the greatest election stories of all time, as Truman mounted a history-making comeback and staked a claim for a new course for America. 

A.J. Baime is the author of The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World, Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America’s Soul, and The Arsenal of Democracy. He is a longtime regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his articles have appeared in the New York Times, Popular Science, and Men’s Journal.

To guarantee your seat, register today by emailing attendee name(s) to: Truman.Events@nara.gov.

(Online Only) First Family: George Washington's Heirs and the Making of America
July 18, at 1 p.m. ET  
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Award-winning historian Cassandra A. Good shows how the outspoken step-grandchildren of George Washington played an overlooked but important role in the development of American society and politics from the Revolution to the Civil War. In First Family, we see Washington as a father figure, as well as meet the children he helped raise, and trace their complicated roles in American history. The children of Martha Washington’s son by her first marriage—Eliza, Patty, Nelly, and Wash Custis—were born into life in the public eye. Raised in the country’s first “first family,” they remained well known as Washington’s family and keepers of his legacy throughout their lives. Joining the author in conversation will be Lindsay M. Chervinsky, Senior Fellow at the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University.

(Online Only) The National Archives Comes Alive! Young Learners Program—Meet Ulysses. S. Grant
Thursday, July 20, at 11a.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States. After graduating West Point Military Academy, Grant served in the Mexican American War and later the U.S. Civil War for the Union. He rose through the ranks after a significant win at the battle of Vicksburg. Known for excellent horsemanship, dogged determination, and strategic maneuvering, he was eventually appointed as Commander of the Union Army (1864–65). His military accomplishments led to his nomination and two Presidential terms. Ulysses S. Grant is portrayed by Curt Fields.

This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation.

(In Person and Online) One More War to Fight: Union Veterans’ Battle for Equality Through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the Lost Cause
Thursday, July 20, at 1:30 p.m. ET
William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives Museum, Washington, DC
Register to attend in person; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Stephen A. Goldman looks at the contentious post–Civil War era from the perspective of Union soldiers who supported the civil rights efforts of Black comrades and of African Americans overall. He explores the root causes of this historic contest, the changing attitudes of northern servicemen with respect to the Civil War’s purpose, and the psychological effect of involvement in what, from hindsight, was an unfinished work in the cause of freedom and equality for all Americans. A book signing will follow the program.

(In Person Only) Storytime
Saturday, July 22, at 2 p.m. CT
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Register to attend in person; register to attend online. 
Come join us for stories of fireworks, picnics, sharing, and even a story about a tour of the White House. Plus we'll do a fun and colorful craft activity. Children of all ages are welcome.

(In Person Only) Daniel Wallace, author of  This Isn't Going to End Well
Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m. ET
Carter Museum Theater at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA
With his first memoir, acclaimed writer Daniel Wallace delivers a stunning book that is as innovative and emotionally resonant as his novels. Part love story, part true crime, part a desperate search for the self, This Isn't Going to End Well tells an intimate and moving story of what happens when we realize our heroes are human. 

(Online Only) Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Britain and the American Dream
Wednesday, July 26, at 1 p.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Peter Moore’s Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness tells the true story of what may be the most successful import in U.S. history: the “American dream.” Centered on the friendship between Benjamin Franklin and the British publisher William Strahan—and featuring figures including the cultural giant Samuel Johnson, the ground-breaking historian Catharine Macaulay, the firebrand politician John Wilkes, and revolutionary activist Thomas Paine—this book looks at the generation that preceded the Declaration in 1776. Moore argues that everyone, it seemed, had “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” on their minds and reveals how these ideals made their way across an ocean and started a revolution.

(In Person and Online) The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom
Wednesday, July 26, at 6 p.m. ET 
Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
Register to attend in person; watch on YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook 
The FDR Library and the Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project present a conversation with Albert M. Rosenblatt, author of The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center. This is a free public event, but registration is required. Registered attendees can visit the library's new exhibit, Black Americans, Civil Rights, and the Roosevelts, free of charge before the program, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

(In Person and Online) The Abolishment and Relocation of Native American Tribes
Thursday, July 27, at 12 p.m. CT
Library Indoor Courtyard at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, KS
Live stream on YouTube.
Guest speaker Michael Walch will discuss the Indian Termination Policy.

These programs are all made possible courtesy of the Eisenhower Foundation with generous support from the Jeffcoat Memorial Foundation.

(In Person Only) Stephen Bright and James Kwak, The Fear of Too Much Justice
Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET
Carter Museum Theater at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA 
Legendary death penalty lawyer Stephen B. Bright and legal scholar James Kwak offer a heart-wrenching overview of how the criminal legal system fails to live up to the values of equality and justice. The book ranges from poor people squeezed for cash by private probation companies because of trivial violations to people executed in violation of the Constitution despite overwhelming evidence of intellectual disability or mental illness. Free and open to the public.

(Online Only) “Civics for All of US” Teacher Workshop - The Bill of Rights Elementary Educators
Tuesday, August 1, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Register to attend online
Kids have rights! This online workshop will explore how to engage young learners in the active exploration of primary sources that teach about the rights embodied in the Bill of Rights. Educators will discover resources for teaching the Bill of Rights in the elementary school classroom, including interactive Civics for All of US distance learning programs, graphic organizers, and DocsTeach activities.

This program is a part of Civics for All of US,  the national civic education initiative from the National Archives. Our interactive teacher workshops draw upon the vast holdings of the National Archives to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need for civic engagement in the 21st century. Each program is led by one of our educators located at National Archives sites, the Center for Legislative Archives, and Presidential Libraries across the country. Visit civics.archives.gov for more information.

(Online Only) Korea: The Forgotten War 
Wednesday, August 2, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET
Part 1: 11 a.m. - Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Part 2: 1 p.m. - Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
The “ashes” of World War II were still smoldering as two conflicting ideologies collided in a far-away country, Korea, occupied by the Soviet Union and the United States. North Korea was influenced by its communist neighbor and in 1950 launched an invasion of South Korea. The “seesaw” war continued for three years until a ceasefire was agreed to in July 1953. In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, and in partnership with  the United States Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), U.S. Army War College (USAWC), we present two virtual panel discussions. In the morning program, Conrad Crane, USAWC Faculty, will discuss the war’s overall strategic and operational efforts, and Kaleb Dissinger, USAHEC Curator, will discuss the USAHEC collections that are available online and in person. The afternoon session will address some of the changes that occurred during this time, specifically, the changing roles of African Americans and women in the military presented by Michael Lynch, USAWC Faculty, and Britta Granrud of the Military Women’s Memorial.

(Online Only) “Civics for All of US” Teacher Workshop - The Bill of Rights Secondary Educators
Wednesday, August 2, from 2 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET
Register to attend online
Participants in this online workshop will study the history of the Bill of Rights by analyzing primary sources. Discussions will focus on how the Bill of Rights was developed into a charter of liberty, and the participants will consider the best ways to incorporate the study of the Bill of Rights in a civic education curriculum. Educators will also discover how to connect their students with the National Archives through Civics for All of US distance learning programs. 

This program is a part of Civics for All of US,  the national civic education initiative from the National Archives. Our interactive teacher workshops draw upon the vast holdings of the National Archives to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need for civic engagement in the 21st century. Each program is led by one of our educators located at National Archives sites, the Center for Legislative Archives, and Presidential Libraries across the country. Visit civics.archives.gov for more information.

(In Person Only) Sunday Concert Series at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Sunday, August 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 2 p.m. PT
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
August 6: LA Classics and Pop Ensemble
August 13: TBD
August 20: TBD
August 27: TBD

(Online Only) The Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat
Tuesday, August 8, at 1 p.m. ET
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Author Eileen A. Bjorkman will tell the story of the women military aviators of the 1970s and 1980s who kicked open the door to fly in combat in 1993—along with the story of the women who paved the way before them. In 1993, U.S. women earned the right to fly in combat, but the full story of how it happened is largely unknown. From the first women in the military in World War II to the final push in the 1990s, The Fly Girls Revolt chronicles the actions of a band of women who overcame decades of discrimination and prevailed. Drawing on extensive research, interviews with women who served in the 1970s and 1980s, and her personal experiences in the Air Force, Bjorkman weaves together a riveting tale of the women who fought for the right to enter combat and be treated as equal partners in the U.S. military. Joining the author in conversation will be Margie Clark Varuska, USAF Lieutenant Colonel (Ret), C-141 pilot, and a member of the first class of women to attend the USAF Academy.

(In Person and Online) August Evenings at Ease
Tuesday, August 8 at 7 p.m. CT
Library Indoor Courtyard at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, KS
Live streamed on YouTube.
The Evenings at Ease series is held the second Tuesday of alternating months. Our program theme is “Difficult Decisions.” Join us all year for a deep dive into the challenges faced during the Eisenhower era.

These programs are all made possible courtesy of the Eisenhower Foundation with generous support from the Jeffcoat Memorial Foundation.

(In Person and Online) Voting Deliberatively: FDR and the 1936 Presidential Campaign
Wednesday, August 9, at 6 p.m. ET 
Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
Register to attend in person; watch on YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook
The FDR Presidential Library presents a conversation with Mary E. Stuckey, author of Voting Deliberatively: FDR and the 1936 Presidential Campaign. This is a free public event, but registration is required. Registered attendees can visit the library’s new exhibit, Black Americans, Civil Rights, and the Roosevelts, free of charge before the program, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

(In Person Only) Summer Movie: Little Giants
Friday, August 11, from 7 p.m. to 9 pm C.T.
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Register to attend in person  
The third movie of our 2023 Summer Film Series will be Little Giants, which stars Rick Moranis and Ed O'Neill as Danny and Kevin O’Shea, two brothers living in a small Ohio town who coach rival Pee-Wee Football teams. This sports film from 1994 is filled with rich history and thought-provoking drama. Little Giants is rated PG and is 1 hour and 47 minutes long.

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs as we enjoy this film under the stars. Games and free snacks (while supplies last) will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will start just after sundown. You may bring your picnics and coolers, but please no pets or glass containers. 

This movie is being shown in conjunction with our upcoming exhibit A Spirit Can Ne’er Be Told...A Century of Aggie Football. Using original artifacts as well as historical photographs, documents, and audiovisual materials, A Spirit Can Ne’er Be Told… will allow visitors  to get an up-close look at the team’s history, from its first official football game in 1894 through the era of Coach Jimbo Fisher. The exhibit will highlight significant accomplishments, important coaches, and notable players, as well as the unique traditions and celebrations Aggies have known and loved for more than a century. A Spirit Can Ne'er Be Told... will be on display in the Ansary Gallery of American History from August 28, 2023, until April 28, 2024.

(Online Only) The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West
Wednesday, August 16, at 1 p.m. ET
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
The summer of 1876 was a key period in the development of the mythology of the Old West. Many individuals who are considered legends by modern readers were involved in events of that time: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, and Jesse James. Author Chris Wimmer weaves together the timelines of the events that made these men legends, demonstrating the overlapping context of their stories and illustrating the historical importance of that summer. Among the significant milestones marked in 1876 were the inaugural baseball season of the National League, the final year of President Ulysses S. Grant’s embattled administration, the debut of an invention called the telephone, the release of Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; and the massive 100th anniversary party thrown to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

(In Person and Online) Half American: the Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II
Wednesday, August 16, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET 
The Smith Center at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Register to attend in person; watch on YouTube  
Matthew Delmont, Dartmouth professor of history, discusses his recent book Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad, which explores the crucial contributions of the more than one million Black men and women who served in World War II, serving in segregated units and performing unheralded but vital support jobs, only to be denied housing and educational opportunities on their return home. Renée Graham, associate editor and columnist at the Boston Globe, moderates.

This program is part of a summer Late Nights at the Library series at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Our museum galleries, including the new special exhibit Service and Sacrifice: World War II - A Shared Experience, will be open free of charge from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food and drink options will be available for purchase, and our Museum Store will be open.

(Online Only) The National Archives Comes Alive! Young Learners Program: Meet Bessie Coleman
Thursday, August 17, at 11 a.m. ET
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Bessie Coleman was an American aviator in the early 20th century. Facing discrimination in America, Coleman went to France to earn an international pilot’s license. While abroad, she learned aerial stunts along with parachuting and performed at various air shows. As a public speaker, she supported Black aviation and intended to teach future generations about aviation. Bessie Coleman is portrayed by Daisy Century of American Historical Theatre.

This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation.

(In Person Only) Storytime
Saturday, August 19, at 2 p.m. CT
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Register to attend in person; register to attend online. 
Come join us for stories of fireworks, picnics, sharing, and even a story about a tour of the White House. Plus we’ll do a fun and colorful craft activity. Children of all ages are welcome.

(Online Only) Recasting the Vote: How Women of Color Transformed the Suffrage Movement
Tuesday, August 22, at 1 p.m. ET
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Author Cathleen D. Cahill tells the powerful stories of a multiracial group of activists who propelled the national suffrage movement toward a more inclusive vision of equal rights. Cahill reveals a new cast of heroines largely ignored in earlier suffrage histories: Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin, Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (Zitkala-Ša), Laura Cornelius Kellogg, Carrie Williams Clifford, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Adelina “Nina” Luna Otero-Warren. With these feminists of color in the foreground, Cahill recasts the suffrage movement as an unfinished struggle that extended beyond the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

(In Person and Online) A Personal Plight
Thursday, August 24 at 12 p.m. CT
Library Indoor Courtyard at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, KS
Live stream on YouTube.
Guest speaker James Young will discuss Eisenhower’s decision to run for a second term after his heart attack.

These programs are all made possible courtesy of the Eisenhower Foundation with generous support from the Jeffcoat Memorial Foundation.

(In Person and Online) 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington Film Screening
Friday, August 25, at 7 p.m. ET
William G. McGowan Theater and Online
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Join us in the McGowan Theater or on YouTube for a film screening and discussion of director James Blue’s 1964 film The March, which documented the August 28, 1963, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Speakers include David A. Frank, Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Oregon. The film was produced by the United States Information Agency (USIA).