‘Waist’ not, want not

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. "They say that in the Army, the chow is mighty fine, A chicken jumped off the table and started marking time. Oh Lord, I wanna go, Oh Lord I wanna go Oh Lord I wanna go home." There's talk in … Continue reading ‘Waist’ not, want not

Sex…and the Civil Rights Bill

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Forty-seven years ago this past Saturday, Martin Luther King, Jr., touched a nation with his inspiring words. Just six months later in February of 1964, one small but powerful word was added to the House version of the divisive Civil Rights Act. Representative Howard Smith of Virginia … Continue reading Sex…and the Civil Rights Bill

Facial Hair Friday: In honor of MLK

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at center. (542015 / 306-SSM-4C(51)15)This Saturday marks the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I have a dream" speech. I was looking through ARC at the pictures of how many people participated, when I … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: In honor of MLK

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Rebecca, it may be time to quit your day job. You have wowed another one of our guest judges, Kathleen Williams, Executive Director of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The actual caption for this fund-raising fanatic? "The 'Human … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Happy Birthday, National Park Service!

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. On this day in 1916, the National Park Service was formed within the Department of Interior.

Tornado saves capital, scares British

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. One hundred and ninety-six years ago today, the British sacked the District of Columbia. They were, in turn, sacked by a tornado. In 1814, the British wanted revenge. U.S. troops had burned the legislative building,  government structures, and private warehouses … Continue reading Tornado saves capital, scares British

Ellis Island on the West Coast

For the thousands of immigrants from Europe, the entrance to America was through Ellis Island. As they sailed by New York City, they could see the Statue of Liberty standing in the harbor like a watchful guardian. For immigrants from China and the Pacific Rim, another type of guardian awaited them in San Francisco Bay. They would … Continue reading Ellis Island on the West Coast

Facial Hair Friday: Utopia above the Lower 48

These might look like two gentlemen out for a stroll in the early twentieth century, but the well-bearded gentlemen on the right is William Duncan, founder of  Metlakahtla, a Utopian community. The man on the left with the mustache is Sir Henry S. Wellcome, who founded the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome & Company, which later became … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Utopia above the Lower 48

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Eve Warner takes the cake as the caption contest conquistador this week. Those of us in the Washington, DC, area who have experienced a spate of power outages over the month can certainly sympathize with the defrosting deluge that occurs … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Women can’t vote, but they can run for Congress

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. While the Constitution does not say who is eligible to vote, it does say who is eligible to run for Congress. No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five Years, and been … Continue reading Women can’t vote, but they can run for Congress