Becoming Bigger and Better: The NPRC After the Great Fire of 1973

Fifty years ago, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO, destroyed millions of military personnel records. Visit the National Archives website for more information about the fire and its aftermath. Today’s post from Thomas Richardson, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center, was originally published in 2021 and has been … Continue reading Becoming Bigger and Better: The NPRC After the Great Fire of 1973

Escaping the White House: Camp David

On Friday, July 7, 2023, the National Archives is hosting a vacation-themed hashtag party. Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #ArchivesHashtagParty and #ArchivesVacay. Today’s post is from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office. Secluded in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland, not far from Washington, DC, sits an active naval base called … Continue reading Escaping the White House: Camp David

National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Fire

July 12, 2023, marks 50 years since the disastrous 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis that destroyed millions of military personnel records. To commemorate the occasion, we are featuring a three-part series on the fire and its aftermath. This post comes to you from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Fire

Facial Hair Friday: Tennessee Williams

In honor of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride month, we are celebrating openly gay playwright Tennessee Williams—as well as his excellently styled mustache! Today’s Facial Hair Friday comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. Tennessee Williams, 1948. (National Archives Identifier 276537817) Tennessee … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Tennessee Williams

Harvey Milk: Veteran

This June the National Archives is commemorating National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, which honors the important contributions that LGBTQ+ Americans have made to U.S. history and culture. Visit our website for more information. Today’s post is from Jen Hivick at the National Personnel Records Center, and looks at civil rights activist … Continue reading Harvey Milk: Veteran

Looking Beyond the “Battle of the Sexes”

This June the National Archives is celebrating National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, which honors the important contributions that LGBTQ+ Americans have made to U.S. history and culture. Today’s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, looks at tennis great Billie Jean King. Billie Jean King is a record-breaking … Continue reading Looking Beyond the “Battle of the Sexes”

National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center, we're featuring a three-part series. Today’s post comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. July 12, 1973, has loomed large in the history of the National Archives. That day, shortly … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

NARA Celebrates 75 Years of the International Council on Archives

Today’s post comes from Meg Phillips, External Affairs Liaison at the National Archives. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and our archival colleagues around the world are celebrating International Archives Week, June 5–9, 2023. Every year, International Archives Week commemorates the creation date of the International Council on Archives (ICA) on June 9, 1948.  … Continue reading NARA Celebrates 75 Years of the International Council on Archives

Archives Under the Sea: Shipwrecks at NARA

On Friday, June 2, 2023, the National Archives is hosting an underwater-themed hashtag party. Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #ArchivesHashtagParty and #ArchivesUndertheSea. Today’s post is from Caroline Shanley from the National Archives History Office.  The National Archives houses records that span the history of the National Park Service. Many of these records … Continue reading Archives Under the Sea: Shipwrecks at NARA

Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?

The subject of today’s Facial Hair Friday is the longtime and beloved host of the trivia game show Jeopardy!—Alex Trebek. In 2001 he shocked his viewers by shaving off the mustache he wore for his first 17 years on the show. While Alex Trebek is most known for hosting the award-winning trivia show Jeopardy!, he … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?