Today’s guest post comes from Susan K. Donius, Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries at the National Archives. President Obama is an avid football fan, an interest shared by many of his predecessors in the White House. As young men, several future Presidents played football in high school and college. Other Presidents have enthusiastically assumed the … Continue reading 10 Football Facts Featuring U.S. Presidents
Today's blog post comes from Corinne Porter, curator at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. November 22, 2013, marks the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy. On that day in 1963, the news of President Kennedy’s tragic death shocked the world and plunged the United States into mourning. Although five … Continue reading “The whole world mourns his passing”
Some of our documents made a special trip across Constitution Avenue today, traveling from the National Archives Building to our neighbor on the Mall, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Tonight, the museum is hosting a dinner for this year's sixteen recipients of the nation's highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Over … Continue reading National Archives documents on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
It's been a great two weeks, but American Archives Month is coming to an end. We're saying good-bye to the series with a stop at the hometown of the 2013 World Series Champions: Boston, MA. Full name: Stacey Chandler Occupation: Archives Technician for Textual Reference at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library How long have … Continue reading American Archives Month: Stacey Chandler, Kennedy Presidential Library
Today's blog post comes from Susan Donius, Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries at the National Archives. It’s not often that several Presidents are together at one time, but on April 25, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum will be dedicated to the American public. Although many dignitaries from around the world will … Continue reading White House Reunions: Presidential Library Dedications
Today's guest post comes from Margaret Powell, MA, a decorative arts historian from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her areas of concentration are textile and costume history. She is a graduate of the Smithsonian Associates–Corcoran College of Art and Design History of Decorative Arts Masters Program. On September 13, 1953, the New York Times featured the wedding of … Continue reading The Remarkable Story of Ann Lowe: From Alabama to Madison Avenue
Today's post is written by archivist Dr. Greg Bradsher. When one thinks about President Kennedy’s naval career in World War II, what most often comes to mind is his command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109. Thanks to the 1963 movie PT 109, adapted from the 1961 book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War … Continue reading John F. Kennedy and PT Boat 59
Happy St. Patrick's Day! With all the hoopla over the upcoming release of the 1940 census on April 2, we haven't really been thinking about facial hair all that much. But then fellow National Archives staff member Jeannie (of the OurPresidents tumblr blog) sent me this photograph, and genealogy, facial hair, and St. Patrick's Day all … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: When Irish mustaches are smiling
Today's guest post comes from David Coleman, associate professor at the University of Virginia and Chair of the Presidential Recordings Program at the Miller Center of Public Affairs. On April 28, W.W. Norton will publish volumes 7 and 8 in the Miller Center's Presidential Recordings of Lyndon B. Johnson series. (The original tapes are in … Continue reading Pennsylvania Avenue Hotline
We're excited to pass the winning torch to our reader Michael P., whose caption met the high standard of our guest judge, National Archives editrix Maureen MacDonald. Congratulations, Michael P! You can use your 30% discount at the Archives eStore to buy something to read by lantern light. The actual caption on the photo in the Kennedy Library is … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
