Inside the Vaults – Discovering the Civil War

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Part Two of Discovering the Civil War opens at the National Archives in Washington, DC, on November 10! Rarely seen footage of Civil War veterans, intelligence gathering with balloons, prosthetic limbs, two different Thirteenth Amendments, and the Confederate States of … Continue reading Inside the Vaults – Discovering the Civil War

A midterm referendum on Abe Lincoln

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. History tends to show that  midterm elections are never particularly good for the sitting President. In 2006, many Republicans were moved from their seats due to dissatisfaction with George Bush's policies. In 1994, Republicans swept the House as a referendum … Continue reading A midterm referendum on Abe Lincoln

Ten things you didn’t know about the Civil War

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Part two of Discovering the Civil War opens at the National Archives in Washington, DC, in just 10 days! Spies, code breaking, personality conflicts over balloons, prosthetic limbs, two different Thirteenth Amendments, and the Confederate States of Mexico are just … Continue reading Ten things you didn’t know about the Civil War

FHF: The Beard Gap

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. In the history of Presidential elections, there has never been a battle of the beards. Beards have challenged mustaches. Mustaches have challenged clean-shaven candidates. Clean-shaven candidates have challenged beards. But never in the history of our republic, have two bearded … Continue reading FHF: The Beard Gap

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. These doughboys' morale could use a lift, Bryan, because the original caption reads "three 5,000 cubic feet Nurse Balloons in Hangar. Fort Sill, Oklahoma, May 1, 1918." So far as we can tell there are two balloons, not three in … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Seward’s time-traveling folly

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. One hundred forty three years ago today, the people of Alaska went to bed under the Russian flag, and awoke under the Stars and Stripes. They also woke up eleven days in the future. The purchase of Alaska was not … Continue reading Seward’s time-traveling folly

Where was the Navy born?

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Tomorrow there will be a spirited debate at the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. The Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, will be there. So will senior archivist Trevor Plante. They are convening at the museum that honors the … Continue reading Where was the Navy born?

Gesundheit!

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. When it comes to casualty statistics, we often compare wars. In World War II, it's estimated that 50 million were killed. During the Civil War, over a half million people lost their lives. In World War I, nearly 16 million were … Continue reading Gesundheit!

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The results are in! Our guest judge Tim Walch, director of the Hoover Presidential Library in Iowa, decided that Shannon's caption takes the prize. "This a wonderful, unexpected, quirky caption-and a great plug for a funny film. Also, we don't think about Rosemary Clooney … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

The orphan called Tokyo Rose

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The story of Tokyo Rose is the stuff of legends—an English-speaking Japanese woman who seduced the airwaves of the South Pacific with tales of Japanese success, Allied failures, and honest encouragement to give up the fight and return home. The … Continue reading The orphan called Tokyo Rose