Hitler and his Dentist

Today's guest post comes from Miriam Kleiman of the Public and Media Communications Office. Before joining the Public Affairs staff, I was a researcher for the “Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group.” I reviewed records of Nazi war criminals, including those recruited by the U.S. intelligence. Needless to say, this … Continue reading Hitler and his Dentist

Four Patriots from Baseball’s Hall of Fame

Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. Each January, as frost and snow cover baseball fields across America, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides heartwarming news for fans of our national pastime. This is the season when the Baseball Writers' Association of America … Continue reading Four Patriots from Baseball’s Hall of Fame

NARA, Wikipedia, and the Day of Infamy

No, I'm not talking about January 18, when English Wikipedia went dark in protest of the House's  proposed Stop Online Piracy Act and the Senate's PROTECT IP Act. (Just 10 years ago, having no Wikipedia would not have fazed me in the least. We still had a dial-up Internet connection, and I regularly visited a brick-and-mortar library … Continue reading NARA, Wikipedia, and the Day of Infamy

Thursday Photo Caption Contest—January 19

Are you ready to return to captioning? Can you rewrite history with a humorous twist? Well, we're back! We've been scouring the digital archives looking for the finest photographs. We're lining up guest judges. We're setting aside the wacky, the wonderful, and the wordless images from our holdings. And we're looking forward to all your entries! The winner … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest—January 19

George Clooney and the National Archives: One degree of separation

Today's guest post was written by Miriam Kleiman, who works in the National Archives Public Affairs Office. George Clooney’s next film—which he will write, direct, and star in—is based on holdings from the National Archives!  Clooney announced last weekend that his number-one priority is to make a film about the “Monuments Men,” a group of … Continue reading George Clooney and the National Archives: One degree of separation

Prohibition and the Rise of the American Gangster

Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. As Prohibition commenced in 1920, progressives and temperance activists envisioned an age of moral and social reform. But over the next decade, the “noble experiment” produced crime, violence, and a flourishing illegal liquor trade. The roots of Prohibition date … Continue reading Prohibition and the Rise of the American Gangster

Facial Hair Friday: A Liberal Arts Education

Among our extensive collection of Mathew Brady photographs is this one of Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, whose sideburns appear to slide down his cheeks towards his cravat. The Honorable J. B. Grinnell's name may seem familiar if you have ever browsed college catalogs, or if you are an alum of Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa. … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: A Liberal Arts Education

Secession, Congress, and a Civil War Awakening at the Archives

Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. As a new year begins, the 112th Congress reconvenes for a second session of legislative activity. Representatives and senators from across the country are again descending upon the Capitol, ready to commence debates, proceedings, and hearings. This is how … Continue reading Secession, Congress, and a Civil War Awakening at the Archives

Facial Hair Friday: Two names and almost two beards

Today's featured facial hair is a fan find! Thank you to Paul H. for alerting us to this wonderful forked beard. In fact, this beard really looks like there's enough hair to be two beards. Perhaps Colonel Strother had a beard for each of his names? Before his stint in the Army during the Civil War, David Hunter … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Two names and almost two beards

Unbreakable: Remembering the Code Talkers

Keith Hill passed away yesterday at the age of 87. He was  president of the Navajo Code Talkers Association and Congressional Silver Medal recipient. At 17, he joined the Navajo Code Talkers, a group of men who used their Native American language to communicate and coordinate the movements of Marines in the Pacific Theater during World … Continue reading Unbreakable: Remembering the Code Talkers