Search Results for: african american

Facial Hair Friday: Joseph Rainey the first African American in the House

by Jessie Kratz, posted in - Civil War, Black History Month, Facial Hair Fridays, U.S. House

  Joseph Rainey was distinguished in many ways—he was the first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first African American to preside over the House of Representatives, and the longest–serving African American during Reconstruction. He also had pretty nice mutton chops. Rainey was born into slavery in 1832 in Georgetown, … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Joseph Rainey the first African American in the House

African American History at the National Archives

by Jessie Kratz, posted in National Archives History

February is African American History Month! Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our many events and activities celebrating African American History. In the late 1960s the National Archives began hosting conferences for researchers and scholars. These were held on a variety of subjects, but all related to records held by the institution. The … Continue reading African American History at the National Archives

Celebrating African Artists at the National Archives 

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Black History Month, National Archives Building, National Archives History

February is Black History Month! Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our many resources and events related to Black history. Today we’re looking at a 1971 exhibit at the National Archives Building of images of African art from one of our donated collections. The National Archives promoted Black history even before February … Continue reading Celebrating African Artists at the National Archives 

Poets for Every Age: American Poets and Writers

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Uncategorized

April is National Poetry Month, which celebrates the importance of poets and poetry. Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The United States has a rich literary history with some of the most prolific poets of the 19th and 20th centuries. Their writings … Continue reading Poets for Every Age: American Poets and Writers

Asian/Pacific American History: Learning our Legacy

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Uncategorized

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about related records and resources. APA Heritage Month is an opportunity to…contribute to the wider understanding of what it means to be an American. – Alex Villaseran, archives technician and APA Unity co-chair Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was … Continue reading Asian/Pacific American History: Learning our Legacy

“Forgotten Soldier” at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Uncategorized

The exhibition Forgotten Soldier at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Virginia features the “Inspection Roll of Negroes” from the holdings of the National Archives. Today’s post comes from Jim Zeender, senior registrar in the National Archives Exhibits Office. Mary Perth, Boston King, Moses Wilkinson, David George, and Harry Washington were among the thousands of … Continue reading “Forgotten Soldier” at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Caribbean American Heritage Month: Marcus Garvey

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Uncategorized

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month. Visit the National Archives website for more information on related holdings. Today’s post comes from Vincent Bartholomew from the National Archives History Office. Marcus Garvey envisioned a Pan-African and Black Nationalist movement and used the Black Star Line, a shipping corporation, to unite Africans in the U.S. and the … Continue reading Caribbean American Heritage Month: Marcus Garvey

The Federal Women’s Program

by Jessie Kratz, posted in - Civil Rights, National Archives History, Women's History Month

March is Women’s History Month. Visit the National Archives website for resources and virtual events related to women’s history. When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, Title VII prohibited discrimination by certain employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. State and local governments, however, were exempt.  In 1967 President Lyndon B. … Continue reading The Federal Women’s Program

Russell Lee’s Coal Survey Exhibit

by Jessie Kratz, posted in - World War II

On Saturday a new exhibit opened in the National Archives Building, Power & Light: Russell Lee’s Coal Survey. It will run in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery until July 6, 2025. This exhibit features more than 200 of Russell Lee’s photographs of coal miners and their families.  Russell Lee (1903–86) was a photographer who spent … Continue reading Russell Lee’s Coal Survey Exhibit

Louis Armstrong: Harlem Renaissance Pioneer

by Jessie Kratz, posted in Black History Month

February is Black History Month. Visit the National Archives website for more information on our resources related to African American history. Today’s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, looks at the legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 (although he often claimed he was born on July … Continue reading Louis Armstrong: Harlem Renaissance Pioneer