An Orphan of the Holocaust

His parents were victims of the Nazis when he was only four, and he and his uncle spent two years hiding in the forests of Poland, waiting until the end of World War II. But the ordeal of Michael Pupa was far from over. He became a “displaced person,” or DP, moving from one DP … Continue reading An Orphan of the Holocaust

Historic Staff Spotlight: John Mendelsohn

We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout history. Today’s staff spotlight is on John Mendelsohn, who was the National Archives expert on records related to the Holocaust and the Nuremberg Trials. John Mendelsohn was born on October 19, 1928, in Berlin, Germany. Growing up in … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: John Mendelsohn

World War II Internees and POWs in Switzerland

November 11 is Veterans Day, honoring those who served in the United States Armed Forces. Today’s posts come from Jennifer Halpern, an archives specialist in the National Declassification Center (NDC).  PAIR (Pre-ADRRES [Archival Declassification Review & Redaction System] Indexing Review) is one of the tracks the National Declassification Center (NDC) employs to review classified records … Continue reading World War II Internees and POWs in Switzerland

Robert “Bob” Wolfe: Captured German Records Expert

For over 30 years Robert “Bob” Wolfe was the senior archivist for the captured German records at the National Archives seized during World War II. Now the Robert Wolfe Collection is available through the National Archives Library Information Center. After Wolfe passed away in 2014, his family donated his collection of works on World War … Continue reading Robert “Bob” Wolfe: Captured German Records Expert

National Archives Remembers “Monuments Man” Harry Ettlinger

Today’s post comes from Miriam Kleiman, Program Director for Public Affairs at the National Archives.  We are saddened to learn of the death of Monuments Man Harry Ettlinger at age 92. Ettlinger spoke at a National Archives ceremony on May 8, 2014 (marking the anniversary of V-E Day), when he and Robert Edsel, head of the Monuments … Continue reading National Archives Remembers “Monuments Man” Harry Ettlinger

An A-File helps a journalist fill the gaps in her family story

October is American Archives Month. To celebrate, we are highlighting our staff around the country and their favorite records from the holdings in the National Archives. Today’s staff member is Elizabeth Burnes, an archivist at the National Archives at Kansas City. Her favorite record is the Alien File of Miosche Slodovnik. Here’s Elizabeth’s story: Researchers … Continue reading An A-File helps a journalist fill the gaps in her family story

Death register returns to Mauthausen, Austria

Today’s post comes from exhibits conservator Terry Boone and senior registrar James Zeender. May marks the surrender of the Nazi forces to the Allies—and the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1945. Last year in April, we traveled to the Mauthausen National Memorial, about 100 miles west of Vienna, with one of the original death … Continue reading Death register returns to Mauthausen, Austria

Come to the Archives Fair on April 3!

Join us on Thursday, April 3,  from 9:30 to 4 pm at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC for an all-day Archives Fair! Enter through the Special Events Entrance on 7th St. and Constitution Ave. The DC Caucus of MARAC and the National Archives Assembly are co-hosting this all-day Archives Fair. Archives-related groups and … Continue reading Come to the Archives Fair on April 3!

Greg Bradsher: Monuments Men expert at the National Archives

Robert Edsel, author of The Monuments Men, the book on which the film was based, will speak at the National Archives tonight at 7 p.m. You also watch online at Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/usnationalarchives. Edsel and a panel will discuss his books as well as the recent film adaptation. The panel includes our senior archivist Greg Bradsher. The … Continue reading Greg Bradsher: Monuments Men expert at the National Archives

Nazi Art Looter’s Diary, Long Missing, Found and Online for the First Time

Don’t miss Robert Edsel at the National Archives on February 19 at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Today’s blog post comes from Miriam Kleiman of the National Archives Public Affairs Office. The new Monuments Men blockbuster film opens with Herman Goering gleefully viewing looted artwork at a Parisian art … Continue reading Nazi Art Looter’s Diary, Long Missing, Found and Online for the First Time