On January 20, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made history by being the first President to be inaugurated for a third term. The previous year, Roosevelt had been elected President for the third time, and the inauguration marked the start of his third term in office. No other President in American history had been elected … Continue reading A Precedent-Breaking Inauguration
Today’s post comes from Jim Zeender, Senior Registrar in the National Archives Exhibits Office. One of the founders of today’s Universal Studios, Carl Laemmle, was born to Jewish parents in Lupenheim, near Stuttgart, Germany, on January 17, 1867. Young Carl immigrated to Chicago in 1884 and became a naturalized citizen five years later. His Declaration … Continue reading Carl Laemmle: Founder of Universal Studios and Humanitarian
Today’s post comes from Elle Benak from the National Archives History Office. On December 28, 1955, the American Historical Association dedicated a plaque to J. Franklin Jameson, noting his “persistence and wise guidance” in establishing the National Archives. The plaque still hangs on the wall in the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance of the National Archives Building … Continue reading J. Franklin Jameson: the Father of the National Archives
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), is the landmark the Supreme Court decision that requires states to provide defense attorneys for criminal defendants who can’t afford them. The case centers on Clarence Earl Gideon, a poor drifter with an eighth-grade education. Gideon was arrested in 1961 for allegedly breaking into pool hall and stealing money and alcohol. … Continue reading Featured Document: A Right to a Fair Trial
December 15 is Bill of Rights Day which commemorates the ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. As we celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights on December 15—Bill of Rights Day—let’s take a look back at the origins and history of that day. On December 15, 1791, the first 10 amendments … Continue reading Bill of Rights Day
December 10 is Human Rights Day, commemorating the date the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The United Nations was formed in 1945 to prevent the atrocities that occurred during World War II from ever happening again. One of their primary goals was, "promoting and encouraging respect for … Continue reading Human Rights for all
The December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor not only plunged the United States into world war, but it also had far-reaching ramifications for every single government agency, including the National Archives. News article on the National Archives efforts in response to the Pearl Harbor attack, November 29, 1942. (Records of the National Archives) Immediately after … Continue reading The National Archives Response to Pearl Harbor
Today’s post comes from Sanjana Barr of the National Archives History Office. Even though the National Archives Rotunda was completed in the mid-1930s as a shrine for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the documents were not transferred to the National Archives until 1952. The National Archives History Office has produced a new online exhibit … Continue reading New Online Exhibit: “Carting the Charters”
Today’s post comes from Sonia Kahn in the National Archives History Office. Learn more about the day of infamy by visiting the National Archives News. From its food to its anime to its cars to its video games, Japanese culture is part of everyday American life today. In 1941, however, the idea of so much Japanese … Continue reading Remembering “a date which will live in infamy”
This post is from Jessie Kratz, Historian of the National Archives. It's from the Winter 2016 issue of Prologue magazine. The travels of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution have been chronicled frequently over the years—in fact, they are fascinating stories. However, the third “Charter of Freedom”—the Bill of Rights—has been largely overlooked. As we … Continue reading Historian’s Notebook: The Bill of Rights at 225
