National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center, we're featuring a three-part series. Today’s post comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. July 12, 1973, has loomed large in the history of the National Archives. That day, shortly … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

NARA Celebrates 75 Years of the International Council on Archives

Today’s post comes from Meg Phillips, External Affairs Liaison at the National Archives. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and our archival colleagues around the world are celebrating International Archives Week, June 5–9, 2023. Every year, International Archives Week commemorates the creation date of the International Council on Archives (ICA) on June 9, 1948.  … Continue reading NARA Celebrates 75 Years of the International Council on Archives

Archives Under the Sea: Shipwrecks at NARA

On Friday, June 2, 2023, the National Archives is hosting an underwater-themed hashtag party. Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #ArchivesHashtagParty and #ArchivesUndertheSea. Today’s post is from Caroline Shanley from the National Archives History Office.  The National Archives houses records that span the history of the National Park Service. Many of these records … Continue reading Archives Under the Sea: Shipwrecks at NARA

Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?

The subject of today’s Facial Hair Friday is the longtime and beloved host of the trivia game show Jeopardy!—Alex Trebek. In 2001 he shocked his viewers by shaving off the mustache he wore for his first 17 years on the show. While Alex Trebek is most known for hosting the award-winning trivia show Jeopardy!, he … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?

Pandemic Nursing: The 1918 Influenza Outbreak

In honor of National Nurses Month, we're turning the spotlight on the work of nurses during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Today’s post comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The 1918 influenza pandemic, also known as the “Spanish Flu” because newspapers in Spain were some … Continue reading Pandemic Nursing: The 1918 Influenza Outbreak

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. Archivist John Mendelsohn displaying a page in one volume of the 39-volume set of … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: John Mendelsohn

National Archives Heritage Baby

On Friday, May 5, 2023, the National Archives is co-hosting a baby-themed hashtag party with our friends over at the Social Security Administration, who are about to release the list of the most popular baby names for 2022. Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #ArchivesHashtagParty and #ArchivesBabies. The National Archives Building is the … Continue reading National Archives Heritage Baby

Facial Hair Friday: The Original Adlai E. Stevenson

When most people hear the name Adlai E. Stevenson, they may first think of Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900–1965), the Governor of Illinois, two-time candidate for President of the United States, and ambassador to the United Nations. They may also think of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930–2021), Senator from Illinois from 1970 to 1981, and … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: The Original Adlai E. Stevenson

Historic Spotlight: Budge Weidman

April is Volunteer Appreciation month, and the subject of today's historic highlight was not a staff member at the National Archives but instead served as a volunteer who led a major all-volunteer project on Civil War–era records: Budge Weidman. From 1994 to 2009, Budge Weidman served as the volunteer project manager of the Civil War … Continue reading Historic Spotlight: Budge Weidman

The Slow Vanishing of Mao Zedong

Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office. Among the 20th century’s most famous political leaders, Mao Zedong still fascinates fellow politicians, scholars, historians, and students. He was the founder of the People’s Republic of China, ideological leader of Maoism, revolutionary, and Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party.  Exterior view of … Continue reading The Slow Vanishing of Mao Zedong