Author Archives: Hilary Parkinson

Sharon Farmer was the first woman and the first African American to be named Chief White House Photographer. Farmer joined the team of four photographers at the Clinton White House in 1993, and worked as director from 1999 to 2001.The … Continue reading →

Today’s post comes from Tom Putnam, Acting Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries. In a recent conversation with a younger colleague about Presidents Day, I mentioned that while I appreciated the three-day weekend, I missed celebrating George Washington’s actual … Continue reading →

In honor of the upcoming Presidential inauguration, Washington’s first inaugural address and the Bible that he used to swear his oath of office are on display. The Bible was loaned for the occasion by St. John’s Lodge No. 1, Ancient York … Continue reading →

Today’s post comes from Jim Worsham, editor of Prologue, the quarterly magazine of the National Archives. As news emerged of the Japanese sneak attacks on Pearl Harbor and other U.S. installations in the Pacific 75 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began … Continue reading →

Today’s post comes from Kimberlee Ried, public programs specialist at the National Archives at Kansas City. Research was provided by Michael Tarabulski, archivist at the National Archives at St. Louis. The 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, … Continue reading →

Today’s post comes from Victoria Blue, writer-editor in the Office of Internal Communications at the National Archives. When Chief of Conservation Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler retires in July, the last hands to have touched the Declaration of Independence will leave the National … Continue reading →

Today’s post is by Rod Ross, a former archivist in the Center for Legislative Archives, who retired in April with 41 years of government service.  His interest in this holiday began at birth–on Flag Day during World War II!  Shortly … Continue reading →

Since 1952, the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights have been on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives. In addition to the bulletproof and moisture-controlled sealed cases, the Charters of Freedom are protected … Continue reading →

In the very top of the dome of the Rotunda, right over the cases holding the Constitution, there is a large opening called an oculus. In March, facilities staff lowered a cable through the oculus to hoist up a 225-foot-long … Continue reading →