On February 17, 2025, we'll be celebrating "Washington's Birthday," which is the official title of the federally recognized holiday. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our records related to George Washington—and other U.S. Presidents. This post was originally published in 2015. George Washington led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, presided … Continue reading Washington’s Birthday: the Federal Holiday
If you visited the National Archives Building in late 1974, you could purchase a specially designed holiday card with this design: Drawing of Santa Claus viewing Charters of Freedom used on National Archives holiday greeting cards, 1974. (National Archives Identifier 35810640) The card showed Santa Claus and one of his reindeers looking at the Declaration … Continue reading Happy Holidays from the National Archives!
Long before the President of the United States pardoned a turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving, the President of Congress issued proclamations encouraging its celebration. National Turkey Federation Chairman John Reicks, President Barack Obama and his nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson, react to an unexpected commotion by Tot, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, during the pardon of the … Continue reading Pre-federal Thanksgivings
October 1 is International Coffee Day. Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s a beverage that millions of people consume to kick-start their day. You can serve it hot, cold, with or without sugar or milk, and it has a … Continue reading International Coffee Day, October 1
Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew; grow them in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon too! September is National Potato Month, and that amazing spud is so ingrained in our national subconscious that we could scarcely imagine a world without them. Everything from cleansers, home remedies, agriculture, to making them crinkle cut and julienne … Continue reading Count Your Lucky Starch: It’s National Potato Month!
As we say hello to 2024, we’re taking a look at the most popular posts of 2023. Thank you to the National Archives staff who helped us share our love of history throughout the year! 10. As a big shout-out to our nurses who have had it especially hard these past few years, Jen Hivick’s … Continue reading Top 10 of 2023
This year the federal holiday Thanksgiving falls on November 23, the fourth Thursday of the month. But it wasn't always so. Today's post looks at Thanksgiving as a federal holiday and the various days it has been commemorated. To learn more about Thanksgiving and how the National Archives is celebrating, visit our website. One of … Continue reading Thanksgiving as a Federal Holiday
September 4 is Labor Day. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about records related to the holiday. This post from Danielle Sklarew, originally published in 2018, has been updated. This Labor Day, whether you’re in Massachusetts, down south in Florida, or along the west coast of California, you can visit one of America’s … Continue reading Celebrating Labor Day at America’s National Seashores
Just like eggnog, #ArchivesGIFgiving comes but once a year. On Friday, December 10, you’re invited to the second Archives Hashtag Party GIF exchange! In the spirit of the season, we’ll be “giving” GIFs to other cultural institutions. We hope you’ll share a GIF from your holdings, tag a fellow organization with a GIF they’ll love, or … Continue reading Check Your List Twice for #ArchivesGIFgiving
November 11 is Veterans Day. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our resources and events related to the holiday. Today’s post comes from Paige Weaver, an intern in the National Archives History Office. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, World War I … Continue reading From Armistice to Veterans Day
