October is American Archives Month, and we’re looking at moments in National Archives history that shed light on the importance of archives. Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office. On May 21, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the National Archives Building to an audience of members of … Continue reading A Matter of National Security: The Role of the National Archives in Protecting Citizens
Category: National Archives History
Facial Hair Friday: Thad Page, First Administrative Secretary for the National Archives
To celebrate American Archives Month, today's Facial Hair Friday looks at the National Archives' first Administrative Secretary: Thad Page. Thad Page, 9/1/1951. (National Archives Identifier 12167532) Thaddeus “Thad” Shaw Page was born in 1890 in Aberdeen, NC, to a prominent North Carolina family. After attending the University of North Carolina, Page served as secretary to … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Thad Page, First Administrative Secretary for the National Archives
Historic Staff Spotlight: Blanca Tomé
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout its history. Today’s staff spotlight is Blanca Tomé, who immigrated to the United States from Cuba in her 50s and became an expert bookbinder at the National Archives. Blanca Tomé (née Biosca) was born on June 24, 1907, … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Blanca Tomé
Drafting the U.S. Constitution
September 17 is designated as Constitution Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The National Archives is the home to the original, engrossed Constitution of the United States, which is displayed in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. But that isn’t the only version of the … Continue reading Drafting the U.S. Constitution
Historic Staff Spotlight: Fran Brooks
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout history. Today’s staff spotlight is on Fran Brooks, who had an incredible 50-year career in the federal government, with the vast majority of it at the National Archives. Frances “Fran” Edmonia Brooks (née Woods) was born on October … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Fran Brooks
Historical Staff Spotlight: Mary Walton McCandlish Livingston
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout history. Today we’re featuring Mary Walton McCandlish Livingston, who became famous for uncovering the backdated deed for Nixon’s pre-Presidential materials donation. Mary Walton McCandlish was born in 1914 in Fairfax, Virginia. She attended high school at the National … Continue reading Historical Staff Spotlight: Mary Walton McCandlish Livingston
Historic Staff Spotlight: Josef C. James
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout history. Today’s staff spotlight is on Josef C. James, the first African American Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. Josef C. James, 11/15/1971. (National Archives Identifier 35809790) Josef C. James—his friends called him JC—was born in … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Josef C. James
Historic Staff Spotlight: Robert L. Clarke
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout its history. Today’s staff spotlight is Robert L. Clarke, who served as the first official Black History Specialist at the National Archives. Conference director Robert L. Clarke speaking at the National Archives Conference on Federal Archives as … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Robert L. Clarke
Appointment of the First Archivist of the United States
Congress passed and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the National Archives Act on June 19, 1934. Not only did the legislation create the National Archives as an agency to oversee all federal recordkeeping, it established the position of Archivist of the United States. The Archivist, who was to make $10,000 annually, was to … Continue reading Appointment of the First Archivist of the United States
Historic Staff Spotlight: Marion Tinling
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout history. Today’s staff spotlight is on Marion Tinling, an expert on shorthand, who worked for the National Historical Publications Commission in the 1950s and early 1960s. Marion Tinling (née Goble) was born on December 17, 1904, in Queens, … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Marion Tinling