Today’s post comes from Andrew Salyer, an archives technician at the National Archives at Philadelphia. The U.S. Congress passed the first Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, though the conditions its passage sought to remediate had been brewing as early as the 1850s. From the 1850s to the 1880s, Chinese workers migrated to the United States and … Continue reading Navigating the Law: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Trials of a Journey Home
Today’s post comes from Joseph P. Keefe, an archives specialist at the National Archives at Boston. In November 1942, following the Allies successful invasion of North Africa, over 51,000 Italian prisoners of war were sent to the United States to POW camps. On September 3, 1943, Allied forces made amphibious landings on the mainland of Italy, … Continue reading The Italian Service Units of World War II in Boston
Today’s post comes from Dorothy Dougherty, Programs Director at the National Archives at New York City. “Dear Mother,” starts the letter from Harriet B. Denby, to her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Denby of Augusta, Georgia. This beautiful handwritten four-page letter reminds us about compassion, gratitude, and the enduring lessons mothers teach us about love. Letter from Harriet … Continue reading Letter from Harriet B. Denby, Augusta, Ga. to “Dear Mother,” September 22, 1864
Today’s post comes from Dorothy Dougherty, Programs Director at the National Archives at New York City. Matthew Henson, the famous African American explorer, worked nearly 20 years with Admiral Robert Peary exploring the Arctic. On April 6, 1909, Henson and Peary successfully made it to the North Pole, where Henson is credited with placing the U.S. … Continue reading New York City U.S. Custom House Employee: Matthew Henson
The National Archives History Office has published a new online exhibit, "The History of Our Neighborhood." Today's post comes from Rachel Rosenfeld from the National Archives History Office. The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, sits halfway between the Capitol and the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, but the building wasn’t always there. In fact, … Continue reading Explore “Our Neighborhood”
Today's post comes from Kimberlee Ried, public affairs specialist at the National Archives at Kansas City. In April, Google launched Kansas City: Smoke Rings and the Finer Things as the first U.S. city to be featured on the Google Arts & Culture website. Although the National Archives' relationship with Google is not new, the introduction of … Continue reading Kansas City: Smoke Rings and the Finer Things
March is Women's History Month! Today's post comes from Holly Rivet, an archives technician at the National Archives at St. Louis. Few women became physicians in the 1850s; fewer still served in the Civil War; and only one was awarded the Medal of Honor. Dr. Mary E. Walker was born in 1832 in Oswego, New … Continue reading Dr. Mary E. Walker
Today’s post comes from Jennifer Johnson, curator in the National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service (NATES). On December 21, 2018, NATES program manager Dee Harris and I went to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka, Kansas, where one of our traveling exhibits, “Over There” was on display in the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery. … Continue reading Reaching Communities: National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service
Today’s post comes from Nicholas Novine, a processing intern at the National Archives at Philadelphia. We are pleased to announce that a series of 91 panoramas documenting industrial developments of the Morgantown Ordnance Works at Morgantown, West Virginia have been digitized and are available through our online catalog. Staff at the National Archives at Philadelphia … Continue reading Morgantown Ordnance Works Panoramas, 1940-1942
While we are not rooting for one team or the other in the upcoming Army vs. Navy game, we must concede that the 1913 regulations governing the admission of candidates into the U.S. Naval Academy were rigorous! Learn more in today's post from Samuel Limneos, an archives technician at the National Archives at Philadelphia. Are you physically sound, … Continue reading Do You Have What It Takes to be a Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy? 1913 Edition
