Today’s post comes from Sonia Kahn in the National Archives History Office. Visit the National Archives website for a full list of events and activities related to the 100th anniversary of World War I. It is almost eerie to watch the silent black-and-white footage, panning over the rubble remaining from small villages of France and Belgium, … Continue reading World War I: Now in HD
Category: preservation
John W. Carlin: Bringing the National Archives into the 21st Century
The National Archives was created on June 19, 1934. During the month of June, the National Archives History Office is sharing stories about the former Archivists of the United States. Today's post comes from Sarah Basilion. John W. Carlin was appointed eighth Archivist of the United States by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and served in … Continue reading John W. Carlin: Bringing the National Archives into the 21st Century
Doors of Monumental Proportions
Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz, Historian of the National Archives. On June 19 the National Archives celebrates its 80th anniversary. Constitution Avenue Entrance with doors closed, 6/13/1936. (National Archives Identifier 7820634) If you have ever visited the National Archives in Washington, DC, you may have noticed two very, very large bronze doors that mark the … Continue reading Doors of Monumental Proportions
Happy Birthday National Archives
Today's post comes from Jessie Kratz, Historian of the National Archives. June 19 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the National Archives. On June 19, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating the National Archives. It was the culmination of a 25-year campaign by the historical community to create a National Archives building … Continue reading Happy Birthday National Archives
Monuments Men Coming to the National Archives
A new movie due for release next month tells the story of a special unit of Allied soldiers in Europe at the end of World War II. They were charged with finding and savings works of art and other cultural artifacts that the Nazis had seized. Officially, this unit was called the Monuments, Fine Art, … Continue reading Monuments Men Coming to the National Archives
Keeping It All Together: Paper Fasteners at the National Archives
Today's post comes from Alan Walker, archivist at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. In my reflective moments, I think about what has kept me here at the National Archives for all this time. It couldn’t be the bone-wearying monotony of shuffling heavy cartons of records from here to there, or the tedium of … Continue reading Keeping It All Together: Paper Fasteners at the National Archives
National Archives specialists brings movies “Out of the Dark”
With a little archival magic, NARA staff bring historic films "out of the dark" and back into the public eye. This post is from Archives Specialist Marcia Kolko from the Motion Picture Sound and Audio office. Now on a small screen near you: A movie about…movies! NARA’s own Motion Picture, Sound and Video office and Preservation … Continue reading National Archives specialists brings movies “Out of the Dark”
More Hitler art albums discovered
This morning in Dallas, TX, the Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero, Senior Archivist Greg Bradsher, and President of the Monuments Men Foundation Robert M. Edsel announced the discovery of two original albums of photographs of paintings and furniture looted by the Nazis. The Monuments Men Foundation will donate these albums, which have … Continue reading More Hitler art albums discovered
NARA, Wikipedia, and the Day of Infamy
No, I'm not talking about January 18, when English Wikipedia went dark in protest of the House's proposed Stop Online Piracy Act and the Senate's PROTECT IP Act. (Just 10 years ago, having no Wikipedia would not have fazed me in the least. We still had a dial-up Internet connection, and I regularly visited a brick-and-mortar library … Continue reading NARA, Wikipedia, and the Day of Infamy
A homecoming for six pages of parchment
Although the National Archives Building was nearly completed in 1935, the Rotunda sat empty. Then, on December 13, 1952, an armored Marine Corps personnel carrier made its way down Constitution Avenue, accompanied by two light tanks, four servicemen carrying submachine guns, and a motorcycle escort. A color guard, ceremonial troops, the Army Band, and the Air Force Drum … Continue reading A homecoming for six pages of parchment