Strange-but-true stories from the founding period of the United States
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
September 17 is Constitution Day. Visit the National Archives website for more information on how to commemorate the day. Today's post looks at the records act Congress passed under the new constitution. Charles Thomson served as the Secretary to Congress throughout the Revolutionary War and during the entire period of the government under the Articles of Confederation. … Continue reading The Records Act
In celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, we’re focusing on key events in the history of independence. Today’s post looks at the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia. Following the Seven Years' War (1756–63), a cash-strapped Britain wanted to raise funds … Continue reading The First Continental Congress Convenes
Today’s post comes from Morgan Browning, Senior Conservator in the National Archives Document Conservation Division. Visit our July 4th webpage to learn more about the Declaration of Independence and our celebration of it at the National Archives. Few records created during momentous historical events are as compelling and influential as those associated with the adoption … Continue reading Preserving the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence
As we put 2020 into the past, we’re taking a look back on the most popular posts published this year. Thank you to the National Archives staff who helped us share our love of history. 10. The fourth installment of a series about unratified constitutional amendments, Unratified Amendments: Regulating Child Labor, explored an amendment proposed … Continue reading Top 10 of 2020
In celebration of the upcoming movie version of the musical Hamilton, we are highlighting two Hamilton-related documents from the National Archives holdings. One of my favorite documents, and timely for Independence Day, is Alexander Hamilton’s Oath of Allegiance during the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton's Oath of Allegiance, May 12, 1778. (National Archives Identifier 2524343) Hamilton … Continue reading My Name is Alex Hamilton
Today’s post comes from Megan Huang from the National Archives History Office. On display at the National Archives until September 19, 2018, are a number of Alexander Hamilton papers, including a letter to everyone’s favorite Frenchman: Lafayette. The text of that letter, and many others both to and from Lafayette, is available on Founders Online. … Continue reading “Oui oui, mon ami, je m’apelle Lafayette!”
Today’s post comes from Megan Huang, an intern in the National Archives History Office. Visit our July 4th web page to learn more about the Declaration and our celebration of it at the National Archives. Before people came to see the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, the Declaration came to the people, only … Continue reading Dunlap’s Declaration of Independence
Today's post comes from Jim Zeender, Senior Registrar in the National Archives Exhibits Program in Washington, DC. In early September I had the pleasure of taking a train to Williamsburg, Virginia. I have taken trains to Philadelphia, New York, and New Haven numerous times. Overseas, I have been on trains in England, France, Austria and Switzerland. … Continue reading A Trip to Williamsburg
Today’s post comes from Andrew Grafton in the National Archives History Office. Independence Day in the United States is celebrated on July 4, the day the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. If you ask just about any American, they can correctly identify that date. What is less commonly known, however, is that … Continue reading Making It Official: The Day the Declaration of Independence Was Signed
