Strange-but-true stories from World War II
November 11 is Veterans Day. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our Veterans Day holdings. Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. The early 20th century was a time of intense upheaval and paradigm shift change across the … Continue reading Edward Allen Carter Jr., Soldier of Many Continents
Ahead of Veterans Day the National Archives is honoring those who served our country with a special #ArchivesHashtagParty, #ArchivesSalute! on Friday, November 1, 2024. Visit us on social media to see everything from military service records to heroic photos, highlighting those have defended, protected, and served our Constitution! Today’s post from Paige Weaver is an … Continue reading The Origins of Veterans Day
For nearly 20 years the National Archives' Alexandria Federal Records Center was housed in the former U.S. Naval Torpedo station located on Alexandria's waterfront. A view of the Alexandria waterfront including the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station, 1941. (National Archives Identifier 68150512) One day after the end of World War I, the U.S. Navy began construction … Continue reading U.S. Naval Torpedo Station
April 27 is National Babe Ruth Day, when baseball fans worldwide celebrate baseball's all-time greatest player. It originated on April 27, 1947, when the new Commissioner of Baseball Albert "Happy" Chandler proclaimed it, and a major celebration of Ruth’s career was held at Yankee Stadium. Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician … Continue reading Babe Ruth Day
On Saturday a new exhibit opened in the National Archives Building, Power & Light: Russell Lee's Coal Survey. It will run in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery until December 7, 2025. This exhibit features more than 200 of Russell Lee’s photographs of coal miners and their families. Russell Lee, 1935. (Photo courtesy of the Library … Continue reading Russell Lee’s Coal Survey Exhibit
Today’s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, is in honor of Women's History Month and looks at the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service program, or WAVES, during World War II. Advertisement poster to join the WAVES. (National Archives Identifier 514649) Less than one year after the United States entered World … Continue reading WAVES: It’s a Woman’s War Too!
Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. Far out in the New Mexico desert, the largest government-funded scientific endeavor culminated in the first nuclear detonation at the White Sands Missile Range. The bright flash followed by intense heat and billowing mushroom … Continue reading Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal
As we commemorate Veterans Day, we want to thank all of the veterans who have served our country throughout the years. Today’s historic spotlight is on National Archives employee Eunice Whyte, who served in the U.S. Navy in both World Wars. Only two women served in the U.S. Naval Reserves during both World War I … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Eunice Whyte—Navy Veteran of both World Wars
October is Filipino-American History Month, and we’re commemorating it with a post on Manuel Quezon and Philippine Independence from Alexandra Villaseran, an archivist with the Center for Legislative Archives. Today there are six nonvoting members in the U.S. House of Representatives: a Resident Commissioner representing Puerto Rico and one Delegate each for the District of … Continue reading Manuel Quezon and the Push for Philippine Independence
Today’s post, from Alyssa Moore, in the National Archives History Office, looks at the Calutron Girls in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II. Calutron was an acronym for “California University cyclotron,” named after the University of California, Berkeley, where the devices were developed. The highly anticipated July 21 release of Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer, … Continue reading The Calutron Girls
