Strange-but-true stories about America’s Presidents from the National Archives and Presidential Libraries.
Pope Francis’s visit this September marks the 10th time a Pope has visited the United States. Since the Federal Government is heavily involved in a papal visit, and the National Archives holds the records of the Federal Government, we have documents related to all these events. The first Pope to visit the United States was Pope Paul … Continue reading Papal visits to the United States
Today’s post comes from Darlene McClurkin, from the National Archives Exhibits staff. On September 2, 1945, in a formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan, representatives of the Japanese government signed this Instrument of Surrender, officially ending World War II. The terms called for “the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of … Continue reading On Display: The Japanese Instrument of Surrender
On April 12, 1965, a small group of people gathered at the triangular plot on Pennsylvania Avenue near the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. They were family and close friends of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and were assembled to dedicate a memorial to the late President on the 20th anniversary of his death. The memorial … Continue reading The other FDR Memorial
Citizen Archivists! You can transcribe this document as part of our #SunshineWeek Transcription Challenge! The black-bordered letter sent to President Martin Van Buren relayed the official news that the king of the United Kingdom, His Majesty William IV, had died on June 20, 1837. The new monarch was the late king’s niece, 18-year-old Victoria. Writing … Continue reading Your Good Friend, Victoria R
Today's post comes from Zach Kopin, an intern in the National Archives History Office in Washington, DC. On March 4, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Dr. Charles A. Leale, a doctor and army surgeon in town from New York, listened with rapt attention to … Continue reading On Exhibit: Report concerning the death of Abraham Lincoln
On February 20, 1933, President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover left the White House by car just before 2:30 p.m. with an escort of nine motorcycle policemen. Their destination was the corner of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, to lay the cornerstone of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. The event … Continue reading Temple of Our History
Continuing our celebration of the 225th Anniversary of the First Congress, the National Archives is displaying George Washington's first annual address from January 6 to February 4, 2015, in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives in Washington, DC. This version, from the first Journal of the House of Representatives, shows the final page of George Washington's annual address (what … Continue reading Currently on Exhibit: George Washington’s First Annual Message
Today’s post comes from Christine Blackerby, an Outreach Specialist at the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives in Washington, DC. On January 8, 1790, President George Washington delivered a speech at Federal Hall in New York City. This speech, called his first annual message to Congress (which we now refer to as the State … Continue reading Annual Message on the State of the Union: The President Speaks
Today’s post comes from Christine Blackerby, an Outreach Specialist at the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Two hundred and twenty-five years ago on January 4, 1790, the First Congress returned from a break after a very productive first session. Shortly afterward, the Senate received notice from President George Washington that he … Continue reading Advice and Consent and the Recess Appointment
Early on a quiet Sunday afternoon in December 1941, the President of the United States was in his study at the White House working on his stamp album. It was a favorite activity and one that allowed him to shut out the troubles of the world, if only for a little while. The telephone rang, … Continue reading Crafting the “Day of Infamy” Speech
