Facial Hair Friday: Father Time

It’s the first Facial Hair Friday of 2020—Happy New Year! Today we’re highlighting the old man with a long, white beard: Father Time. Father Time is, as the name suggests, the personification of time. In the context of New Year’s he represents the outgoing year. He is often portrayed as an old, bearded man wearing … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Father Time

Saucers Over Washington: the History of Project Blue Book

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Project Blue Book, there is a special featured document display in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, from December 5, 2019, through January 20, 2020.  Today’s post comes from Michael Steffen from the National Archives History Office. The idea of … Continue reading Saucers Over Washington: the History of Project Blue Book

What you may not know about the Bill of Rights

December 15 is Bill of Rights Day, which commemorates the ratification of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. For more information on events and resources at the National Archives, visit our Bill of Rights Day website. How much do you know about the Bill of Rights? We know a lot and have written … Continue reading What you may not know about the Bill of Rights

Facial Hair Friday: Willie Nelson

Today is Facial Hair Friday, and we’re taking a look at Willie Nelson, American musician, actor,  author, and activist. Today’s post comes from Vincent Bartholomew from the National Archives History Office. Willie Nelson is synonymous with country music and marijuana legalization advocacy. Once described as “Jesus on a bad hair day,” Nelson’s white beard and … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Willie Nelson

Heated to Ignition: The 1978 Suitland Film Vault Fire

Today's post comes from Joseph Gillette, a processing archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Fire damage inside the Suitland nitrate film vault, 1978. (Records of the National Archives) A date which will live in infamy . . . On December 7, 1978, a fire occurred at the National Archives and Records Service … Continue reading Heated to Ignition: The 1978 Suitland Film Vault Fire

Thanksgiving Aboard the Freedom Train

The Freedom Train was a seven-car train that traveled across the United States from September 1947 until January 1949. It was dedicated to the history of American democracy and contained some of the country's most priceless historical documents, many from the National Archives.  The Freedom Train, 1948. (Records of the American Heritage Foundation, National Archives) … Continue reading Thanksgiving Aboard the Freedom Train

Explore “Our Neighborhood”

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”

National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers

November 11 is Veterans Day. Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our resources and events related to the holiday. Today’s post comes from Shannon O'Malley, a Digitization and Metadata Intern at the National Archives at Philadelphia.  President Abraham Lincoln signed the bipartisan bill establishing the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in March 1865. … Continue reading National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers

Susan B. Anthony: Women’s Right to Vote

The National Archives is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with the exhibit Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, which runs in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives in Washington, DC, through January 3, 2021. Today’s post comes from Michael J. Hancock in the National Archives History Office. Susan B. … Continue reading Susan B. Anthony: Women’s Right to Vote