February is Black History Month. Visit the National Archives website for more information on our resources related to African American history. Today’s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, looks at the legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong, 1941. (Records of the United States Information Agency, National Archives) Louis Armstrong was born on … Continue reading Louis Armstrong: Harlem Renaissance Pioneer
Today's post is an oldie but a goodie from our very own public affairs specialist Hilary Parkinson. While searching for images of owls in the National Archives Catalog for #SuperbOwl, I came across this curious photo of an owl wearing safety goggles. In the same search I found photographs of men shaking hands and showing off tiny owl … Continue reading #SuperbOwl: The Wise Owl Club
February is Black History Month! Visit the National Archives website to learn more about our many resources and events related to Black history. Today we're looking at a 1971 exhibit at the National Archives Building of images of African art from one of our donated collections. The National Archives promoted Black history even before February … Continue reading Celebrating African Artists at the National Archives
This Facial Hair Friday photo shows baseball-player-turned-Coast Guardsman Frank L. Lailer sporting a respectable amount of facial hair, albeit not quite as much as some of his bushier-bearded Coast Guard colleagues. His is just one of the many beards and mustaches featured in a series of Coast Guardsmen at Work in the Records of the … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: From Baseball to War
The United States has been accumulating records since the first meeting of the Continental Congress in 1774. As the government grew, the paperwork it was creating grew too—exponentially. But until 1934 there was no national archives to consolidate the papers, so each government department, bureau, or office retained custody of its own records. Some official … Continue reading The First Guide to Federal Records
We are taking a look at past staff and their many contributions to the National Archives throughout its history. Today’s staff spotlight is Evangeline Thurber, who coauthored a major report on National Archives holdings in relation to World War I demobilization in preparation for the end of World War II. Evangeline Thurber (née Evangeline Whitmore) … Continue reading Historic Staff Spotlight: Evangeline Thurber
As we say hello to 2024, we’re taking a look at the most popular posts of 2023. Thank you to the National Archives staff who helped us share our love of history throughout the year! 10. As a big shout-out to our nurses who have had it especially hard these past few years, Jen Hivick’s … Continue reading Top 10 of 2023
On December 13, 2023, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland designated the National Archives Building as a National Historic Landmark. To celebrate this major achievement, the National Archives History Office has published a two-part online exhibit, “Presidential Visits to the National Archive Building.” Today’s post comes from Alyssa Moore. The new, two-part online exhibit, “Presidential … Continue reading New Online Exhibits: “Presidential Visits to the National Archives Building”
As we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, we’re looking back on the document's 175th anniversary—and a major exhibit at the National Archives Building. The original joint resolution of Congress proposing what we call the Bill of Rights has been on permanent display at the National Archives Building since … Continue reading The Bill of Rights at the National Archives Building
Time is limited to see the National Archives exhibit, All American: The Power of Sports, which ends its run in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2024. Today’s post on the sport of fencing comes from Alyssa Manfredi at the National Archives History Office. Fencing is a combat sport that … Continue reading En Garde! A History of Fencing
