The National Archives at St. Louis thanks WWII Navy veteran Paul Wittmer

The National Archives at St. Louis staff extended a special thanks to World War II U.S. Navy Veteran Paul Wittmer on April 14. During World War II, Wittmer served on six war patrols on the USS Tinosa SS-283. He was part of the crew responsible for the capture of the famed Japanese I-401 submarine taken at the end of … Continue reading The National Archives at St. Louis thanks WWII Navy veteran Paul Wittmer

Now on display: Whitman’s Report on Cemeteries

In honor of Memorial Day, the 1869 Whitman Report on Cemeteries is on display in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building from May 22 through June 5. Today's post comes from curator Alice Kamps. Memorial Day traditions began in the aftermath of the Civil War. The American people were just beginning what historian Drew Gilpin … Continue reading Now on display: Whitman’s Report on Cemeteries

Reflections on LBJ and Civil Rights

Mark K. Updegrove is Director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. The first time a sitting President came to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library was on May 21, 1971, when President Richard Nixon boarded Air Force One and journeyed to the campus of the University of Texas at Austin to … Continue reading Reflections on LBJ and Civil Rights

On display: The Senate Journal of the First Congress

The first Senate Journal is on display from April 1 to April 16, 2014, in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building. Today's post comes from Martha Grove, archivist in the Center for Legislative Archives in the National Archives. “Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time … Continue reading On display: The Senate Journal of the First Congress

Celebrating a commitment to civil rights at the Johnson Presidential Library

Throughout the month of April, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library will be exhibiting four cornerstone documents of civil rights. The “Cornerstones of Civil Rights” exhibit will run from April 1 through 30. The exhibit will feature two documents signed by President Abraham Lincoln: an authorized, printed edition of the Emancipation Proclamation; and a copy of the Senate resolution … Continue reading Celebrating a commitment to civil rights at the Johnson Presidential Library

The National Archives on the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web

Today's post comes from Jessie Kratz, Historian of the National Archives. March 12, 2014, marks the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web. For most of that time, the National Archives has had some online presence. In 1994, the National Archives started a pilot project to make information about the agency available electronically. The project used the … Continue reading The National Archives on the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web

Greg Bradsher: Monuments Men expert at the National Archives

Robert Edsel, author of The Monuments Men, the book on which the film was based, will speak at the National Archives tonight at 7 p.m. You also watch online at Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/usnationalarchives. Edsel and a panel will discuss his books as well as the recent film adaptation. The panel includes our senior archivist Greg Bradsher. The … Continue reading Greg Bradsher: Monuments Men expert at the National Archives

Nazi Art Looter’s Diary, Long Missing, Found and Online for the First Time

Don't miss Robert Edsel at the National Archives on February 19 at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Today's blog post comes from Miriam Kleiman of the National Archives Public Affairs Office. The new Monuments Men blockbuster film opens with Herman Goering gleefully viewing looted artwork at a Parisian art … Continue reading Nazi Art Looter’s Diary, Long Missing, Found and Online for the First Time

You won’t see this in the Monuments Men movie

As the recently-opened movie Monuments Men plays around the country, there's one macabre story you won't see on the silver screen. It's about the remains of German leaders, including Frederick the Great and Frederick William I. The Germans had hidden the caskets containing the bodies of the Fredericks and former Weimar President Paul von Hindenburg … Continue reading You won’t see this in the Monuments Men movie

10 Football Facts Featuring U.S. Presidents

Today’s guest post comes from Susan K. Donius, Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries at the National Archives. President Obama is an avid football fan, an interest shared by many of his predecessors in the White House. As young men, several future Presidents played football in high school and college. Other Presidents have enthusiastically assumed the … Continue reading 10 Football Facts Featuring U.S. Presidents