Today’s post comes from Christopher Abraham at the Eisenhower Presidential Library. He answers a question each week on Facebook. This week’s special, matrimonial edition of Ask an Archivist comes from the Netherlands, and we thought it would be fun to post it in honor of the Eisenhowers' 97th wedding anniversary. “My friends Jerom and Natasja … Continue reading A wedding gift for (history) lovers
Every year, we celebrate Independence Day on the steps of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. It's a fun, free event for the whole family! (And if you don't like the heat, you can now watch the program live from inside the National Archives building. Email specialevents@nara.gov to reserve a seat in our air-conditioned … Continue reading What are you doing on July 4?
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2013 Research Fellowships! Fellows will be doing research at six of our archival facilities across the country. These fellowships are funded by the Foundation for the National Archives. The National Archives at Boston Claire M. Dunning, a graduate student at Harvard University, will be doing research for "Neither Public Nor … Continue reading Congratulations to our 2013 Research Fellows!
Today's blog post comes from Michael Hussey, education and exhibit specialist at the National Archives. What do Sean Penn and Ronald Reagan have in common? Probably not a whole lot besides Harvey Milk. In 2008, Penn played the role of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk in the Academy Award–winning film Milk. In 1978, former Governor … Continue reading My name is Harvey Milk—and I want to recruit you.
Today's post comes from Jessie Kratz, historian of the National Archives. June 21, 2013, marks the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution’s ratification. As we prepare for a long, hot summer here in the nation’s capital, I can only imagine what it felt like in 1787, when delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia’s pre–air … Continue reading The Real Constitution Day?
Today's post comes from curator Bruce Bustard. These photographs and documents are on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC, until July 15 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 5, 1863, photographer Alexander Gardner and his assistant, Timothy O’Sullivan, arrived at the site of the Battle of … Continue reading The true story behind the Gettysburg sharpshooter
Happy birthday, President Bush! As a tribute to its namesake’s penchant for exuberant socks, the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation encouraged well wishers of George Bush, 41st President of the United States, to submit photos of their colorful socks as part of his 89th birthday celebration on Wednesday, June 12. The George Bush Presidential Library … Continue reading George Bush celebrates 89th birthday with colorful socks
Today's post comes from Keith Donohue, communications director for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission at the National Archives. This post originally appeared on the White House blog. What was the original intent behind the Constitution and other documents that helped shape the nation? What did the Founders of our country have to say? … Continue reading The Papers of the Founding Fathers Are Now Online
Today's post comes from Alan Walker, archivist at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. In my reflective moments, I think about what has kept me here at the National Archives for all this time. It couldn’t be the bone-wearying monotony of shuffling heavy cartons of records from here to there, or the tedium of … Continue reading Keeping It All Together: Paper Fasteners at the National Archives
When Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas traveled around Illinois in 1858 debating each other while vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate, they weren’t looking for votes from the masses. They were seeking votes in the Illinois legislature. Douglas was the incumbent senator, and Lincoln, who had served one term in the House in … Continue reading The 17th Amendment Observes Its Centennial
