Did you know that in 1984, President Reagan declared July 15 as "National Ice Cream Day" and July to be the official "National Ice Cream Month"? In his proclamation, the President declared that "Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States." Ice-cream-on-a-stick production took … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: No ice cream for old men
Congratulations to Hugh Ryon, whose caption suggested both the possibility of danger and the silliness of the pose! Check your email for a discount code for 15% in the eStore. Your suggestions of spinning and vomit were not far off, gentle readers. And like Dorothy, this young man was probably trying to wish himself home when the … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest
Today's "What's Cooking Wednesday" guest post is from Jefferson Moak, an archivist at the National Archives at Philadelphia. On a hot summer day, who’s not looking for an ice cream vendor or a Rita’s Water . . . Ice? Ice creams and water ices have been with Americans for over 100 years. In the early … Continue reading Cold Wars: Popsicle v. Good Humor
Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. It was 61 years ago today that General Douglas MacArthur was named commander of United Nations forces in Korea. The final command in an illustrious career, MacArthur’s tenure in Korea led to a controversial feud with President Harry … Continue reading The Beginning of the End: MacArthur in Korea
The Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, has housed some famous and infamous inmates, such as “Birdman of Alcatraz” Robert Stroud and Machine Gun Kelly. In the early 20th century, the prison took in some less likely felons—violators of the Oleomargarine Act of 1886. How did trafficking in this popular butter substitute become a Federal offense? … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesdays: Crimes against butter
Perhaps the most famous goatee in all of America belongs to Uncle Sam, the white-haired patriot who appeared in political cartoons in the late 1890s, on recruitment posters in both World Wars, and continues to appear on all kinds of products today. And while facial hair fashions have changed drastically through the years since the … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Make a date with Uncle Sam
Who knew that legs emerging from a plane would inspired so many captions about lost earrings, carnivorous aircraft, and close quarter combat? We went straight to the top for this one, and asked Debra Steidel Wall, our newly named Deputy Archivist, to be our guest judge. Congratulations to Towner B! Check your email for a … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest
Feeling the urge to plant a vegetable garden? During World War I and World War II, citizens were encouraged to plant victory gardens as part of the war effort so that more food could be sent overseas to the troops. Even the White House had a Victory Garden at the urging of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Because many … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesdays: A dozen dont’s of gardening
Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. On June 21 in New York City, the United Nations General Assembly reappointed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to a second consecutive five-year term. As he took the oath of office, his left hand was placed on the cover of … Continue reading Special Delivery to UN General Assembly
Americans are used to waiting in line for things they really want: tickets to a rock concert, a World Series game or a controversial new movie, for example. At the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, this week some people waited all night for a brief look at one of the nation's most historic documents --- the … Continue reading Waiting All Night for a Look at History
