Today’s post was written by National Archives volunteer Paul Richter. It is part of a series tracing the development of the Constitution in honor of the 225th anniversary of this document on September 17, 2012. On Monday, September 10, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was fixated on fractions. After four months of debate and compromise, … Continue reading Constitution 225: Fractions and ratifications
Constitution Day is September 17. Here are 17 Constitution facts to impress your friends and family. (Need more than 17? Our Constitution web page has all you need to know!) SEVENTEEN: The Constitution has 4,543 words, including the signatures. It takes about 30 minutes to read. SIXTEEN: The Constitution was drafted in fewer than 100 … Continue reading Constitution 225: Friday Facts
Resolution from Constitutional Convention concerning ratification of the proposed Constitution, September 17, 1787. (National Archives Identifier 6277391) Millions of people have passed through the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, to see the original parchments that are our Charters of Freedom. They pause to look at the faded writing on the … Continue reading Constitution 225: There’s a “fifth” page the public has never seen
Today's post comes from Nikita Buley, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. In light of the upcoming 225th Constitution Day on September 17, I spoke with Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler and Catherine Nicholson, two of the very few people who have touched the Constitution in the last century, about how they … Continue reading Constitution 225: Conservation and Re-encasement
The Constitution turns 225 on September 17, and the National Archives is ready to celebrate our founding document! Don't miss your chance to see the "fifth page" of the Constitution, on display for the first time. It will be in the Rotunda for public viewing only from September 14 to 17. From now until September … Continue reading Constitution 225: Celebrating our founding document
Today’s post was written by National Archives volunteer Paul Richter. It is part of a series tracing the development of the Constitution in honor of the 225th anniversary of this document on September 17, 2012. By the end of August, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were tired. They had been convening and debating for … Continue reading Constitution 225: Blueprint for the Electoral College
Today’s post was written by National Archives volunteer Paul Richter. It is part of a series tracing the development of the Constitution in honor of the 225th anniversary of this document on September 17, 2012. Have you ever dreamed of being addressed as King or Queen or Prince or Princess or Viscount or Duchess or … Continue reading Constitution 225: No crown for you!
Today’s post was written by National Archives volunteer Paul Richter. It is part of a series tracing the development of the Constitution. Don't miss our special programs, events, and social media outreach this September in honor of the 225th anniversary of the Constitution. By July 23, 1787, the Constitutional Convention had been meeting for … Continue reading Constitution 225: The Committee of Detail
Some time ago, a Facebook fan expressed thanks that we would never combine our First Ladies Friday with our Facial Hair Friday. To which we replied, never say never! Of course, the facial hair in this photograph is not on First Lady Pat Nixon, but that scraggly surfer goatee is in very close proximity to … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Hang ten, Pat Nixon!
Rick Blondo, management and program analyst at the National Archives, reflects on the logistics of maintaining records in the sweltering humidity that is summer in Washington, DC. Summer in Washington can be a wilting experience for tourists and locals alike, but not so for the holdings maintained in the National Archives. The National Archives was … Continue reading A warning from the Surgeon General about air conditioning
