The 1932 Bonus Army: Black and White Americans Unite in March on Washington

Today's post comes from Alice Kamps, a curator at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It would not be Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s last act of insubordination. Decades later, his recalcitrance cost him his career. But this time there would be no discernible consequences, at least not for him. Against direct orders from the President, MacArthur … Continue reading The 1932 Bonus Army: Black and White Americans Unite in March on Washington

Hoover Library: Honoring Iowa’s only President

October is American Archives Month! We're celebrating the work of archivists and the importance of archives with a series of blog posts about the Presidential libraries. The records created by Presidents while in office will become part of the National Archives, and eventually will be used by researchers. Here's how it happens!  Herbert Hoover opened … Continue reading Hoover Library: Honoring Iowa’s only President

An Inaugural Blunder

Today’s post is from David Steinbach, intern in the National Archives History Office. William Howard Taft had unusually extensive experience with the Presidential oath of office. In 1909, Taft recited the text on the steps of the Capitol to become the 27th President of the United States. Sixteen years later, as Chief Justice of the … Continue reading An Inaugural Blunder

Archives Spotlight: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

Today's post comes from Nikita Buley, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. Happy American Archives Month! Throughout October, we're running a series of "spotlights" on the many locations that make up the National Archives. You can visit the exhibits or use the research rooms. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and … Continue reading Archives Spotlight: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

History Crush: Lou Henry Hoover

It's the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, and thousands of girls and young women have descended on Washington, DC, for the Girl Scout Rock the Mall event this weekend. It seems like the perfect time confess my own history crush, a woman who was very involved in the Girl Scouts: Lou Henry Hoover. Actually, … Continue reading History Crush: Lou Henry Hoover

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Flour Sack Art

One of the themes throughout our "What's Cooking Wednesday" posts has been war and food rationing. American citizens were asked to grow their own food, ration sugar, and eat less meat so that there would be more supplies for soldiers fighting overseas and for people with little food left in their war-torn country. As a result, … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesday: Flour Sack Art

Facial Hair Friday: Herbert the Handsome

Herbert Hoover—successful businessman, international humanitarian, President during the Crash of 1929—and rugged mustachioed mining engineer? Yes, Bert Hoover started his career in the goldfields of Australia in 1897–1898. He then headed to China to develop coal mines, and he and his wife, Lou, were there during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Fun fact: Herbert is … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Herbert the Handsome

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Pull out that sweet tooth!

To celebrate our new exhibit “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?” we are featuring a food-related blog post every Wednesday. Today's post comes to us from the National Archives at New York City. “Do you know that the money spent in the United States for candy in one year is double the amount required to feed Belgium … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesday: Pull out that sweet tooth!

Top 10 National Archives Web Sites

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The National Archives is a behemoth of information. There are 10 billion or so pages of documents and hundreds of thousands of reels of motion picture footage, all spread out among regional archives, Presidential libraries, and Federal Records Centers to … Continue reading Top 10 National Archives Web Sites