We're wrapping up American Archives Month. Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office. Say you want to explore the history of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase using primary sources. Where do you go? Well, you could start by exploring the National Archives Catalog or the Library of Congress Catalog. Both of … Continue reading Siblings, But Not Twins: Researching at the National Archives and the Library of Congress
Today’s post comes from Rebecca Brenner Graham, a former 2015-2016 intern in the History Office at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Sam Anthony passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. This post was originally written in 2015 and recently edited. Sam asked we hold publication until after he was gone. Sam … Continue reading Sam Anthony Brightened NARA
The National Archives was created on June 19, 1934. During the month of June, the National Archives History Office is sharing stories about the former Archivists of the United States. Today's post comes from Sarah Basilion. Dr. Robert M. Warner served as sixth Archivist of the United States from July 1980 to April 1985. Originally from … Continue reading Fighting for Independence: Sixth Archivist Robert M. Warner
April 1, 2016, marks the 31st anniversary of the National Archives independence. Today’s post come from Kaitlin Errickson of the National Archives History Office. The National Archives has a turbulent history. First, the historical community had to fight for years and years to establish a National Archives. Then Congress passed legislation authorizing an independent National … Continue reading An Independent National Archives
The National Archives History Office continues to celebrate Women's History Month. Today's post comes from Kirsten Dillon. Claudine Weiher, former Deputy Archivist, was born Claudine Jackson on November 24, 1941, in Kansas City, MO. Dr. James B. Rhoads presents an award to Claudine Weiher, Planning and Analysis Branch, Office of the Executive Director. She was … Continue reading Claudine Weiher: The Fight for Independence
Every year, Independence Day at the National Archives is an exciting and celebratory day. In addition to signing a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, hearing "America the Beautiful" performed by an international champion whistler, and mingling with Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams, you can join us this year in tweeting, Instagram-ing, and sharing on … Continue reading Join the Fourth of July Conversation on Social Media
Intriguing discoveries are made all the time in the National Archives. This tintype of a woman and child doesn’t look like the typical federal record, let alone one associated with military records. But it was found in one of the 1.28 million Civil War Widows Certificate Approved Pension Case Files. Since 2007, a team of … Continue reading A Civil War Widow’s Story
We enjoyed the many old fashioned names that our captioners suggested: Ellie Mae, Mildred, Ethel, and Frances! I wonder what the subject of our photo would say in response to the captions that suggest she is in the clutches of an OCD attack or is cooking up something explosive? This week's judge knows something about cooking up … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest
Since this week's photo featured President Harry S. Truman, we turned to Tammy Kelly, an archivist at the Truman Library, to pick our winner for the photo contest. She has firsthand knowledge of this photo since she is the one who cataloged the doll into the Truman Library's computerized system earlier this summer. Tammy picked John … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest
“What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?,” our current special exhibition in Washington, DC, examines the Government’s effect on what Americans eat. Government influence was especially visible during wartime, when many food products were reserved for feeding the troops and our Allies. During World War I, the U.S. Food Administration, headed by Herbert Hoover, urged the American people … Continue reading World War I food conservation: “Pan de la libertad”
