Take a break with Presidential vacations!

Need a vacation? This summer, go on a vacation with 13 of our Presidents!  You can choose your own adventure on Instagram and chat with us on Twitter on August 19 using #POTUSvacation.   Vacations are an integral part of Presidential history, a way for Presidents to relax and recharge outside of Washington. Many of … Continue reading Take a break with Presidential vacations!

Ten years after a call for help, Iraqi Jewish documents go on display

In June of 2003, the National Archives Preservation Programs received a call for help from Iraq. Sixteen American soldiers had found tens of thousands of documents and 2,700 Jewish books while searching in the flooded basement of Saddam Hussein’s intelligence headquarters. The historic material was soaking wet. And so Doris Hamburg and Mary-Lynn Ritzenthaler boarded … Continue reading Ten years after a call for help, Iraqi Jewish documents go on display

George Bush celebrates 89th birthday with colorful socks

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

Putting together a Presidential Library is a really, really big job

In 1939, President Roosevelt donated his personal and Presidential papers to the Federal Government, marking the beginning of the modern Presidential Library system that is part of the National Archives. Seventy-four years later, the newest Presidential Library holds more documents than FDR could have imagined. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum holds more … Continue reading Putting together a Presidential Library is a really, really big job

90 letters in 90 days: The courtship of Lady Bird and LBJ

“I do believe before the day was over he did ask me to marry him and I thought he was just out of his mind.” Claudia Alta "Lady Bird” Taylor Two teenagers in love might exchange hundreds of texts on their phones. But during their two-and-a-half month courtship, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Claudia Alta “Lady … Continue reading 90 letters in 90 days: The courtship of Lady Bird and LBJ

Thursday Photo Caption Contest: June 28

We waded into your captions like a man driving a car into a lake! How to choose between splashy captions that referenced Secret Service men wearing floaties, the Aflac duck, James Bond, or water taxis? Waterlogged with indecision, we turned to Liza Talbot, who in turn turned to the crew of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest: June 28

Thursday Photo Caption Contest–February 9

Who knew that the "LB" in LBJ stood for "light bulb"? Apparently, quite a few of you! We were buzzing with excitement after reading your captions, and we needed to ground ourselves. So we turned to our guest judge, Liza Talbot, who is an archivist at the Johnson Presidential Library and the mastermind behind the … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest–February 9

Secession, Congress, and a Civil War Awakening at the Archives

Today's post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications. As a new year begins, the 112th Congress reconvenes for a second session of legislative activity. Representatives and senators from across the country are again descending upon the Capitol, ready to commence debates, proceedings, and hearings. This is how … Continue reading Secession, Congress, and a Civil War Awakening at the Archives

Happy belated Juneteenth, everybody!

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Juneteenth is actually June 19, the day on which word finally made it to Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was over and that Abraham Lincoln had freed the slaves. As the story goes, these 250,000 slaves were the last … Continue reading Happy belated Juneteenth, everybody!