Happy Birthday, Black Jack

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. John "Black Jack" Pershing turns 150 today. Of the man there is too much to be said in a blog post like this—there was that whole bit as the leader of the American Expeditionary Forces with World War I, for … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Black Jack

Citizen Archivists and the bearded miner

  Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. There was heated debate in the press room today as we struggled to marry our dedication to Facial Hair Friday and our latest "Inside the Vaults" video. Fortunately for us, Jon White, one of the film's featured Citizen-Archivists, just … Continue reading Citizen Archivists and the bearded miner

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The actual caption to this quaint collection of cowboy card sharks is quite the mouthful itself: "Orient Saloon at Bisbee, Arizona... Faro game in full blast. Recognized: Left to right-Tony Downs (standing with derby) part owner; Doyle, a concert hall … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

The London Blitz

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Seventy years ago this week, the German blitz on London began, devastating the British capital. The Blitz brought World War II to England's home front. For 57 consecutive days and nights the Blitz raged on. All told the indiscriminate bombings … Continue reading The London Blitz

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Nine

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Over a half-century ago this month, nine black students entered the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, escorted by troops of the 101st Airborne Division. The enrollment of the nine students was the historic response to the 1954 … Continue reading Eisenhower and the Little Rock Nine

From Civil War to world stage

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. One hundred nine years ago, William McKinley was shot. Though one of the wounds from the bullet would end his life, it wasn't the first time McKinley had been shot at. Forty years earlier, he was a soldier in the … Continue reading From Civil War to world stage

Hemingway, JFK! What else do I have to say?!

Americans love Paris. They even ended the Revolutionary War by writing and signing the Treaty of Paris in that city on September 3, 1783. War brought other Americans to Paris. Almost 150 years later, it was home to Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's experience in Paris was colored by war. He arrived … Continue reading Hemingway, JFK! What else do I have to say?!

Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Chris Staats managed to not only tap the Rockies with his caption, but tap our funny bone, too. Those poor horses would be glad to take a Clydesdale waltz through those untapped glaciers and barley fields, but instead they're stuck … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest

Transcripts on the evacuation of Saigon

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Gerald Ford called April of 1975 the "cruelest month." Having inherited a Presidency and the closing act of an unpopular war, Gerald Ford convened his National Security Council in April 1975 to discuss the final evacuation of Saigon. The North Vietnamese … Continue reading Transcripts on the evacuation of Saigon

‘Waist’ not, want not

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. "They say that in the Army, the chow is mighty fine, A chicken jumped off the table and started marking time. Oh Lord, I wanna go, Oh Lord I wanna go Oh Lord I wanna go home." There's talk in … Continue reading ‘Waist’ not, want not