Digital Public Library of America

On Friday the first Plenary Session of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) was hosted at the National Archives.  The Project was launched in October 2010 at a workshop convened at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and was the inspiration of Robert Darnton, the Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the … Continue reading Digital Public Library of America

What’s Next?

Access to records in this century means digital access. For many people, if it is not online, it doesn’t exist. The use of social media to increase access is the new norm. NARA has been going after innovative tools and projects that increase digital access to our records, including projects that invite public participation. We … Continue reading What’s Next?

Conservation Challenge: The Magna Carta

A career-long fascination and appreciation of the work of those involved in conservation and preservation can be traced to my very first job in the MIT Humanities Library. There I learned about the special needs of vellum and leather bindings, the temperature and humidity requirements of paper, and the principle of never doing anything which … Continue reading Conservation Challenge: The Magna Carta

A Signature History

The Federal Register, often called the Government’s daily newspaper, is published by the National Archives and contains rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential documents.  That includes signed legislation.  And the process for these documents includes signature verification. Congress recently passed legislation to extend … Continue reading A Signature History

Sunshine Week 2011

This week, public interest groups, media organizations, government agencies, and citizens celebrate Sunshine Week and the Annual Freedom of Information Day. As part of Sunshine Week the White House has launched a new "Good Government" portal as a resource for citizens. At public events and congressional hearings this week, leadership of the National Archives -- … Continue reading Sunshine Week 2011

Celebrating 10 Years of Wikipedia

I'm a big fan of Wikipedia. It's often the first place I go for information. According to a recent Pew Internet report, I'm also not alone. Forty-two percent of all Americans also turn to Wikipedia for information online. Every month, almost 80 million people visit Wikipedia and more than 91,000 active contributors have worked on … Continue reading Celebrating 10 Years of Wikipedia

Developing a Hockey Mindset

Two weeks ago, the San Jose Sharks came to visit the National Archives for a behind-the-scenes tour on their day off in Washington before playing the Capitals. As professional athletes go, they had plenty of interest in our records -- especially the declassified 1930's contingency plan to invade Canada! As you may know from a … Continue reading Developing a Hockey Mindset

Doing More With Less

On Monday, President Barack Obama requested $422,501,000 for the National Archives and Records Administration for Fiscal Year 2012. This is an 8.2 percent decrease from the President's budget request of $460,287,000 for Fiscal Year 2011. The reality is we've got to do more with less. This fiscal situation is not likely an aberration, but a … Continue reading Doing More With Less

A National Archives of the Future

In his State of the Union address last week, President Barack Obama said, "We can't win the future with a government of the past." He called for a reorganization of government to give the people "a government that's more competent and more efficient." At the National Archives, we are meeting the President's call to action. … Continue reading A National Archives of the Future

Hometown Rivalries Debate the Birthplace of the U.S. Navy

Last Wednesday, I celebrated the 235th birthday of the U.S. Navy at the USS Constitution Museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. It was a fun event full of hometown pride and spirited debate. I brought with me Senior Archivist Trevor Plante and original records from the National Archives to discuss the Revolutionary origins … Continue reading Hometown Rivalries Debate the Birthplace of the U.S. Navy