Facial Hair Friday: Handlebar mustaches are not authorized

In the U.S. Army of 2010, the regulations state that mustaches are limited to men, and the length and shape of the mustache itself is severely limited: "Mustaches are permitted; if worn, males will keep mustaches neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy. Mustaches will not present a chopped off or bushy appearance, and no portion of … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Handlebar mustaches are not authorized

160,000 pages to go

Whenever a member of the Supreme Court announces retirement, and another citizen is nominated to replace one of the most important seats in government, the National Archives gets busy. The nomination of Elena Kagan is no exception. The Clinton Presidential Library has over 160,000 pages of Kagan’s documents to sort through and provide to the … Continue reading 160,000 pages to go

Private Babe Ruth

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. George Herman "Babe" Ruth was no exception to the military draft that took place during World War I, but as fate would have it, the Great Bambino's number was never called. Still, "Babe" Ruth managed to serve his country. Eighty-six … Continue reading Private Babe Ruth

Elena Kagan owes Belva Lockwood

If Kagan’s nomination is accepted, she will be the fourth woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Her nomination was made possible by the trail blazed—with tremendous determination—by Lockwood. Lockwood was the daughter of farmers, a widowed mother, and a wife who financially supported her ailing husband. She attended college after the death of … Continue reading Elena Kagan owes Belva Lockwood

Forever in Blue Jeans…and in Court

On May 20, 1873, Jacob W. Davis received patent #139,121 for an "improvement in fastening pocket openings." Davis's improvement consisted of "the employment of a metal rivet or eyelet at each edge of the pocket opening to prevent the ripping of the seam at those points." Less than a year later, on January 31, 1874, … Continue reading Forever in Blue Jeans…and in Court

Expo 2010, meet Expo 74

The World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, opened this month and expects to attract 70 million visitors. If you are not going to China, you can still visit the World Expos of the past, here in the National Archives. Since the 1876 exposition in Philadelphia, the United States has hosted over a dozen expos. The … Continue reading Expo 2010, meet Expo 74

Forty years ago: An investigation into Kent State

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Forty years ago this week, four people were killed at Kent State University, fueling protests in an already divided nation.  This map was used by the Kent State University Investigative Team to determine what happened on May 4, 1970.

Mutiny on the high seas

Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. In the history of the United States Navy, no formal mutiny on the high seas has ever occurred, though one was narrowly averted on the storied decks of the USS Somers in 1842. Without a Naval academy to train future … Continue reading Mutiny on the high seas