Facial Hair Friday: Elvis has NOT left the building

Are these the most famous sideburns in music history? They might be the most famous sideburns in the National Archives. If you are a fan of Elvis, you've seen the photograph: Nixon and Elvis shaking hands in the White House. This is the most-requested image in our holdings. The quirky story behind the meeting of the King … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Elvis has NOT left the building

A Civil War Widow’s Story

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

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Top Ten Food Records of 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, so does our exhibit "What's Cooking, Uncle Sam?" which will end on January 3, 2012. It's been a great year for food here at the National Archives. We've had amazing guests come and speak, including Chef José Andrés, our neighbor and Chief Culinary Adviser for the exhibit; Chef Roland … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesday: Top Ten Food Records of 2011

Facial Hair Friday: That’s not a real beard, Santa!

I was going to try to find another bearded man to feature, but it's practically Christmas Eve, and let's face it, Santa Claus has the most famous beard (and reindeer) of all. It's like a giant cloud of fluffy white snow around his chin. It's his defining characteristic. In the middle of July when there's an older gentleman on … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: That’s not a real beard, Santa!

Thursday Photo Caption Contest!

Our featured cat is Socks, who was photographed at the White House in December of 1993. So we asked Terri Garner, director of the Clinton Presidential Library, to be our guest judge. There was a lot of debate and discussion in Little Rock, but she emailed us a winner today. Congratulations to Jean West! Terri chose your caption on Facebook … Continue reading Thursday Photo Caption Contest!

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Holiday Sugar Spike

Have you visited our exhibit "What's Cooking, Uncle Sam?" Don't wait! The exhibit closes on January 3, 2012. Are you in a sugar coma yet? If not, there's still time to make some sweet desserts straight from the records of the National Archives. These favorite cookie recipes (below) come from the 1966 Forest Service Fire Lookout Cookbook, part of the … Continue reading What’s Cooking Wednesday: Holiday Sugar Spike

Facial Hair Friday: Gone with the Wind

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Atlanta premiere of Gone with the Wind. The National Archives has at least two connections with this movie, and one of them is a mustache. The National Archives was given a copy of the award-winning and controversial film. It was given to the first Archivist in 1941 by Senator Walter F. … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Gone with the Wind

A homecoming for six pages of parchment

Although the National Archives Building was nearly completed in 1935, the Rotunda sat empty. Then, on December 13, 1952, an armored Marine Corps personnel carrier made its way down Constitution Avenue, accompanied by two light tanks, four servicemen carrying submachine guns, and a motorcycle escort. A color guard, ceremonial troops, the Army Band, and the Air Force Drum … Continue reading A homecoming for six pages of parchment

Facial Hair Friday: A Letter from Hairy Harry

Today's guest post comes from Tammy Kelly at the Truman Presidential Library. This week’s Facial Hair Friday photo is a most unexpected person: Harry S. Truman, before he became President! At the Truman Library, we know of only two photographs of Truman wearing any kind of facial hair, so this is a rare photo, indeed. … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: A Letter from Hairy Harry