Prologue: Pieces of History

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 [...]

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. [...]

Although it’s been a while since our last caption contest, these young men are still sitting patiently in class. We had a hard time choosing from the comments here and on Facebook. Would we speak quietly and carry a big ruler? Or should we choose the suggestion from the National Archives in Alaska, that back in [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]