The Oath of Office: The First Act of the First Congress

Today's post comes from Christine Blackerby, Archives Specialist in the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives in Washington, DC. The Center for Legislative Archives is marking the 225th anniversary of the First Congress by sharing documents on Tumblr and Twitter; use #Congress225 to see all the postings. When the First Congress met in … Continue reading The Oath of Office: The First Act of the First Congress

The National Archives at St. Louis thanks WWII Navy veteran Paul Wittmer

The National Archives at St. Louis staff extended a special thanks to World War II U.S. Navy Veteran Paul Wittmer on April 14. During World War II, Wittmer served on six war patrols on the USS Tinosa SS-283. He was part of the crew responsible for the capture of the famed Japanese I-401 submarine taken at the end of … Continue reading The National Archives at St. Louis thanks WWII Navy veteran Paul Wittmer

A scrap of silk tells an airman’s story

In honor of Memorial Day, today's blog post comes from  Sara Holmes, supervisory preservation specialist, and Michael Pierce, preservation technician, both at the National Archives at St. Louis. The piece of silk lay in the folder as if it were just another page in the military personnel record—with holes punched through to be held by … Continue reading A scrap of silk tells an airman’s story

Now on display: Whitman’s Report on Cemeteries

In honor of Memorial Day, the 1869 Whitman Report on Cemeteries is on display in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building from May 22 through June 5. Today's post comes from curator Alice Kamps. Memorial Day traditions began in the aftermath of the Civil War. The American people were just beginning what historian Drew Gilpin … Continue reading Now on display: Whitman’s Report on Cemeteries

Death register returns to Mauthausen, Austria

Today's post comes from exhibits conservator Terry Boone and senior registrar James Zeender. May marks the surrender of the Nazi forces to the Allies—and the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1945. Last year in April, we traveled to the Mauthausen National Memorial, about 100 miles west of Vienna, with one of the original death … Continue reading Death register returns to Mauthausen, Austria

Executive Orders 9980 and 9981: Ending segregation in the Armed Forces and the Federal workforce

Today's blog post comes from curator Jennifer Johnson and education and exhibit specialist Michael Hussey. Executive Orders 9980 and  9981 are on display in the National Archives Museum. See EO 9980 until January 5, 1015, in “Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures” in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery and EO 9981 until June 17, 2014, … Continue reading Executive Orders 9980 and 9981: Ending segregation in the Armed Forces and the Federal workforce

Two more sleepover opportunities at the National Archives!

Due to the popularity of the inaugural Rotunda sleepover in January, the National Archives and the Foundation for the National Archives (FNA) have partnered to host summer and fall sleepovers for children 8 to 12 years old. The sleepovers are scheduled for August 2 and October 18. The Foundation is giving away 3 free tickets--enter the … Continue reading Two more sleepover opportunities at the National Archives!

Now on display: A letter from a mother

Today’s blog post comes from curator Alice Kamps. This featured document will be on display from May 9 to May 21. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the second Sunday in May a holiday for the "public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country." To commemorate … Continue reading Now on display: A letter from a mother

Reflections on LBJ and Civil Rights

Mark K. Updegrove is Director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. The first time a sitting President came to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library was on May 21, 1971, when President Richard Nixon boarded Air Force One and journeyed to the campus of the University of Texas at Austin to … Continue reading Reflections on LBJ and Civil Rights