Today's post was written by Netisha Currie, Archives Specialist at the National Archives in College Park. This weekend the 87th annual Academy Awards will air, and many of the Best Picture nominees' subjects are culled from historical events or people. Selma (directed by Ava DuVernay) is a dramatization of the events that happened around the Selma to Montgomery … Continue reading Record of the Week: Selma, Edmund Pettus Bridge FBI Case File
Today's post was written by Dr. Greg Bradsher and Dr. Sylvia Naylor, archivists at the National Archives in College Park. In April 1945 the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion received orders to move to the West Coast for a special assignment. Members of this all African American unit hoped to finally see combat during World War II in the … Continue reading Firefly Project and the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (“Smoke Jumpers”)
This February, the Rediscovering Black History blog is kicking off a new feature - the Record of the Week. Every Thursday during Black History Month there will be a post highlighting one of the records from the National Archives' vast holdings. The Inspection Roll of Negroes (NAID 5890797), more commonly referred to as the Book … Continue reading Record of the Week: The Book of Negroes
Today's blog was written by David Langbart, Archivist at the National Archives in College Park. At the outbreak of World War I, William H. Hunt was serving as the U.S. Consul in St. Etienne, France. In addition to his official duties, Hunt was also a true American pioneer. In 1914, he was one of the very … Continue reading William H. Hunt, American Pioneer
Written by Netisha Currie and Tina Ligon, National Archives at College Park “My greatest work comes in the community” ~ Marion Barry Today is the annual Turkey Giveaway - a local tradition of Southeast Washington, DC in which former mayor Marion Barry would give out turkeys and vegetables to less fortunate residents so that they … Continue reading Mayor for Life
Written by Netisha Currie, Archives Specialist at the National Archives in College Park. Today is the kick off for the second annual National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair. From October 28-30 the Archives will broadcast 17 live lectures from across the nation via YouTube to inform the general public on various aspects of genealogical research. This … Continue reading 2014 National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair
This post is dedicated to the memory of Maya Angelou - born April 4, 1928. Maya Angelou was a revered American author, poet, activist, holder of many other occupations, and icon. The impact and power of her words were immediately felt with the publication of her first autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), … Continue reading Dr. Maya Angelou’s Legacy through the National Archives
Today’s blog is written by Dr. Christina Violeta Jones, Textual Reference Archivist at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland 1969 was a remarkable year. Richard Nixon became the 37th President, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were the first two men to land on the moon, and Woodstock the music festival took place. Also … Continue reading Virginia is for the Lovings
Today's blog is written by Netisha Currie, Archives Specialist at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. In addition to permanent government records, the National Archives also holds many documents and artifacts relating to polar exploration. These records were donated by many explorers and scholars to the Center for Polar Archives at NARA until the late 1970s. … Continue reading The Pole at Last
Twelve Years a Slave, the theatrical depiction of the memoir of Solomon Northrup, has garnered much deserved media attention. Not since Alex Haley's Roots (1977) have discussions about the depictions of slavery been so prevalent. The National Archives blog Education Updates has a great post about how the story of Solomon Northrup is revealed in … Continue reading Updates from the National Archives: Twelve Years a Slave
