Black History Month 2017: Blogs Related to the Panama Canal

Happy Black History Month! This year the Rediscovering Black History blog at the National Archives would like to highlight select posts from the past. This public blog was created to inform researchers, scholars, students, and anyone interested in records related to African-American history at the National Archives and Presidential Libraries on the vast amount of … Continue reading Black History Month 2017: Blogs Related to the Panama Canal

W. E. B. Du Bois, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Study of Black Life

Today’s blog was written by Mary Kate Eckles, summer intern at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland and a liberal arts student at St. John’s College W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was one of the leading academics on black life in the United States. He was a historian, sociologist, educator and the first … Continue reading W. E. B. Du Bois, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Study of Black Life

Accidents, Injuries and Deaths in the Canal Zone, 1884–1999

Written by Patrice Brown, Archivist (Special Assistant) in the Evaluation and Special Projects Division, National Declassification Center at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland This is the second in a series of blogs that relates to Panama Canal records. This blog focuses on death records and how the records can be used to perform … Continue reading Accidents, Injuries and Deaths in the Canal Zone, 1884–1999

Part I: How to use Panama Canal Personnel Records at the National Archives: My Grandfather worked on the Panama Canal

Today's blog was written by Patrice Brown, Archivist (Special Assistant) in the Evaluation and Special Projects Division, National Declassification Center at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland There has been increased interest in the employees of the Panama Canal since I posted several blogs in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the construction of … Continue reading Part I: How to use Panama Canal Personnel Records at the National Archives: My Grandfather worked on the Panama Canal

William H. Hunt, American Pioneer

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

A Callin’ from Colón: Photographs of Black Employees Working on the Panama Canal

Today's blog was written by Barbara Lewis Burger,  retired National Archives Still Picture Senior Archivist  We hea’ a callin’ from Colon We hea’ a callin’ from Limon Let’s quit de t’ankless toil an’ fret Fe where the better pay we’ll get ~Claude McKay, Peasants’ Way O’ Thinkin’ According to La Autoridad del Canal de Panamá … Continue reading A Callin’ from Colón: Photographs of Black Employees Working on the Panama Canal

“WE WORK AGAIN:” African Americans and the Federal Work Programs during the Great Depression

Today’s blog was written by Kevin L. Bradley, Archives Technician in the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Division at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland   The economic hardship of the Great Depression affected everybody, but it was especially harsh for African Americans who were already suffering from unfair employment, housing, and educational practices. … Continue reading “WE WORK AGAIN:” African Americans and the Federal Work Programs during the Great Depression

In Celebration of 100 Years of the Panama Canal: West Indian Canal Employee Records

Today’s Blog Post was written by Patrice Brown, Archivist (Special Assistant) in the Evaluation and Special Projects Division, National Declassification Center at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland August 15, 2014, marked the 100th Anniversary of the completion of the Panama Canal.  So, it would seem like an appropriate time to continue my dialogue … Continue reading In Celebration of 100 Years of the Panama Canal: West Indian Canal Employee Records

Dr. Harold T. Pinkett, The First African-American Archivist at the National Archives

Today’s blog is written by Alan Walker, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland Harold T. Pinkett, born on April 7, 1914 in Salisbury, Maryland was the first African-American Archivist at the National Archives.  He graduated summa cum laude from Morgan College (now Morgan State University) in 1935, and received his master’s degree … Continue reading Dr. Harold T. Pinkett, The First African-American Archivist at the National Archives

Family, Farming, and Community: Photographs of African American Life in Putnam County, Georgia in 1941

Today’s Blog is written by Barbara Lewis Burger, a retired National Archives Still Picture Senior Archivist. A significant percentage of African Americans lived in rural communities until the middle of the 20th century.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 1900, the black population was slightly more than 8.8 million or 11.6% of the U.S. … Continue reading Family, Farming, and Community: Photographs of African American Life in Putnam County, Georgia in 1941