Today’s post is by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Introduction In 1929, President Hoover established a commission to undertake the first comprehensive national study of crime, the American criminal justice system, and law enforcement in the United States. This commission in the two years that followed would … Continue reading The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement’s Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement
“A Stupid Insult:” MAD Magazine and the British Royal Family, 1959
Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives at College Park, MD. In June 1959, the U.S. embassy in London sent a despatch with the subject line “Denigration of the British Royal Family in American Cartoon Magazine.” With it, the embassy’s public affairs officer, F. Bowen Evans, enclosed … Continue reading “A Stupid Insult:” MAD Magazine and the British Royal Family, 1959
Operation JACK STAY: US Marines in the Forest of Assassins
Today’s post is by Nathanial Patch, Reference Archivist at the National Archives in College Park, MD and Subject Matter Expert for Navy Records. Section I: Enemy at the Outskirts On February 27, 1966, the Panamanian cargo ship, SS Lorinda, was sailing up the Long Tau River heading towards Saigon. The Long Tau is the deep … Continue reading Operation JACK STAY: US Marines in the Forest of Assassins
The Ex-Men Did It: 60th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Today's post was written by Christen Brown, Archives Technician in the Special Media Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD. April 17 to April 20, 2021 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion when Cuban refugees banded together to invade Cuba and overthrow the Castro regime. When the Cuban Revolution … Continue reading The Ex-Men Did It: 60th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion
“Lucy, I’m Home!”…from the Army
Today's post was written by Christen Brown, Archives Technician in the Special Media Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Desiderio Alberto Arnaz, born March 2, 1917 in Santiago de Cuba, was an actor, musician, and producer best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the television sitcom I Love Lucy. But, … Continue reading “Lucy, I’m Home!”…from the Army
Taking a Walk on the Red Carpet: Theaters in the National Register of Historic Places
Today’s post is by John LeGloahec, Archives Specialist in the Electronics Records Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD. This post is part of an ongoing “road trip” featuring records from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 – 2017 (National Archives ID 20812721), a series within Record … Continue reading Taking a Walk on the Red Carpet: Theaters in the National Register of Historic Places
Counting Down Until the Release of the 1950 Census!
Today’s post is by Denise Henderson, Blog alum and Director of Digitization in the Office of Research Services. Since it only happens once every ten years, NARA wants to give you plenty of advance notice: 365 days from today, on April 1, 2022, the 1950 Census will be digitally released to the public! The opening … Continue reading Counting Down Until the Release of the 1950 Census!
Tales of the Revenue Cutter Service and True Crime from The Collector of Customs at Boston
Today’s post is by George Fuller, Archival Reference Technician at the National Archives at St. Louis. A year ago, as National Archives staff were sent home at the beginning of the pandemic we were all in need of remote work and when transcription possibilities arose for alternative work my first thought was, “busy work.” At … Continue reading Tales of the Revenue Cutter Service and True Crime from The Collector of Customs at Boston
Finding Its Way Back Home: The Saga of a Misfiled Document
This post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Archival mantra holds that a misfiled document is as good as gone forever. That is, unless somebody finds it, recognizes its status as a misfile, and refiles it in its proper location. It can, however, be … Continue reading Finding Its Way Back Home: The Saga of a Misfiled Document
Historian in the Records
Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Revered diplomatic historian Walter LaFeber passed away recently. He wrote many important books, some that influenced the public foreign policy debate. They include: The New Empire: An Interpretation of American Expansion, 1860-1898 (1963); America, Russia, and … Continue reading Historian in the Records