Today’s post is by Jason Atkinson, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD. It is not every day you open a box full of government records and find an original signed and embossed letter from a major movie star. However, such was the case when I was … Continue reading The King of Cool: Steve McQueen in the Archives
Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. The United States Army wanting an aeroplane, in early 1908, signed a contract with Orville and Wilbur Wright to a acquire one. The contract prescribed certain tests that the aeroplane would have to accomplish before the Army … Continue reading The United States Army Buys Its First Aeroplane, 1909
Today’s post is written by Laney Stevenson, Archives Technician at the National Archives at College Park. In highlighting the stories of bold and courageous women for Women’s History Month, the life of Mona Ryan Inman is especially noteworthy, given the incredible coincidences in the dates and locations of major World War I events and her … Continue reading Women in Uniform: Red Cross Service of Mona Ryan Inman in World War I
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In March 1948, the Department of State sent a request for information about host country atomic energy developments to its diplomatic offices overseas. The Department directed posts to forward copies of basic laws, statutes, … Continue reading Atomic activity in Iran. How things change.
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. The book The Invisible Government, published by Random House Publishers in 1964, is one of the first major exposés of the activities of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The book was written by the … Continue reading The Department of State Reacts to Public Revelations of Intelligence Activities, 1964
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. The fall of 1968 leading up to the Presidential election on November 5, saw active peace negotiations between the United States and North Vietnam.[1] One (among many) aspect of the situation that threatened to … Continue reading Vietnam Negotiations, 1968: The Problem of Leaks
Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. On April 6, 1917, America entered World War I. On June 8, 1917, public announcement was made that a great fleet of 20,000 airplanes was about to be created and would be decisive of the war, months … Continue reading “Penguins Don’t Fly”: The Senate Military Affairs Committee, Secretary of War Baker, and Aircraft Production, 1918
Today’s post is written by Daniel Dancis, an Archivist in the Textual Processing Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD. “Believing that the development of experimental facilities on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, is an undertaking that is difficult of verbal description there are attached, hereto, a brief photographic record. The pictures submitted only … Continue reading Building a Radio Tower atop Mount Washington
Today's post is written by Jacob Lusk, Archives Specialist in Textual Reference at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Though best known for such classic films as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946), director Frank Capra also led a distinguished career with the United States Army. He served as a second lieutenant … Continue reading Frank Capra’s Security Clearance
Today’s post is written by Larry Shockley, Archives Specialist in the Office of Innovation. A 1995 comedic film titled Canadian Bacon was directed by Michael Moore, and starred Alan Alda as a U.S. President whose approval ratings were tanking. In order to give his administration the desired boost with his base the president and his advisors … Continue reading U.S. and Canada Prepare for War Against … Each Other?
