Washington, DC, sitting as it does in the mid-Atlantic region, experiences hot and humid summers. Office buildings evolved to make the summertime work situation tolerable. By the early twentieth century, many government buildings had high ceilings, large windows, and opening/closing transoms over doors to allow air flow-through in an effort to make offices as comfortable … Continue reading Getting Ready for Summer in Washington
One of the more notable events in U.S.-Soviet relations during the Eisenhower Administration War was the American National Exhibit in Moscow from July 25 to September 4, in 1959. This was the scene of the so-called Kitchen Debate between Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers Nikita Khrushchev. The … Continue reading Sticky Fingers in Moscow, 1959
In October 1960, in the last months of the Eisenhower Administration, the Civil Service Commission announced the establishment of the Federal Woman’s Award for outstanding achievement by women in the Federal career service to be administered by the Board of Trustees, Federal Woman’s Award. The award was announced in the following press release: A pamphlet … Continue reading Recognizing Women in Federal Service, 1961
The major United Artists motion picture On the Beach came out in 1959. It was based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Nevil Shute. The book and the movie depict a post-apocalyptic world in the aftermath of a nuclear war. It was the first major movie about nuclear conflict and it threatened to … Continue reading More on preparing for the release of “On the Beach”
Until the mid-twentieth century, civilian personnel files as we now understand them did not exist. Nevertheless, there were some earlier records of a personnel-type that existed. Among them are the records relating to applications for service in agencies of the U.S. government. This type of file, which can be found in the records of multiple … Continue reading Now Available Online: Department of State Letters of Application and Recommendation for Public Office, 1797-1877
Today's post was written by M Marie Maxwell, archivist in the Special Access and FOIA Program at the National Archives in College Park. In the executive proclamation for National Black History Month, 2025, African American economist and prolific author Thomas Sowell was mentioned. Although retired from teaching, Professor Sowell does pop up here and there … Continue reading Thomas Sowell and the National Archives Catalog
Photograph of The Krupp Diamond, taken March 24, 1959, Newark Sunday News, Sub A, HQ [Headquarters]-87-46974 [Classification-Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property] [The Krupp Diamond] (NAID 470528423) (FOIA Tracking Number RD 46626); Series: Classification 87 (Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property) Headquarters Case Files (Entry P 194); Record Group 65: Records of the Department of Justice. Federal … Continue reading Glimmer of Justice: The Krupp Diamond, an FBI Investigation turned Hollywood Romance
Today's post was written by Max Korn, an archives technician at the National Archives in College Park. "All names, characters, places, and incidents in this story are entirely fictional and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental." Ever noticed at the end of movies a … Continue reading When a Russian Princess Sued MGM
Noted journalist Jim Hoagland died in early November 2024. He spent most of his career working for the Washington Post, where he began working in 1966, receiving the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1971 and for commentary in 1991. Over the years, Hoagland had postings in Africa, Lebanon, France, headed the Post’s foreign desk, … Continue reading The Press: Friend and Foe
In remembrance of the passing of James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., many will celebrate his time as the 39th President of the United States, the former Governor of Georgia, peanut farmer, volunteer and humanitarian. What has often been overlooked is his naval career, which occurred during a period of transition for the US Navy in … Continue reading Rest Your Oar, Mr. Carter – a Tribute to Jimmy Carter’s Naval Career
