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
Today's post was written by Duncan Bare, archives technician at the National Archives in College Park. Winston S. Churchill famously described the Battle of the Bulge as “undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and […] an ever-famous American victory.”[1] As the German offensive commenced at around 5:30 am on December 16th, 1944, however, … Continue reading Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records
Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. RG 498 UD 584 Box 4021 Artwork File This winter marks the 80th anniversary of the German attack that began the Ardennes Offensive, or the Battle of the Bulge, during World War II. In … Continue reading Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
