U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Research Report Document Files Consolidated

Today’s post is written by Tom McAnear, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. The Research Report document files from the Office of Research and Media Reaction in Record Group 306 (Records of the U.S. Information Agency) are important for researching both foreign and domestic opinion about key events, important issues, and the actions … Continue reading U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Research Report Document Files Consolidated

NARA’s 75th Anniversary – Discovering Our Own Records

Today’s post is written by Alan Walker, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. It’s NARA’s 75th Anniversary season, a perfect time to reflect on the impact which the National Archives has made on archival theory and practice in the United States. Spanning the continuum of archival administration, records appraisal, scheduling, accessioning, disposal, holdings … Continue reading NARA’s 75th Anniversary – Discovering Our Own Records

So…what’s accessioning?

Today's post is written by Sarah Farinholt and Meghan Ryan who work on the Accessioning team.    Ever wonder how documents get to the National Archives?  Before federal records become part of the National Archives holdings, they must be accessioned.  Accessioning is the process by which the National Archives takes legal and physical custody of records – it … Continue reading So…what’s accessioning?

NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part II

Today’s post is written by Robert Fahs, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. This is the second post in an occasional series. For the first post, go here. W. Averell Harriman, Jr.  (1891-1986) played a leading role in President Truman’s Point Four agencies, first as the United States Special Representative (1948-1950) responsible … Continue reading NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part II

FOIA: The Other “F” Word (Accessing FBI Records)

Today’s post is written by Dawn Sherman-Fells, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. Are you one of the many who believe that FOIA is truly a “four letter word”?  Understanding the Freedom of Information Act can be daunting, frustrating -- intimidating, even.  Here I will share a few tips that will hopefully facilitate a better understanding … Continue reading FOIA: The Other “F” Word (Accessing FBI Records)

The Octopus

Today’s post is written by Alfie Paul, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. On an August day in 1991, the body of free-lance reporter Danny Casolaro was found dead in a Martinsburg, West Virginia motel bathtub by two maids.  Ruled a suicide, Casolaro’s death was just a small piece of a larger … Continue reading The Octopus

NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part I

Today’s post and other posts in this series are written by Robert Fahs, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. This blog entry begins an occasional series of descriptions intended to introduce names and keywords useful for searching ARC entries from Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, 1942 - 1961. … Continue reading NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part I

Fun in the Sun: Tarawa Atoll in 1944

Today's post is written by Lloyd Beers, a processing archivist who works with U.S. Navy records. Wartime has many faces and all of them are revealed in the records held by the National Archives and Records Administration.  The April 17, 1944 issue of Life magazine featured a more relaxed face with an article picturing U.S. … Continue reading Fun in the Sun: Tarawa Atoll in 1944