Searching for Houdini

Today’s post is written by Daniel Dancis, an Archivist in the Textual Records Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD.  The name itself conjures up visions of handcuffs, underwater submersions, and impossible escapes. For just a moment imagine yourself in a large theater in the early 1900s. From the upper balcony, surrounded by … Continue reading Searching for Houdini

Nathan Reingold

Drafting a Guide: American Jewish History Resources

Today’s post is written by Alan Walker, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. In 1957, archivist Nathan Reingold distributed a memo to each custodial unit at the National Archives asking for their staffs' help in tracking down records relating to American Jewish history. Nathan Reingold, 1971. (National Archives ID 23856471, Local ID 64-NA-5058). … Continue reading Drafting a Guide: American Jewish History Resources

Aiding the Jews of Europe, 1946

Today’s post is written by Alan Walker, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Although the war was over, the agony of its survivors continued unabated. The United Jewish Appeal, established in 1939, now in the aftermath called upon the federal government to solicit support for its efforts overseas to help Jewish victims of … Continue reading Aiding the Jews of Europe, 1946

The Harrison Report, President Truman, and General Eisenhower

Today's post was written by Dr. Greg Bradsher and Dr. Sylvia Naylor, Archivists at the National Archives at College Park. The Jewish community in the United States expressed many complaints during April and May 1945 about how displaced persons, particularly Jews, were being treated by the U.S. Army in Germany.  Secretary of the Treasury Henry … Continue reading The Harrison Report, President Truman, and General Eisenhower

Seymour J. Pomrenze: A National Archives Monuments Man

This is the third in an ongoing series of posts on real-life Monuments Men by Dr. Greg Bradsher. See also his posts on Sir Charles Leonard Woolley and Walter J. Huchthausen. The forthcoming movie, The Monuments Men, has focused great attention on the Monuments Men (and women) and their work during and after World War II. Of course … Continue reading Seymour J. Pomrenze: A National Archives Monuments Man