Department of State and Related Foreign Affairs Agencies.
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. On March 2, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed PL 70-952. That law authorized the War Department to arrange for trips, designated as pilgrimages, by the mothers and widows to the overseas graves of soldiers, … Continue reading Passports and Travel Documents for Pilgrims: Gold Star Travel
Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park Part I of this blog was previously posted here. It was late March when Orebaugh heard he was being actively sought by the Fascists and Germans. They had learned from Captain Bice Pucci, one of the Italian officers … Continue reading The Adventures of American Diplomat Walter William Orebaugh in Italy 1942-1944, Part II
Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park Late in the morning of November 5, 1942, Walter William Orebaugh, American Consul General at Nice, France, received a telephone call from Pinkney Tuck, American Chargé d'affaires at the American Embassy at Vichy, who informed him that the … Continue reading The Adventures of American Diplomat Walter William Orebaugh in Italy 1942-1944, Part I
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. November 20, 2017, marked the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, and Philip Mountbatten. The royal family announced the engagement in early July 1947. Princess Elizabeth and Philip … Continue reading Great Britain’s Royal Wedding of 1947
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Even though American Foreign Service Officers overseas received the news about the tragic events in Dallas through public media, the Department of State had the responsibility to provide its posts with official updates. Consequently, … Continue reading The Department of State and the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: Keeping the Field Informed
Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. In late 1962, Lt. Col. John TeSelle, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, then assigned to the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), made a suggestion that the name of a NATO Working Group, … Continue reading A Most Remarkable Accomplishment: Changing the Name of a NATO Working Group
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. While the Foreign Service reporting found in Department of State files is mostly about the countries in which the U.S. has overseas representation or about U.S. relations with those countries, the files include a … Continue reading A View of the Election of 1960 From Abroad
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In December 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt sent the Department of State a letter in which he admonished that agency for preparing a set of remarks for his use in greeting a foreign visitor that … Continue reading Theodore Roosevelt Schools the Department of State, 1908
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. John Foster Dulles became Secretary of State on January 21, 1953. By the time he attained that position, Dulles had amassed considerable foreign policy experience both in and out of government. The grandson of … Continue reading John Foster Dulles Enters Duty as Secretary of State
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. World War II began in September 1939, with the German invasion and quick conquest of Poland. Both Great Britain and France declared war on Germany in support of the Poles, but no major military … Continue reading Dunkirk in the Department of State Records
