Category: Records Reference and Research

Posts about searching and using the records at NARA.

Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

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

Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

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

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

by ncurrie, posted in African American History, Army, Finding Aids, Hollywood and Film, Women's History, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Photograph of WAC Officers Inspecting the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Feb 15, 1945 (NAID 531249, Local ID: 111-SC-200791) In early 1945, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion became the only Women’s Army Corps … Continue reading The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Rachael Salyer, archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Soldiers Presenting Arms on a Beachhead , Jun 12, 1944 (Local ID: 111-SC-320872; NAID 176888636) June 6, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World … Continue reading 80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

“Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD. End of First Phase Map of France, June 1944 (NAID 18558251) The Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD (Archives II) has custody of numerous records that document U.S. Army operations … Continue reading “Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

“I Trust You Will Be Able to Assist Me”: Genealogy Researchers Contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs

by John LeGloahec, posted in American Indian History, Genealogy, Interior/Environment

Today's post is by Rose Buchanan, Archivist and Subject Matter Expert for Native American Related Records On July 20, 1964, Ida Ellen Stansbury Robinson of Merced, California, wrote to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters in Washington, DC, to request information about her family history. “For a number of years I have been aware … Continue reading “I Trust You Will Be Able to Assist Me”: Genealogy Researchers Contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Bob Nowatski, archivist in the Basic Processing and Textual Accessioning unit at the National Archives in College Park, MD. When we think of United States airmen in the European theater during World War II, we may picture rugged veterans who flew numerous missions, or soldiers who were killed in combat … Continue reading Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

Sau Ung Loo Chan, An Advocate for American Citizenship and Immigrant Rights

by ncurrie, posted in Asian Pacific American Heritage, Civil Rights, Genealogy, Women's History

Today's post is written by Ruth Chan, archivist and Subject Matter Expert for Asian American and Pacific Islander records Special thanks to Holly Rivet, Archives Specialist at the National Archives at St. Louis; Katie Seitz, Archives Specialist at the National Archives in Washington DC; and Victoria Blue, Public Affairs Specialist, for access to the records … Continue reading Sau Ung Loo Chan, An Advocate for American Citizenship and Immigrant Rights

Department of State Central Files, 1789-1910 Available Online: An Omnibus

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, Foreign Affairs Research Guides, State and Foreign Affairs

Over the past few years, the National Archives has digitized and made available online through the National Archives Catalog many important records of the Department of State.  The records consist largely of the various series of records that constitute the Department’s central files for the period from 1789 to 1910.  As those records went online, … Continue reading Department of State Central Files, 1789-1910 Available Online: An Omnibus

A Snapshot of Poor Records Storage at the Albuquerque Indian School

by gschultz, posted in Archival Projects, Education, Genealogy, Interior/Environment, Records Conservation, Records Reference and Research

Today’s post is written by Cody White, Archivist and Subject Matter Expert for Native American Related Records On September 29, 1936, Carmen Gurnoe of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, wrote the Albuquerque Indian School in New Mexico. Her request was simple, and one that Native elders still make today—she needed proof of her birth date, in … Continue reading A Snapshot of Poor Records Storage at the Albuquerque Indian School