Edith A. Standen: A “Monuments Man” in Germany 1945-1947

This is the fifth in an ongoing series of posts on real-life Monuments Men by Dr. Greg Bradsher. See also his posts on Sir Charles Leonard Woolley, Walter J. Huchthausen, Seymour J. Pomrenze, and Mason Hammond. The forthcoming movie, The Monuments Men, has focused great attention on the Monuments Men (and women) and their work … Continue reading Edith A. Standen: A “Monuments Man” in Germany 1945-1947

Building a Better Christmas: The U.S. Corps of Engineers Wives Club Santa Claus Shop

Today's post is written by Cody White, an archivist at the National Archives at Denver Christmas is often a time for charity, the bringing of holiday cheer to those less fortunate, and one such heartwarming tale can be found at the National Archives at Denver in the most unlikely of record groups; RG 77 Records of the … Continue reading Building a Better Christmas: The U.S. Corps of Engineers Wives Club Santa Claus Shop

An Archives Filled with Firsts

By David Langbart The National Archives holds records relating to many firsts: First President. First airplane. First computer. First atomic bomb. First man on the moon. Here is another first. This is Lucile Atcherson. [Source: Lucile Atcherson; Official Personnel Folders-Department of State; Record Group 146: Records of the U.S. Civil Service Commission; National Archives, St. … Continue reading An Archives Filled with Firsts

An Ode to the Secretary

This is the final post in a week-long series marking Administrative Professionals Week and written by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. Don't miss their posts from day one, day two, day three and day four. This week’s posts have highlighted the role of secretaries in the late 1950s and early 1960s by taking … Continue reading An Ode to the Secretary

Heaven Protects the Working Girl, But She Still Has to Learn to Type

Today's post is the fourth in a series marking Administrative Professionals Week and written by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. Don't miss their posts from day one, day two and day three. First two pages from the publication The Modern Secretary, produced by the School Department of the Royal Typewriter division (online … Continue reading Heaven Protects the Working Girl, But She Still Has to Learn to Type

No Girdle Can Do it All and Other Grooming Tips for Secretaries

Today's post is the third in a series marking Administrative Professionals Week and written by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. Don't miss their posts from day one and day two. The back cover of the November 25, 1960 issue of the publication PS for Private Secretaries (online catalog identifier 7280715). … Continue reading No Girdle Can Do it All and Other Grooming Tips for Secretaries

Hello? Hello? How to Answer the Phone in a Few Easy Steps: Secretarial Training of the 1960s

Today's post is the second in a series marking Administrative Professionals Week and written by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. If you haven't already seen it, don't miss yesterday's post! Two pages from a 50-page New York Telephone Company booklet entitled "What's Cooking?" The booklet contains recipes … Continue reading Hello? Hello? How to Answer the Phone in a Few Easy Steps: Secretarial Training of the 1960s

Flashback! Secretaries of the 1950s and 1960s: Do You Have What it Takes to be One?

This week we're publishing a series of posts by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. Secretaries at the Conference of Secretaries in Dallas, Texas in June 1959 (online catalog identifier 7280640). Today marks the beginning of Administrative Professionals Week. Since the advent of television and the movies, Americans have … Continue reading Flashback! Secretaries of the 1950s and 1960s: Do You Have What it Takes to be One?

Happy Mother’s Day to All, Past and Present

By Monique Politowski As we make our brunch reservations, choose the perfect greeting card, and make the rest of our preparations for Mother’s Day this Sunday, let’s not forget the women, the mothers of our nation, who took a stand for women’s rights and blazed the trail for future movements. Men such as George Washington, … Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day to All, Past and Present

Elections and Connections: The Appointment of Phoebe Couzins, the First Female Marshal

Today's post was written by Katie Beaver, who spent her summer interning with textual processing. The latter half of the nineteenth century is notorious among American historians for shady and tumultuous politics, particularly during presidential elections. The U.S. Marshal Service during this time was charged with monitoring polls on election days to ensure that the … Continue reading Elections and Connections: The Appointment of Phoebe Couzins, the First Female Marshal