A Founder of the United States Foreign Service Writes: Joseph Grew on the Importance of Diplomatic Service, 1921

Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives at College Park, MD. In August 1921, the Department of State sent a circular to all American diplomatic posts asking for answers to a multi-page questionnaire soliciting information to clarify “the needs of the Government in the matter of appropriations … Continue reading A Founder of the United States Foreign Service Writes: Joseph Grew on the Importance of Diplomatic Service, 1921

4 men and 1 woman standing around conference table

More than a “Single Issue Community”: The Congressional Hispanic Conference

Today's post was written by Lynn Nashorn, textual processing and accessioning archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Serving as the Republican counterpart to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Conference (CHC) emerged following a rift within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus was formed in 1976 as a bipartisan organization … Continue reading More than a “Single Issue Community”: The Congressional Hispanic Conference

Cesar Chavez

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the Records of the National Register of Historic Places

This post is part of an ongoing “road trip” featuring records from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 – 2017 (National Archives ID 20812721), a series within Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service. Hispanic Heritage Select Photos (National Archives Identifier 6190413) National Hispanic Heritage Month is … Continue reading Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the Records of the National Register of Historic Places

From the Bronx to the Bench: Sonia Sotomayor’s Trailblazing Journey to the Supreme Court

Today's post was written by Lynn Nashorn, textual processing and accessioning archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Looking South from the Bronx to Manhattan, May 1973 (NAID 548407) Born on June 25, 1954 in The Bronx in New York City, Sonia Sotomayor overcame personal and professional adversity to become the first woman of … Continue reading From the Bronx to the Bench: Sonia Sotomayor’s Trailblazing Journey to the Supreme Court

Shutting Down the Sky: The Federal Aviation Administration on 9/11

By Megan Dwyre, Special Access and FOIA Program Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. September 11, 2001, began as an ordinary day in the United States’ air traffic control system. A Federal Aviation Executive Summary (NAID 7601772) describes the day as “severe clear,” a perfect day for flying. Pilots exchanged “good days'' … Continue reading Shutting Down the Sky: The Federal Aviation Administration on 9/11

World War II-era Far East Cultural Property Losses: Research at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Today’s post is by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Dealing with World War II-era looted assets can be a challenging endeavor. Prior to 1990 there were relatively few scholarly works or newspaper articles on the subject of World War II-era looted assets, in part because of the … Continue reading World War II-era Far East Cultural Property Losses: Research at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Homestead Act

Women Homesteaders

Today’s post is by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Next year marks the 160th anniversary of the Homestead Act, a law making free public lands available to homesteading under certain conditions. Its provisions were responsible for helping settle much of the American West. Between 25 and 39 … Continue reading Women Homesteaders

An 1890 Census Fragment for Alaska is Rediscovered

Today’s post is by Claire Kluskens, Genealogy/Census Subject Matter Expert and Digital Projects Archivist at the National Archives in Washington, DC. The National Archives recently digitized a previously unappreciated fragment of the 1890 census for Alaska. Located in Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census, digital images are in the National Archives … Continue reading An 1890 Census Fragment for Alaska is Rediscovered

The Creation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)

Today’s post is by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. On June 25, 1941, an order was drafted which would establish William J. Donovan's wished-for intelligence agency as the Office of Coordinator of Strategic Information (for background see: William J. Donovan and the Establishment of the Office of … Continue reading The Creation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)

“Wait a Minute Mr. Postman” Post Offices on the National Register of Historic Places

This post is part of an ongoing “road trip” featuring records from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 – 2017 (National Archives ID 20812721), a series within Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service. "Clustered Mailboxes help the mailman whose route takes him to the Malibu Lake … Continue reading “Wait a Minute Mr. Postman” Post Offices on the National Register of Historic Places