From the Pension Files: the Story of Stephen Twombley

Today's post was written by Catherine Brandsen, Innovation Hub Coordinator at the National Archives in Washington, DC. In the spring of 1864, a white Private named Stephen Twombley of the 1st Maine Cavalry was taken prisoner by Confederates. While being transported on train cars to Andersonville Prison, Twombley jumped from the train and escaped into … Continue reading From the Pension Files: the Story of Stephen Twombley

headshot of Price looking back over his shoulder

Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

In honor of the spookiest time of year, this blog post spotlights the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case files on the late American actor Vincent Leonard Price, Jr.  (100-HQ-410935, 100-LA-34677, and 100-WFO-38897).   Price is best known for being one of Hollywood’s original four Kings of Horror. From 1938 to 1993, he terrified audiences and … Continue reading Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

White House Approbation, 1953

The White House receives many inquiries and comments from Congress and the public.  In today’s world, the President’s White House public engagement and communications staffs handle much of the work of responding to those missives.  In the past, however, most of that work was farmed out to the various agencies in the Executive Branch.  Inquiries … Continue reading White House Approbation, 1953

Still Triaging After All These Years: Preservation and Access of the Burned Files

On July 12, 1973, a massive fire broke out on the sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC.) After 5 days, and 381 men, the 10-7 for out-of-service was called over the emergency dispatcher’s radios. With the fire declared “out” emergency vehicles, first responders, and others who had supported their efforts, like the … Continue reading Still Triaging After All These Years: Preservation and Access of the Burned Files

staff of NARA stand in front of the Archives building, a banner of National Archives and Reocrds Admn 1985 is held in the front

What Budget Cuts Look Like, 1981

And so, we enter the now-annual ritual of waiting and seeing if the National Archives (and most of the rest of the Federal Government) opens on October 1, or shuts down. The agency has been weathering financial storms since well before our modern shutdown era began in the mid-1990s. Anxiety over the paucity of funding … Continue reading What Budget Cuts Look Like, 1981

Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

In mid-February 1967, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune published articles revealing that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been supporting various international youth groups and student organizations with financial assistance.  As a Cold War measure, the U.S. Government, through the CIA, had been funding those private organizations to help … Continue reading Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

Labor [Day] Related Records in the National Register of Historic Places

Labor Day 1903 (National Archives Identifier 6010437) As the calendar turns to September and we pass Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer, you might be wondering about the Labor Day Holiday, the federal holiday that honors and recognizes the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements … Continue reading Labor [Day] Related Records in the National Register of Historic Places

The World Reacts to the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Again.

In the aftermath of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, the Department of State received a cascade of condolences and expressions of grief from around the world.  Those messages came from government officials, major institutions, newspapers, and private citizens.  Subsequently, the Department published those communications as an appendix to the then-new … Continue reading The World Reacts to the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Again.