Researching Foreign Affairs Records, Part II: Getting Started

By David Langbart This is the second post in a four-part series about conducting research in the records of agencies specifically responsible for U.S. foreign relations.  It is derived from information on the NARA web pages devoted to that topic.  The recommendations herein are applicable to other records, too. Please visit Part I, Part III, … Continue reading Researching Foreign Affairs Records, Part II: Getting Started

Researching Foreign Affairs Records, Part I: Introduction

By David Langbart This is the first post in a four part series about conducting research in the records of agencies specifically responsible for U.S. foreign relations. It is derived from information on the NARA web pages devoted to that topic. Please visit Part II, Part III, and Part IV. The United States has played … Continue reading Researching Foreign Affairs Records, Part I: Introduction

Wintergarden by Manet was NOT Looted by the Nazis

Today's post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. In 1912 David C. Preyer wrote in his book The Art of the Berlin Galleries that the then Royal National Gallery did not until 1896 make any effort to add foreign works to its collection.  In taking the reader through … Continue reading Wintergarden by Manet was NOT Looted by the Nazis

D + 10 Years: The 1954 Celebration of the World War II Invasion of Normandy

Today's post is written by David Langbart, Archivist at the National Archives in College Park. This past weekend saw the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during World War II.  The invasion was memorably portrayed in the movie The Longest Day (1962) and in episodes of the mini-series “Band of Brothers.”  By all accounts, this … Continue reading D + 10 Years: The 1954 Celebration of the World War II Invasion of Normandy

New Webpage for D-Day Records

Today’s post is written by Scott Ludwig, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park Today marks the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, which was part of the larger Operation Overlord and the first stages of the Battle of Normandy, France (also referred to as the Invasion of Normandy) during World War II. It was a crucial … Continue reading New Webpage for D-Day Records

A Polite Request for a Bicycle

Today's post is written by Megan Dwyre, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park “Hans Smit Duyzenkunst lent his bicycle for the evaders transport, but never got it back. He request you politely for an other bicycle.” Hans Smit Duyzenkunst Claim While working on a reference request, I came across this claim from the file … Continue reading A Polite Request for a Bicycle

The Chaplain at Nuremberg

Today's post is written by Daria Labinsky, Archivist at the National Archives at St. Louis Capt. Henry F. Gerecke thought he was going home. It was November 1945, and the Second World War had been over for several months. Instead, the Lutheran minister accepted a new assignment: to serve as the chief chaplain to the Nazi … Continue reading The Chaplain at Nuremberg

Nicholas Winton and Refugee Children: A Follow-up to “60 Minutes”

Today's post is written by David Langbart, Archivist at the National Archives in College Park. The April 27, 2014, broadcast of the CBS news show “60 Minutes” included a segment entitled “Saving the children.”   It recounted the efforts of Nicholas Winton, a British citizen, to save almost 700 Czechoslovakian children, mostly Jewish, from the Nazi … Continue reading Nicholas Winton and Refugee Children: A Follow-up to “60 Minutes”

Spring 2014 Interns at the National Archives in College Park

Today's post is written by Dr. Tina Ligon, Archivist at the National Archives in College Park. The unpaid internship program at the National Archives gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to experience actual archival work, under the guidance of an experienced archivist.  Selected candidates work in the either the processing or reference sections on various … Continue reading Spring 2014 Interns at the National Archives in College Park

Diplomats Expressing Displeasure

Today's post is written by David Langbart, Archivist at the National Archives in College Park. This blog post is derived from an article published on the web site “American Diplomacy: Foreign Service Despatches and Periodic Reports on U.S. Foreign Policy” An essential aspect of the U.S. foreign policy program, especially since the 1930s, is the use of … Continue reading Diplomats Expressing Displeasure