By Alfie Paul The National Archives has a program of presentations called Know Your Records through which archivists, volunteers, and others share their knowledge of our records with you, the public. It is a great way for interested individuals to learn what we have and how to use what we have to their advantage. The … Continue reading Know Your Records: USAID, RG 286, Part I
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
Happy World Red Cross Red Crescent Day!
By Jason Clingerman Today is Henry Dunant's birthday, which is also celebrated as World Red Cross Red Crescent Day. In honor of that holiday, I thought I would mention some Red Cross records of historical interest that can be found at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland (Archives II) in Collection ANRC, Records of … Continue reading Happy World Red Cross Red Crescent Day!
Cargo and Contraband during the Civil War
Today's post is written by Stephanie Stegman, the special media projects volunteer at the National Archives at Fort Worth. This is the third post in a three-part series. (If you missed them, follow these links to the first and second posts.) Cargo – it was the main business of the New Orleans Custom House. After the … Continue reading Cargo and Contraband during the Civil War
Of paper cuts and ink stains: the paperwork of the Custom House
Today's post is written by Stephanie Stegman, the special media projects volunteer at the National Archives at Fort Worth. This is the second post in a three-part series. (If you missed it, the first post can be found here.) Today’s topic is paperwork. Paperwork was a vital part of daily life at the New Orleans Custom … Continue reading Of paper cuts and ink stains: the paperwork of the Custom House
Inside the New Orleans Custom House
Today's post is written by Stephanie Stegman, the special media projects volunteer at the National Archives at Fort Worth. This is the first post in a three-part series. Electoral projections are a popular topic these days, and everyone has an opinion. In July 1860, two engineers in Louisiana exchanged their predictions on the upcoming presidential … Continue reading Inside the New Orleans Custom House
Determining the Deposition in 1775
By Monique Politowski This week in 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord were fought in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts militia and Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith’s group of British troops suffered casualties, but it is still unclear which side fired the first shot that began the American Revolution. Record Group 360, The Papers of the Continental … Continue reading Determining the Deposition in 1775
Donated Records: A Worthwhile Adventure
Today's post is written by Kimberly Kronwall. My grandfather was an avid pilot and builder of airplanes. As a child, I remember walking into his garage to check on the progress of his latest Taylorcraft aircraft. Other than this limited exposure to airplanes (and the commercial flights I frequent) I am not by any means … Continue reading Donated Records: A Worthwhile Adventure
It (perhaps) does a body good
By Robin Waldman In June 1941, W. G. Campbell launched a sweeping investigation. As the Commissioner of Food and Drugs for what is now known as the Food and Drug Administration, he commanded all his Chief of Districts to determine, once and for all, the composition of . . . chocolate milk. In a letter … Continue reading It (perhaps) does a body good
One Village in Five Countries
By Ashby Crowder In her 2005 study Drawing The Line: Nature, Hybridity and Politics in Transboundary Spaces, geographer Juliet Fall recounts a parable from a tumultuous corner of Europe: “A local tale told of a man who was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, christened in Czechoslovakia, married in Hungary, had his first child in the … Continue reading One Village in Five Countries