Today's post is written by archivist David Langbart who works primarily with diplomatic records. Researchers who use Department of State records may be interested to know a bit more about the types of documents used by Foreign Service Posts to communicate with the Department of State. This is the first in a series of postings … Continue reading Foreign Service Friday! The Despatch
A Look at the Residential City of Washington
We're pleased to announce that our colleagues from the Textual Archives Services Division at Archives I will be joining us as regular bloggers. Today’s post is written by M. Marie Maxwell, an archives specialist who works at Archives I. Due to the unique relationship between the Federal government and the District of Columbia the National Archives … Continue reading A Look at the Residential City of Washington
Processing Records of the American Red Cross
By Jason Clingerman In March we begin processing the collection of American Red Cross records donated to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 2009. This was made possible due to the closing of the American Red Cross’ Hazel Braugh Records Center and Archives in Lorton, Virginia. These records will be incorporated into NARA’s already existing … Continue reading Processing Records of the American Red Cross
Consumption Comes Back
Today’s post is written by archives technician Ingi House. Going through records, sometimes it’s a surprise what you can find right off the bat: a cool name, a weird event, or even an interesting story. But what lies underneath the obvious is sometimes even better. All you need is a spark to start your mind turning … Continue reading Consumption Comes Back
If I Was in Charge…
By Denise Henderson We want to hear from our researchers! Here’s your chance to tell us what record groups you would like to see us working on…if you were in charge! In the last few years, the archivists working in the Textual Archives Services Division at Archives II have been involved in several large-scale processing projects. … Continue reading If I Was in Charge…
NARA and Ancestry.com: The Digitization Partnership Project, an introduction
Today’s post is written by archives technician Kate Sohasky. What exactly is it that you do? This is the question I was repeatedly met with during my first weeks of training at the National Archives. This is the question I continue to be met with when I speak with other NARA employees. Allow me to introduce us … Continue reading NARA and Ancestry.com: The Digitization Partnership Project, an introduction
U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Research Report Document Files Consolidated
Today’s post is written by Tom McAnear, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. The Research Report document files from the Office of Research and Media Reaction in Record Group 306 (Records of the U.S. Information Agency) are important for researching both foreign and domestic opinion about key events, important issues, and the actions … Continue reading U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Research Report Document Files Consolidated
NARA’s 75th Anniversary – Discovering Our Own Records
Today’s post is written by Alan Walker, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. It’s NARA’s 75th Anniversary season, a perfect time to reflect on the impact which the National Archives has made on archival theory and practice in the United States. Spanning the continuum of archival administration, records appraisal, scheduling, accessioning, disposal, holdings … Continue reading NARA’s 75th Anniversary – Discovering Our Own Records
So…what’s accessioning?
Today's post is written by Sarah Farinholt and Meghan Ryan who work on the Accessioning team. Ever wonder how documents get to the National Archives? Before federal records become part of the National Archives holdings, they must be accessioned. Accessioning is the process by which the National Archives takes legal and physical custody of records – it … Continue reading So…what’s accessioning?
NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part II
Today’s post is written by Robert Fahs, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. This is the second post in an occasional series. For the first post, go here. W. Averell Harriman, Jr. (1891-1986) played a leading role in President Truman’s Point Four agencies, first as the United States Special Representative (1948-1950) responsible … Continue reading NAMES AND KEYWORDS in Record Group 469: Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, part II