Dean Rusk Remembers World War II, 1968

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Dean Rusk served as Secretary of State from January 1961 to January 1969, the second longest tenure in that job in U.S. history.  As with many men of his generation, he saw military service … Continue reading Dean Rusk Remembers World War II, 1968

Humor in the Government, c. 1957

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Robert Bowie served in the Department of State as director of the Policy Planning Staff and as the Department of State representative to the National Security Council Planning Board from 1953 to 1957.  In … Continue reading Humor in the Government, c. 1957

George Kennan Says Farewell to the Policy Planning Staff, 1950

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Secretary of State George C. Marshall established the Policy Planning Staff in May 1947.  He created it to be the Department of State's office for long range planning, the first in the Department’s history.  … Continue reading George Kennan Says Farewell to the Policy Planning Staff, 1950

Automation in the U.S. Government, 1966: A Look from One Agency

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. As we approach the third decade of the 21st Century, almost all U.S. Government processes and recordkeeping are handled electronically.  Automation began during World War II, expanded with the advent of computers after the … Continue reading Automation in the U.S. Government, 1966: A Look from One Agency

Apollo 11: Mementos on the Moon

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. At a Department of State senior staff meeting on May 27, 1969, part of the discussion concerned the international implications of objects that might be left on the Moon as part of the Apollo … Continue reading Apollo 11: Mementos on the Moon

Apollo 11: The Department of State Prepares for Launch

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Department of State involvement with the U.S. manned space program is little known and little appreciated.  Much of that involvement dealt with mundane matters such as coordinating international visitors to various launches and the … Continue reading Apollo 11: The Department of State Prepares for Launch

Daylight Saving Time: The Early Experiences III: Great Britain

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier post - here - described the request for information about French, British, and German experience with Daylight Saving Time made to the Department of State by Marcus Marks, President of the Borough … Continue reading Daylight Saving Time: The Early Experiences III: Great Britain

Daylight Saving Time: The Early Experiences II: France

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier post described the request for information about overseas experience with Daylight Saving Time made to the Department of State by Marcus Marks, President of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City.  … Continue reading Daylight Saving Time: The Early Experiences II: France

Daylight Saving Time Begins, 1916, Part II

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier posting noted that after many years of consideration around the World, Imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary became the first countries to institute Daylight Saving Time.  Great Britain and France soon followed suit. The … Continue reading Daylight Saving Time Begins, 1916, Part II

Daylight Saving Time Begins, 1916

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. After many years of consideration around the World, Imperial Germany became the first country to institute Daylight Saving Time. On April 6, 1916, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) passed an order directing a change in … Continue reading Daylight Saving Time Begins, 1916