National Archives

Mapping World War II: Archival Resources

June 21, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Maps and charts have always played an important role in the planning and execution of military operations. Military maps, nautical charts, and fortification plans form a significant part of the holdings in the Cartographic Branch of the National Archives.

Among these records include a recently digitized series of World War II Records from the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department (Record Group 407). These records are available to view and download from the National Archives Catalog. [Read more…] about Mapping World War II: Archival Resources

Photographing the Civil War: Mathew Brady at 200

May 26, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Mathew Brady was one of the most prolific photographers of the nineteenth century, creating visual documentation of the Civil War period. While Mathew Brady’s exact birth-date in Warren County, NY is unknown (circa 1822 – 1824), this year marks the beginning of the commemoration of Brady’s 200th birthday. [Read more…] about Photographing the Civil War: Mathew Brady at 200

Don’t Be a Dope: Will Eisner’s World War II Posters

May 22, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Still Picture Branch at the National Archives safeguards many series of posters used during World War II by the United States Government. The messages range from the promotion of Victory Gardens and the war effort to military recruitment, education, safety and more.

Cartoonist and writer Will Eisner (1917-2005) was one of the most significant pioneers and innovators within the 20th-century comic book industry. Though his career spanned over half of the century, Eisner is perhaps best known for one of his earliest works — his comic strip The Spirit, which debuted in newspapers in 1940. [Read more…] about Don’t Be a Dope: Will Eisner’s World War II Posters

Help Transcribe the 1950 Census

April 15, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The National Archives launched the 1950 Census website on April 1st, and is seeking help from the public to transcribe and refine the name index.

The website has already had more than 1.4 million visitors, including 44 million page views and over 1.2 million names transcribed. Transcribing or submitting name updates helps improve the accuracy of the name index and make the records more searchable. [Read more…] about Help Transcribe the 1950 Census

World War II Escape and Evasion Firsthand Accounts

January 7, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

At the National Archives there are nearly 3,000 reports containing information on escape and evasion activities and training of U.S. soldiers serving in the European theater during the Second World War.

These records contain dramatic and gripping firsthand accounts of survival, including these three: [Read more…] about World War II Escape and Evasion Firsthand Accounts

The Civil War Confederate Army’s Forced Labor Slave Records

December 27, 2021 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

During the U.S. Civil War, the Confederate Army required enslavers to loan the people they held enslaved to the military. Throughout the Confederacy from Florida to Virginia, these enslaved people served as cooks and laundresses, labored in deadly conditions to mine potassium nitrate to create gunpowder, worked in ordnance factories, and dug the extensive defensive trench networks that defended cities such as Petersburg, Virginia.

To track this extensive network of thousands of enslaved people and the pay their enslavers received for their lease, the Confederate Quartermaster Department created the record series now called the “Confederate Slave Payrolls.” [Read more…] about The Civil War Confederate Army’s Forced Labor Slave Records

National Archives Adds Donated Collection Explorer

October 2, 2021 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The National Archives safeguards billions of documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States government.

In addition to these federal records, the National Archives holds collections of donated historical materials, many of which pertain to and illustrate historical activities of the United States, or document a significant program or activity of the U.S. government. [Read more…] about National Archives Adds Donated Collection Explorer

Upcoming 1950 Census Release Will Offer New Details About Life In The U.S., Abroad

April 6, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The first U.S. federal population census was taken in 1790, and has been repeated every ten years since. The first censuses were often quite incomplete.

A complete list of all white people was not even a goal until the 1850 Census and ever since many have been missed in the count, especially women, the poor, those without homes, immigrants, people of color, slaves, free blacks, and indigenous people.

Still, decennial censuses can be enormously valuable reach tools – especially when it comes to genealogy and local history. [Read more…] about Upcoming 1950 Census Release Will Offer New Details About Life In The U.S., Abroad

Trailblazing Women: Geraldine Ferraro

March 29, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Geraldine Ferraro, born in Newburgh and later of the South Bronx, would make history as the first female Vice Presidential nominee for a major party. In 1984, Democratic Presidential nominee Walter Mondale announced that Congresswoman of New York would be his running mate. [Read more…] about Trailblazing Women: Geraldine Ferraro

Trailblazing Women: Mae Jemison

March 24, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Mae Carol Jemison became the first African American woman accepted into NASA’s space training program on June 4th, 1987. Five years later, on September 12th, 1992, she became the first black woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. [Read more…] about Trailblazing Women: Mae Jemison