Laying a Wreath at Arlington

This week I had the honor of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of all of us who work here at the National Archives and Records Administration. The invitation came from Tim Franks, Historian at Arlington, who has been a friend for many years through … Continue reading Laying a Wreath at Arlington

This Week in the 1950 Census

It’s been a very good week for the 1950 Census! Our goal for the 1950 Census website was to provide a simple, intuitive site as well as bulk download capabilities for users and make it available as soon as we legally could. The National Archives’ Census team stayed up late on the evening of March … Continue reading This Week in the 1950 Census

The 1950 Census is Here!

At midnight, the National Archives launched the 1950 Census website.  Staff from across the agency have been working over the past decade to prepare the records and provide them to you.  I am very proud of how their work has fulfilled our mission to make access happen.  NARA and Amazon Web Services experts working together … Continue reading The 1950 Census is Here!

Countdown to the 1950 Census!

The clock is ticking down to the April 1, 2022 launch of the 1950 Census and NARA staff have been buzzing with activity in preparation for the date. The Big Count National Archives Identifier 178688266, p. 15 The data for each Census is restricted for 72 years, and the earliest it may be made available … Continue reading Countdown to the 1950 Census!

Consistently Customer Centered

The current administration has called on federal agencies to focus on transforming federal customer experience. In response, the National Archives is embedding customer experience initiatives and principles into the strategic goals for the agency. We are also developing an agency-wide customer experience program.  As exciting and energizing as our new efforts are, focusing on customer … Continue reading Consistently Customer Centered

Honoring our Veterans

November 11 marks the annual observance of Veterans Day, a day on which we honor the courageous women and men who have served in the United States military. Marines come ashore near Da Nang Air Base on March 8, 1965. (National Archives, RG 127; National Archives Identifier 26382181) The National Archives is proud to have … Continue reading Honoring our Veterans

NARA and the International Council on Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration participates in the International Council on Archives (ICA) to share ideas and strategies with our peer national archives around the world, to engage with the global archival profession, and to provide support to archives in countries that are beginning to develop a stronger recordkeeping culture. We’re looking forward to … Continue reading NARA and the International Council on Archives

Here Rests in Honored Glory: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration

2021 marks the centennial of the creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated interment ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  President Harding delivering address in Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, VA, 11/11/1921 National Archives Identifier 209279977 In commemoration of … Continue reading Here Rests in Honored Glory: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration

Celebrate July 4th with the National Archives!

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to adopt a resolution of independence, declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved. While John Adams originally recognized July 2, 1776 as “the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America,” he envisioned future celebrations … Continue reading Celebrate July 4th with the National Archives!

Preparing for the 1950 Census

The next Decennial (ten-year) Census of the United States will be available online next year. In 1978, Public Law 95-416, also known as the “72-Year Rule,” restricted access to decennial records to everyone except for the individual named on the record for 72 years. The National Archives will release the 1950 Census records in April … Continue reading Preparing for the 1950 Census