This week the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) honored the National Archives with its two highest awards. The President’s Award for Distinguished Public Service was awarded to Miriam Nisbet, Director of our Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). And the Director’s Award for Superior Public Service was awarded to the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB). … Continue reading Open Government Appreciations
Yesterday we celebrated the accomplishments of National Archives staff across the country in our annual Archivist's Awards Ceremony. I read from Senate Resolution 99 which commends public servants for their dedication and continued service to the United States and acknowledging that " ... public service is a noble calling." I also read from President Obama's … Continue reading Happy Public Service Recognition Week!
In early December 2009, Google announced on their blog titled "Personalized Search for Everyone" that they would be using 57 "signals" derived from your previous searching behavior in order to predict the sites you were most likely to choose in your search. Netflix, Yahoo, Facebook, and YouTube, to mention just a few, use similar predictive … Continue reading You Are What You Search
This week, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will dedicate the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. The facility will open to the public on May 1. Bush Library exterior, evening. Photo courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Center The Bush Library … Continue reading George W. Bush Presidential Center Dedication
On Monday, April 15, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum suffered a fire. It was quickly managed and extinguished by first responders from the Boston Fire Department and the Boston Police Department. My sincere thanks go to them for their extraordinary efforts. I am grateful that no one was injured. This fire occurred … Continue reading The Spirit of Boston
In a recent op-ed piece by Sean Pidgeon, he defines research rapture: “A state of enthusiasm or exaltation arising from the exhaustive study of a topic or period of history; the delightful but dangerous condition of becoming repeatedly sidetracked in following intriguing threads of information, or constantly searching for one more elusive fact.” Pidgeon’s column … Continue reading Rapturous Research
As a Navy veteran I have a particular fondness for U.S. Navy records, especially deck logs. From my first days here at the National Archives when I discovered that we had the actual deck logs from the US S Constitution including her service during the War of 1812 to the day I was handed a … Continue reading Deck Logs
Growing up in Beverly, Massachusetts I was familiar with the legend of young George Patton rescuing three people whose sailboat had overturned off Beverly Cove. Last week we had a visit from a group of Coast Guard personnel and among the records selected to show them was the file documenting the incident. Imagine my surprise … Continue reading Young George Patton, The Sailor
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) at the National Archives has been hard at work this year developing recommendations to the President of the United States to transform the national security classification system. PIDB is an advisory committee established by Congress to advise and provide recommendations to the President and other executive branch officials on … Continue reading Transforming Classification
In 1997 President and Mrs. Clinton created the White House Millennium Council with the theme “Honor the Past—Imagine the Future.” The Council asked former presidential and congressional medal winners and students from across the country to identify artifacts, ideas, and accomplishments which represent America at that time in history for inclusion in a National Millennium … Continue reading What Happened to Those Twinkies?
