Know Your Records Program
Free events to keep you in the know, held in Washington, DC, and College Park, Maryland.
What's New
National Archives Creates Awards for Excellence in Genealogy
- View our updated Tutorial
, "Beginning Your Genealogical Research at the National Archives and Records Administration",
a Powerpoint presentation - See our recent issue of Researcher News for Washington DC area researchers
Join the Researcher News Mailing List at kyr@nara.gov
See our new brochure (PDF), Finding Information on Personal Participation in World War II
Contact Know Your Records program
Are you looking for a way to present research work done at the National Archives?
The Know Your Records program staff would like to hear from you. Through this program, lecturers present programs designed to educate researchers, staff, and volunteers about the various holdings found within the National Archives. You can submit your ideas for a presentation at KYR@nara.gov.
Lectures and Films
Lectures are held at the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, in Room G-24 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building). Events are free unless otherwise noted.
January
CANCELLED Tuesday, January 6, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Civil War Pension Files at Footnote.com
Beau Sharbrough from Footnote.com will discuss the Civil War pension files recently scanned and published online through the partnership between
the National Archives, Family Search, and Footnote.com. (This lecture
will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the
auditorium on Wednesday, January 7, at 11 a.m.)
Wednesday, January 21, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Digital Vaults
Suzanne Isaacs will present features in the National Archives “Digital
Vaults” exhibit. With a database of some 1,200 documents, photographs,
drawings, maps, and other materials and a keywording system that visually
links records, the Digital Vaults enables visitors to customize their
exhibit experience and to create posters, movies, and games that can
be shared by e-mail. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium on Thursday, January 22, at 11 a.m.)
Tuesday, January 27, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Ramona Branch Oliver will discuss provisions of the Freedom of Information
Act and how the statutes affect public access to both archival and operational
records at the National Archives. (This lecture will be repeated at the
National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium on Thursday,
January 29, at 11 a.m.).
For DC location details see our Visitor's Map.
Genealogy Programs
Introducing NEW genealogy programs one Wednesday and one Saturday a month held at the National Archives Building; Room G-24, Research Center unless otherwise noted (enter on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building.)
January
Wednesday, January 7, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Introduction to Genealogy
Archives staff will present a lecture on basic genealogical research
in Federal records. This lecture occurs on the first Wednesday of the
month and selected Saturdays. The next weekday lecture will take place
on Wednesday, February 4.
Saturday, January 24, at 10 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Introduction to Genealogy
Archives staff will present a lecture on basic genealogical research
in Federal records. This lecture occurs on selected Saturdays and the
first Wednesday of the month. The next weekend lecture will take place
on Saturday, February 21.
Saturday, January 24, noon–4 p.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
“Help! I’m Stuck”
On selected Saturday afternoons, an archivist with extensive experience
in genealogy and the records of the National Archives will be available
to assist with your research questions. Please sign up for a 20-minute
appointment at the Research Center. The next opportunity will be on Saturday,
February 21.
All Genealogy Workshops Nationwide
From the Records Book Group
Washington, DC…The National Archives will hold six book group discussions in 2009. All programs are free and open to the public, and most will be held at noon in the National Archives Building Research Center, Room G-24. Please check the Archives Shop (202-357-5271) for book availability and a special discount for book group participants.
February 17, 2009
The Pentagon: A History - The Untold Story of the Wartime Race
to Build the Pentagon - and to Restore it Sixty Years Later by Steve Vogel
March 17, 2009
The Harp and The Eagle: Irish-American Volunteers and the
Union Army, 1861-1865 by Susannah Ural Bruce
May 19, 2009
Railroads in the Civil War: The Impact of Management on Victory
and Defeat by John E. Clark, Jr.
September 15, 2009
The General & the Jaguar: Pershing's Hunt for Pancho Villa
- A True Story of Revolution and Revenge by Ellen Welsome
October 20, 2009 (College Park, MD location)
Secret Empire: Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of the
American's Space Espionage by Philip Taubman
November 17, 2009
The Whiskey Merchant's Diary: An Urban Life in the Emerging Midwest by
Joseph J. Mersman, Edited by Linda A. Fisher
For DC location details see our Visitor's Map.
Lectures
Tuesdays: Room G-24, Research Center
National Archives Building
Washington, DC
Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue
Thursdays: Lecture Room B (NOTE: January and February 2009 programs in auditorium)
National Archives at College Park, Maryland
Genealogy Programs
Room G-24, Research Center
National Archives Building
Washington, DC
Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue
Book Group
Third Tuesday of February, March, May, September, October
(College Park, MD), and November
Room G-24, Research Center
National Archives Building
Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue
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