April 2009
Washington, DC, Area Events
Program Highlights
The Federal Triangle. Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith Photography, Inc./GSA
- BIG!
Programs in connection with our new exhibit, “BIG! Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives.” (April 2, 18, 23, 29)
Don’t miss Family Day on April 18! - African American History
An excerpt from and a panel discussion about the new PBS documentary Legacy: Black & White in America and (April 22) - Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Two book lectures and two movies relating to Lincoln and the Civil War (April 8, 17, 18, 25) - Know Your Records Programs
The fifth annual Genealogy Fair (April 22–23) and other programs that explore records held by the National Archives. (April 1, 7, 9)
Exhibit Highlights
- Permanent Exhibits
The Charters of Freedom, A New World Is at Hand, The Public Vaults, Magna Carta - Special Exhibit
BIG! Opens March 13. - Special Exhibit in College Park, MD
The Long View
Locations, Hours, and Contact Information
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted; reservations are not required unless noted. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For McGowan Theater programs, the doors to the building will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.
BIG!
The National Archives Experience is pleased to present programs in celebration of our new exhibit, “BIG! Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives.” The exhibit features big records, big events, and big ideas and runs through January 3, 2010, in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery.
Thursday, April 2, at noon
Friday, April 3, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
BIG Stories from a BIG Land
Appalachia, a land of magnificent beauty and startling contrasts, stretches
from New York to Mississippi and is home to the oldest mountains in North America
and the most ancient forests in the world. A film 10 years in the making, Appalachia:
A History of Mountains and People tells
the compelling story of how landscape shapes human cultures and how humans
shape the land. Narrated by Sissy Spacek, the four-part series will have its
television premiere on April 9 on PBS. A film by Jamie Ross and Ross Spears
from the James Agee Film Project.
Screening Schedule
Thursday, April 2, at noon
PART ONE: Time and Terrain
The series begins with Earth’s oldest mountains—the Appalachians. We see how continents over millions and millions
of years collide in a slow dance which ultimately results in the formation
of the mountains we now know as the Appalachians. We trace the evolution of
the Great Forest that blankets the region in green, forming a home for a unique
mosaic of plant and animal species. We watch as the first humans who arrived
as early as 12,000 B.C. develop a complex and sophisticated relationship with
the natural world. The arrival of the Europeans signals vast cultural and biological
upheavals. (60 minutes)
PART TWO: New Green World
Two cultures, Native American and European, collide in a struggle for
control of the mountains. In the conquest of new land, first come
the surveyors and mapmakers, including young George Washington, then
come the road and cabin builders. From ecologists, anthropologists,
and geographers we hear of the vast differences between the Native
American and the European perceptions of the land and its resources,
all of which comes to a head when gold is discovered in 1828 in the
mountains of Georgia. Once again, geology is destiny. We see a new
inhabitant, the pioneer, carving out a life on the Appalachia frontier,
coming to terms with the wilderness, and creating a way of life unique
to the mountains, one that will endure in different forms through
the centuries. (60 minutes)
Friday, April 3, at noon
PART THREE: Mountain Revolutions
A rich agrarian society is torn asunder by the cataclysm of the Civil
War. “The race for the prize is on,” wrote Harper’s magazine
in 1872 as railroads pushed ever farther into the mountains. Speculators
spread through every timber rich and mineral infused hollow, making
deals. The third hour of the series will tell the story of the region
as it confronts this strange new industrial age. The story begins
in the Great Forest, where virgin timber still abounded as late as
1880. Coal camps replace villages; mountain farms are abandoned; missionary
schools spring up; the land, the people, the wildlife, and the culture
are endangered. Foresters, botanists, geologists, novelists, and historians
recount the changes in the land and its people as the coal is dug
and the ancient trees are felled to fuel the nation‘s booming
new industrial economy. (60 minutes)
PART FOUR: Power and Place
The story of 20th-century Appalachia is the story of a rich but deeply
troubled region forging its own distinct identity. From the union
battles of the 1920s to the celebration of its rich cultural heritage
in music, art, and literature, to the enduring environmental and cultural
dilemmas of our own time, Part IV will explore the heartbreak and
hope of modern Appalachia. Sociologists and ecologists point to Appalachia’s
own inner eye, the ways in which trouble and pain, discovery and self-discovery
fortify the region’s soul and backbone. We see new attitudes
and new environmental challenges, old people coming back, new mountain
lovers moving in—symbolized by an old tree with a new genetic
makeup—the American Chestnut. (60 minutes)
Saturday, April 18, noon to 3 p.m.
Presidential Conference Rooms
BIG! Family Day
- Celebrate all things BIG! with special activities designed for children and their families.
- Treasure Hunt (O’Brien Gallery)
- Use a pantograph to make large-scale drawings (O’Brien Gallery Lobby)
- Listen to Tall Tales from American folklore (Washington Room)
- Declare BIG! speeches from American history (Jefferson Room)
- Color in our large-scale drawing of the Faulkner Murals from the Rotunda (Jefferson Room)
- Design and receive a BIG! award (Jefferson Room)
- Put together BIG! floor puzzles and build a BIG! tower from blocks (Madison Room)
- Sign a BIG! Petition (Presidential Conference Room Lobby)
- Archival Adventures (Boeing Learning Center)
Saturday, April 18, at 3 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
BIG! Film Series
A Night to Remember
Based on Walter Lord’s book on the sinking of the Titanic, historical
characters and first-hand accounts are used to tell the tragic tale of the
maiden voyage of the British liner. Almost every line of dialogue is taken
from the actual night that an iceberg created a 300-foot gash in the hull
of this great ship and the “unsinkable” Titanic sank
quietly into the ocean. (123 minutes, 1958)
Ariel Rios Building. Hoachlander Davis Photography/GSA
Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
The Federal Triangle: Building BIG
Conceived during the Roaring Twenties and largely built during the Great
Depression, the Federal Triangle in Washington, DC, was an urban redevelopment
project whose scale and architectural ambition were unprecedented in the
United States. A panel of experts, including Robert
Leighninger, author of Long-Range Public Investment: The Forgotten Legacy of the New Deal,
and George Gurney, deputy chief curator at the Smithsonian American Art
Museum and author of Sculpture and the Federal Triangle, will discuss
the construction of this massive Federal complex as well as its political
origins and its integration of various fine arts. Martin
Moeller, senior vice president and curator at the National Building Museum, will moderate.
This program is presented in partnership with the National Building Museum.
Wednesday, April 29, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
BIG Dreams Lost
On April 14, 1912, the largest and most advanced passenger ship in the world
struck an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic. In the decades
that followed, many questions as to why the ship went down have gone unanswered.
With the same methodology used by forensic scientists, researcher and author
Tim Foecke applied new tools to the century-old mystery in his book What
Really Sank the Titanic. By analyzing ship design, construction, and
overlooked vulnerabilities, Foecke explains how this marvel of modern engineering
may have been a disaster waiting to happen. A book signing follows the program.
African American History
Joseph Lowery
Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
Legacy: Black & White in America
Featuring the most celebrated African Americans of our time, the 90-minute
documentary (airing this spring on PBS) examines the political rise of Barack
Obama against the backdrop of changing racial attitudes in America. The film
presents two parallel stories—the story of African American life today
and the story of the Civil Rights generation—to clarify the successes
and failures of racial integration in America and what it reveals about our
democracy and national character.
The film’s producer, Richard Karz, will introduce a 60-minute excerpt of the film, which will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ronald Walters, director of the African American Leadership Center at the University of Maryland. The distinguished panel will include the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery (pictured), who delivered the stirring benediction at President Obama’s inauguration, and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Wednesday, April 8, at noon CANCELLED
William G. McGowan Theater
Lincoln and the Speeds: The Untold Story of a Devoted and Enduring Friendship
Bryan S. Bush discusses his book Lincoln and the Speeds and tells
the story of how the close friendship between Lincoln and the brothers Joshua
and James Speed helped to secure the state of Kentucky for the Union after
the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. The Speeds were instrumental in helping
Lincoln deal with the delicate political issues in Kentucky by keeping him
informed on both political and civilian affairs. After his death, the Speeds
helped to preserve Lincoln’s legacy at every opportunity. A book signing
will follow the program.
Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
The Lincoln Assassination Conspirators: Their Confinement and Execution,
as Recorded in the Letterbook of John Frederick Hartranft
On May 1, 1865, two weeks after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, President
Andrew Johnson appointed John Frederick Hartranft to command the Washington
Arsenal military prison, which housed the eight civilians accused of complicity
in the shooting. Hartranft was responsible for the most notorious prisoners
in American history and kept a meticulous official account of his duties. Join
editors Harold Holzer and Edward Steers, Jr., as
they discuss this fascinating National Archives record for the first time and
provide a remarkable glimpse behind the scenes of the assassination’s
aftermath. This program is presented in partnership with NARA’s
regional archives in Philadelphia and the Foundation for the National Archives. A book
signing will follow the program.
Saturday, April 18, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
The Horse Soldiers
Based on an actual Civil War incident, The Horse Soldiers tells the
rousing tale of a troop of Union soldiers who force their way deep into Southern
territory to destroy a rebel stronghold. In command is Colonel Marlowe (John
Wayne), a man who is strikingly contrasted by the company’s gentle surgeon
(William Holden), and the beautiful but crafty Southern belle (Constance Towers)
who is forced to accompany the Union raiders on perhaps the most harrowing
mission in the war. (115 minutes, 1959)
Saturday, April 25, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
The Littlest Rebel
Shirley Temple stars as the daughter of a rebel officer who is arrested when
he sneaks back to his rundown plantation to see his family. A Yankee takes pity
and sets up an escape, but everyone is captured, and the officers are to be executed.
Shirley takes matters into her own hands and begs President Lincoln to intercede.
(70 minutes, 1935)
Know Your Records Programs: April
Wednesday, April 1, 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. The
next lecture will take place on Wednesday, May 6.
Tuesday, April 7, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Declassifying Secrets: Opening Classified Records for Public Disclosure
Archivist Neil Carmichael will discuss the declassification process at
the National Archives, past executive orders, present initiatives and the
future of declassification in the executive branch. (This lecture
will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture
Room B, on Thursday, April 9, at 11 a.m.).
Fifth Annual Genealogy Fair poster
Fifth Annual Genealogy Fair
Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania Avenue Plaza and Research Center
The National Archives will host its fifth annual Genealogy Fair over two
days. The fair showcases Federal records located at the National Archives
and professional genealogy organizations’ resources for doing research
on family history. The fair will provide information and guidance for experienced
genealogy professionals and beginners.
Sessions will be divided into three categories: Getting Started, Online Records and Databases, and Other Selected Topics. Visit the Genealogy Fair web page for more information.
Boeing Learning Center
An exciting space designed to provide parents and educators of all levels with methods and materials for teaching with primary source documents. Open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Exhibits
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom:The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on permanent display in the Rotunda. "A New World Is at Hand" surrounds the Rotunda's centerpiece cases. Presenting a selection of milestone documents, the exhibit chronicles the creation of the Charters of Freedom in the 18th century and their impact on the course of history in the United States and around the world.
The Public Vaults: This interactive exhibit invites visitors into the stacks and vaults of the National Archives to explore the raw material from which history is made. From Washington's letters, Lincoln's telegrams, and FDR's fireside chats to UFO reports and declassified secrets of World War II, these documents chronicle both great national events and the lives of individual Americans.
Magna Carta: This foundation document of English common law was confirmed by Edward I in 1297. Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta remain, and only one permanently resides in the United States. Purchased by David M. Rubenstein in 2007, it is on loan to the National Archives. West Rotunda Gallery.
Special Exhibit in Washington, DC
BIG!
To celebrate a big anniversary—our 75th—the National Archives presents
an exhibit featuring big records, big events, and big ideas. See the nation’s
original records in their full-scale glory, including the 13-foot scroll of
the Articles of Confederation (never before displayed unrolled) and a 13-by-13-foot
map of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Also featured are a gigantic footprint of
a dinosaur and the size 22 sneakers of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Embodying America's biggest idea, the first printing of the Declaration of
Independence produced on the night of July 4–5, 1776—one of the
greatest treasures in our holdings—is a special highlight of the exhibit.
Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery through January 3, 2010
Special Exhibit in College Park, Maryland
Auditorium Lobby at the National Archives Research Center:
"The Long View" features digitally produced facsimiles of historic panoramic photographs from the Still Picture holdings.
Motorcycle Corps, Army Motor Service - Under Command of J. S. Berryman. US Capitol. Wash., DC. Jan. 26, 1919, By R. S. Clements. Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs (165-PP-60-47)
The exhibit not only showcases the wide variety of panoramic techniques, but also includes National Archives records such as cartographic maps and patent drawings that relate to the photographs. Thirty-four panoramas and other records are on display and span the period from 1864 to 1997.
See more panoramas online.
Traveling Exhibits
The traveling exhibit program makes it possible for people across the country to experience selected historical documents and artifacts that reflect our national experience.
Eyewitness: American Originals from the National Archives
Drawing on rarely displayed documents, audio recordings, and film footage culled
from the extensive holdings of the National Archives and its Presidential libraries,
"Eyewitness" features first-person accounts of watershed moments in
history.
Online exhibit
Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island
February 21–October 11, 2009
The Immigration Act of 1924 and other original National Archives documents are on display at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in the exhibition Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island.
Online Exhibits
Dozens of exhibits can be experienced online. Visit Now!
Locations, Hours, and Contact Information
The National Archives Experience
Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC
For details, see the Visitor's Map or visit the National Archives Experience.
- Daily, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing.
- Open every day except Thanksgiving and December 25.
Admission free.
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted; reservations are not required unless noted. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For McGowan Theater programs, the doors to the building will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.
For details, see the Visitor's Map or visit the National Archives Experience.
For reservations or to be placed on the mailing list, call 202-357-5000 or e-mail public.program@nara.gov.
The National Archives Research Center
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC and 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD.
Research Hours for both locations:
- Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Check the Washington, DC and College Park, MD location information for records pull times and other important details.
Call 202-357-5450 for a docent-led guided tour.
TDD: 301-837-0482. The National Archives is fully accessible. To request an accommodation (such as a sign language interpreter) for a public program, please call 202-357-5000 or e-mail public.program@nara.gov at least two weeks prior to the event.
