July/August 2009
Washington, DC, Area Events
Extended Viewing Hours for the Charters of Freedom: 10 a.m.–9 p.m., July 3, 4 & 5.
Program Highlights
Fife and Drum Corps (Photo by Cathy Farmer)
- Annual July 4th Celebration
Celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence with music, a dramatic reading, and family activties. (July 4) - 75th Anniversary of the National Archives
Join us for lecture and film programs celebrating the establishment of the National Archives in 1934. (July 1, 3, 16, 17, 21, 24; August 6, 7, 12, 14, 21) - BIG!
Programs in connection with our exhibit, “BIG! Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives.” (July 15, 18; August 15) - Noontime Film and Lecture Series
Concluding the Lincoln bicentennial programs and a Revolutionary War story. (July 11, 22; August 26) - Know Your Records Programs
A variety of programs explore records held by the National Archives. (July 1; August 5)
Exhibit Highlights
- Permanent Exhibits
The Charters of Freedom, A New World Is at Hand, The Public Vaults, Magna Carta - Special Exhibit
BIG! - 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.
Annual July 4th Celebration
Continental Color Guard and Fife and Drum Corps (Photo by Cathy Farmer)
Join us as we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on the Constitution Avenue steps of the National Archives Building. We commemorate this historic day with our annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence led by very special guests.
Saturday, July 4
Declaration of Independence Reading Ceremony
Constitution Avenue Steps
10 a.m.–11 a.m.
- Presentation of colors by the Continental Color Guard*
- Performance by the Fife and Drum Corps*
- Remarks by Acting Archivist of the United States Adrienne Thomas and Director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Timothy Naftali
- Dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence
by special guests including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Ned Hector (portrayed by historical reenactors)
*Continental Color Guard and Fife and Drum Corps provided by U.S. 3rd Infantry, the Old Guard
Family Activities
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Meet Historical Figures in the Rotunda and Presidential Conference Rooms
- Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and members of the Hoover Presidential Library Troupe
Historical Activities throughout the National Archives Experience
- Sign a full-size facsimile of the Declaration of Independence—Presidential Conference Room Lobby
- Explore full-size facsimiles of landmark historical documents—Public Vaults Exhibit Exit
- Participate in an Archival Adventure and see a demonstration of the Digital Vaults—Boeing Learning Center
- Play historical games and put together BIG! puzzles—Madison Room
Patriotic Activities in the Jefferson Room
- Air your grievances in Revolutionary manner with a quill pen
- Don a tricornered hat and step up to the podium to declare your independence
- Show patriotic pride with a National Archives temporary tattoo
“BIG!” Exhibit–Related Activities in the Washington Room
- Design and receive a BIG award
- Use a pantograph to make large-scale drawings
- Color in a BIG version of the Declaration of Independence Faulkner Mural
- BIG treasure hunt—O’Brien Gallery
July 4th at the National Archives is made possible in part by the generous support of John Hancock Financial Services.
The National Archives Experience will offer extended viewing hours for the Charters of Freedom until 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5.
75th Anniversary of the National Archives
Congress established the National Archives in 1934. This year marks its 75th anniversary. Join us as we present programs and films celebrating this important milestone.
Wednesday, July 1, and Wednesday, August 12, at noon
Jefferson Room
75th Anniversary Noontime Lecture Series
Featuring authors whose research significantly reflects the holdings of
the National Archives
July 1
Silent Strategists: Harding, Denby, and the U.S. Navy’s Trans-Pacific
Offensive, WWII
In November 1943, the U.S. Navy launched an offensive that would carry U.S.
Armed Forces to the far reaches of the Pacific. Author Manley Irwin discusses
his findings and the records in the National Archives from the 1920s that reveal
that President Warren Harding and Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby made significant
contributions to that offensive. A book signing will follow the program.
August 12
Armchair Warriors: Private Citizens, Popular Press, and the Rise of American
Power
Armchair Warriors is a history of the interplay between the popular
media’s coverage of the nation’s wars and the perceptions of
ordinary Americans regarding military issues from the Spanish-American War
through the Cold War. Using hundreds of letters from average Americans found
in the National Archives and Presidential libraries, Joel R. Davidson explores
a previously unexamined aspect of popular participation in America’s
rise to global dominance. A book signing will follow the program.
July 3, 17, 21, 24, August 7, 14, 21, at noon
Jefferson Room
75th Anniversary National Archives Expert Series
Featuring staff experts who will focus on archival treasures discovered
among the holdings of the National Archives
- Friday, July 3, Mary Evans, education specialist, Herbert Hoover Library, “What’s in Your Attic?”
- Friday, July 17, Michael Moore, senior archivist, Office of Regional Records Services, and Mark Mollan, reference archivist, maritime records, “National Archives Maritime Records”
- Tuesday, July 21, Miriam Kleiman, public affairs specialist, Public Affairs and Communications Staff, “World War II Lost Jewish Assets”
- Friday, July 24, Jessie Kratz, Martha Grove, and Christine Blackerby, archives specialists, Center for Legislative Archives, “Unusual Findings in Legislative Records”
- Friday, August 7, Amy Bunk, Director of the Legal Affairs and Policy Staff, Federal Register, “The Electoral College”
- Friday, August 14, Tom Nastick, public programs producer, Center for the National Archives Experience,“The USIA Film The School at Rincon Santo”
- Friday, August 21, Michael White, managing editor, Federal Register, “How a Bill Becomes a Public Law”
Thursdays, July 16, August 6, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
75th Anniversary Noontime Film Series
Featuring films from the holdings of the National Archives
July 16
From the Vaults: Man Walks on the Moon
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic
moon landing on July 20, 1969, we will screen the 1970 NASA documentary Moon
Walk One. This film details the comprehensive coverage surrounding the
launch of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the
moon. The film details activities of both the astronauts and mission control
during pre-launch and launch sequences, features daily activities aboard the
spacecraft and the moonwalk, and provides a view of the historical and cultural
events of the time. (45 minutes)
August 6
From the Vaults: Newsreel Theater
Before television, newsreels provided sights and sounds of the day’s events.
Those flickering black-and-white images still have the power to draw us into
history. Today we present a selection of commercial and Government
newsreels from the motion picture holdings of the National Archives. (60 minutes)
BIG!
The National Archives Experience continues to present noontime lecture and film series 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.
Wednesday, July 15, at noon
Washington Room
BIG Deals Bring BIG Sports to DC
Politics are nothing new to Washington, DC, even in the arena marked with
base paths and outfield grass. In Capital Sporting Grounds, author
Brett L. Abrams discusses the efforts, defeats, and successes of building
stadiums, tracks, and Olympic facilities, including the stadium for the
Washington Nationals baseball team. A book signing will follow the program.
Saturday, July 18, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
Lawrence of Arabia
World War I British adventurer T. E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) helps
the Bedouins battle the Turks in this epic adventure. Winner of seven
Academy Awards®, Lawrence of Arabia is based on Lawrence’s
memoir, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Directed by David Lean.
Rated PG. (221 minutes, 1962)
Saturday, August 15, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A barrage of UFOs surprises an Indiana town and leads lineman Roy Leary
(Richard Dreyfuss) on a journey he will never forget. Nominated for eight
Academy Awards®, Close Encounters of the Third Kind sparked
a whole new genre of contemporary extraterrestrial film. Directed by Steven
Spielberg. Rated PG. (135 minutes, 1977)
Noontime Film and Lecture Series
We conclude our celebration of Lincoln’s bicentennial with the following film and lecture.
Saturday, July 11, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Adapted from Robert E. Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play,
the movie Abe Lincoln in Illinois covers the first chapter in Abraham
Lincoln’s life, starting with his early years as a Kentucky woodsman
and ending with his election to the Presidency in 1860. One of the most loved
and revered Presidents, Lincoln (Raymond Massey) is portrayed with a dark side
that includes doubts, fears, and indecision during his early career. (1940;
110 minutes)
Anthony Pitch
Wednesday, July 22, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
“They Have Killed Papa Dead!”
In April 1865, at the close of the Civil War and at the peak of his fame, President
Abraham Lincoln was shot by an assassin while watching a play at Ford’s
Theater. In They Have Killed Papa Dead! The Road to Ford’s
Theater, Abraham Lincoln’s Murder, and the Rage for Vengeance, author
Anthony Pitch used unpublished diaries, letters, and journals to tell the story
of Lincoln’s assassination. A book signing follows the program.
Wednesday, August 26, at noon
Jefferson Room
General Nathanael Greene: An Appraisal
Dennis Conrad, editor of the Papers of General Nathanael Greene, presents an
assessment of Greene and the Revolutionary War in the South. Greene, a forgotten
hero of the American Revolution, reconquered the South after the British had
destroyed two American armies, overrun two states, and were poised to conquer
a third. Conrad looks at Greene, his command style, and his campaigns to assess
why he succeeded where so many other American general officers failed.
Know Your Records Programs: July/August
Wednesday, July 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.
Wednesday, August 5, 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, September 2.
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 ArchivesDrawing 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.
Extended Viewing Hours for the Charters of Freedom: 10 a.m.–9 p.m., July 3, 4 & 5.
- 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.
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