Unless otherwise noted, programs and exhibits are free and take place at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and can be reached through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Hours and Directions
Reservations are required for all indicated programs and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Reserve by e-mail (preferred) or telephone (202-501-5000).
Coming in November!
The Public Vaults
Journey into the stacks and vaults of the National Archives to see 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, explore the incredible records that document both great national events and the lives of individual Americans. Using new computer tools, make your own movie, test your knowledge of famous immigrants, or vote on a historic congressional debate. This new permanent exhibition opens November 12.
Films
Note: To ensure the safety of all patrons, no one will be admitted to a film after the doors have closed and the lights have gone down.
Saturday, October 2 & Saturday, October 9 William G. McGowan Theater The Adams Chronicles
This month, we conclude our presentation of the landmark 13-part PBS production, first aired in 1975, that brings to life five generations of one of America's leading political and historical families. Each episode is one hour long. Episodes 7–9 will be shown on Saturday, October 2, at 3 p.m. Episodes 10–13 will be shown on Saturday, October 9, at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, October 12 William G. McGowan Theater Thomas Edison's Impact on Film
In 1910, the American Red Cross approached Thomas Edison to make a series of films on tuberculosis and the Christmas Seal campaign. Thomas Goehner, Director of Museum Education at the American Red Cross Museum, will introduce two films that are among the earliest public health promotional films ever produced in the United States: Hope: A Red Cross Story (1912) and The Temple of Moloch (1914). Also at this program, we honor another achievement of Edison's: On October 18, 1904, Edison received the patent for motion picture film. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of this historic event, select films from the National Archives' motion picture holdings will be shown. Noon.
Tuesday, October 19 William G. McGowan Theater Coming to Light
The acclaimed documentary Coming to Light: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indians (2000) is an in-depth portrait of Edward S. Curtis, the preeminent photographer of North American Indians. In 1900, Curtis set out to document traditional Indian life. He eventually created an enormous body of work, including 40,000 photographs, 10,000 recordings, and a full-length ethnographic motion picture. The documentary is directed by Anne Makepeace. (84 minutes) Noon and 7 p.m.
Friday, October 22, through Sunday, October 24 William G. McGowan Theater George Stevens Centennial Tribute
This salute to director George Stevens premiers the Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the McGowan Theater. It also launches a new partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Foundation for the National Archives to bring many of the Academy's programs to the Washington, DC, region for the first time. See the daily schedule.
Lectures and Panel Discussions
Note: After a program has begun, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the staff during appropriate breaks in the program.
Tuesday, October 5 Jefferson Room (Room 122) U.S. Navy in World War II
University of North Carolina professor William Generous will discuss his book, Sweet Pea at War: A History of the USS Portland (CA-33). Few ships in American history have had as illustrious a history as the heavy cruiser USS Portland, known by her crew as "Sweet Pea." With the destruction of most of the U.S. battleship fleet at Pearl Harbor, cruisers such as Sweet Pea carried the biggest guns the Navy possessed for nearly a year after the start of World War II. Sweet Pea was instrumental in the dramatic American victories at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, and the naval battle of Guadalcanal. Noon.
Thursday, October 7 Jefferson Room (Room 122) Victoria Woodhull
Can you name the first woman to run for President or the first woman to have a seat on the stock exchange? Do you know who was the first woman to own a newspaper or to speak before Congress? Amazingly, one woman achieved all these feats, and her name has been all but erased from history. Children's author Kathleen Krull will discuss her book, A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull. Noon.
Thursday, October 14 William G. McGowan Theater Native American History
Herman Viola, author and curator emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution, will discuss his book Trail to Wounded Knee: The Last Stand of the Plains Indians, 1860–1890. 7 p.m. Reservations required.
Thursday, October 21 William G. McGowan Theater Public Health
American University professor Alan Kraut will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss Goldberger's War: The Life and Work of a Public Health Crusader. Joseph Goldberger, an immigrant Jew who trained as a doctor at Bellevue, fought epidemics that swept the nation in the early 20th century: typhoid, yellow fever, and diphtheria. His medical solution to pellagra, a disease affecting many in the South, challenged the economy, culture, and politics of the region. Panelists include Dale C. Smith, professor and chairman of the Department of Medical History, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences; and Suzanne Junod, assistant historian at the Food and Drug Administration and president of the Society for History in the Federal Government. 7 p.m. Reservations required.
Tuesday, October 26 William G. McGowan Theater Nazi War Crimes
Archivist Richard Myers will moderate a panel of historians as they discuss "Unique Perspectives: How the IWG Historians Contributed to the Release and Understanding of Classified War Crimes Records." Based in part on their book, U.S. Intelligence and the Nazis, historians Timothy Naftali, Norman J.W. Goda, Richard Breitman, and Robert Wolfe will discuss their roles in the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group (IWG) and the research behind the essays appearing in their book. Through the IWG, the National Archives, State Department, FBI, CIA, NSA, and other agencies have worked together to release more than eight million documents relating to war crimes. 7 p.m. Reservations required.
Thursday, October 28 Jefferson Room (Room 122) Cold War Espionage
Clarence Ashley will discuss his book CIA Spymaster. Drawing upon newly released CIA files, conversations with a KGB defector, and interviews with key operatives of the CIA and Secret Intelligence Service, this book is the authorized inside story of an agency legend, George Kisevalter. Other guest speakers will include Leonard McCoy, a long-time friend of Kisevalter and CIA reports officer; and Ted Poling, backup official serving agent Pyotr Popov, the first major source inside Soviet military intelligence. Noon.
Thursday, October 28 William G. McGowan Theater Presidential Campaigns
Author Douglas Schoen will discuss his book On the Campaign Trail: The Long Road of Presidential Politics, 1860–2004, a collection of historic and memorable images—many of them rare or unseen for decades—capturing the excitement of nearly two centuries of Presidential campaigns. 7 p.m. Reservations required.
Lecture Series: "Know Your Records"
Tuesday, October 5 Room G-17 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Petitions and Memorials
Archivist William Davis will talk about petitions and memorials sent to the U.S. Congress and how to access them. 11 a.m. This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives in College Park, in Lecture Room C, on Wednesday, October 6, at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, October 12 Room G-17 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Subversive Activities Committees
Archivist Edward Schamel will explore how researchers can study the subversive activities investigation committees: the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee (SISS), and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI). 11 a.m. This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, in Lecture Room C, on Thursday, October 14, at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, October 19 Room G-17 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Private Claims
Archives specialist Jesse Kratz will highlight private claims submitted to Congress and discuss how researchers can access these records. 11 a.m. This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, in Lecture Room D, on Thursday, October 21, at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, October 26 Room G-17 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Cartoons and Drawings
Archives Specialist Ida Brudnick will examine the cartoons and political drawings of Clifford Berryman housed in the Center for Legislative Archives. 11 a.m. This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, in Lecture Room E, on Thursday, October 28, at 11 a.m.
Genealogy Conference
Friday, October 1 & Saturday, October 2 William G. McGowan Theater and conference rooms Hispanics and the Formation of the American People
Authors, archivists, and genealogists will gather to discuss the primary and secondary sources available to trace family history. Guest speakers include Arthur Cresce, Chief of the Ethnic and Hispanic Branch in the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau; Federal historian Marian Smith of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; professors George Ryskamp, Carolina Crimm, Carlos Vega, and Barbara Mujica; National Archives archivists Constance Potter, Michael Hussey, and Claire Kluskens; genealogists Marie Melchiori and Claire Bettag; and members of the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research. Talks will take place in conference rooms as well as in the McGowan Theater. 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. See the schedule. Reservations required.
Genealogy Workshop
Friday, October 29 Room G-17 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Mexican Border Crossing Records
Claire Kluskens presents "Mexican Border Crossing Records." Mexican border crossing records document the arrival of immigrants to the United States at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to permanent arrivals, they also include persons who came to the U.S. temporarily, for reasons such as short-term employment, business, or shopping trips. Mexicans make up the majority of the arrivals, but Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese are also listed. 10 a.m. Although there is no fee for this workshop, reservations are required. Call 202-208-0781.
Seuss and Sousa Family Weekend
Saturday, October 30 & Sunday, October 31 William G. McGowan Theater
To launch its new series of weekend programs for the whole family, the National Archives celebrates the birthdays of two famous Americans. This year marks the 100th birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) and the 150th birthday of American composer and Washington, DC, native John Philip Sousa. Did you know that both men worked for the Federal government? As keepers of the Federal records, we honor these two public servants. All events take place in the William G. McGowan Theater unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, October 30, will be dedicated to Dr. Seuss. A program of Seuss-related cartoons, including ones featuring Private Snafu, a character Theodore Geisel created for the U.S. military, will start at 10:30 a.m. At noon, Professor Richard Minear discusses his book, Dr. Seuss Goes to War. At 2 and 3 p.m., the musical "SeussCentennial" will be performed by the Kindred Spirit performing troupe.
(Also on Saturday: a pre-election sneak peak for kids. At noon, Chuck Fischer talks about The White House: A Pop-Up Book, which gives kids an insider's view of the President's house, and at 1 p.m, Elissa Grodin discusses D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet, which shows children how the electoral process works. Both talks will take place in the Jefferson Room.)
Sunday, October 31, will feature the work of John Philip Sousa. The 1952 Hollywood biopic Stars and Stripes Forever, starring Clifton Webb as Sousa, will be shown at noon (89 minutes). The festivites continue at 2 p.m. as members of the Marine Band discuss the life and times of Sousa and provide musical demonstrations. Reservations required.
Exhibitions
Permanent Exhibition
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on permanent display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
The Charters of Freedom—"A New World Is at Hand" surrounds the Rotunda's centerpiece cases. Presenting a selection of milestone documents, the exhibition 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.
Continuing Exhibition in College Park
The Forgotten War Remembered— America and the Korean War features 20 photographs tracing the war from the growing tensions in the late 1940s to the signing of the armistice in 1953. Auditorium lobby at the National Archives at College Park. On display indefinitely. See Research Room hours.
Films