Images of the Week: USIA Paper Shows

This week I’m posting several examples of posters from the series Paper Show Exhibition Poster Sets, ca. 1974 – ca. 1994 (306-PSP). These posters were created by the United States Information Agency for exhibits they referred to as "Paper Shows", which were pieced together using multiple posters to create a multi-panel display. The entire series … Continue reading Images of the Week: USIA Paper Shows

Federal Theater in Los Angeles and Across America

This post was written by guest blogger Carrie Goeringer. The Federal Theater Project of the New Deal era ran from 1935 to 1939. Its task was to employ the talents of people in the theater business, as well as the skilled craftspeople the theater required to function, as it entertained Americans throughout the country while they … Continue reading Federal Theater in Los Angeles and Across America

“Celebration of V-J Day, 08/14/1945”

“I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government...” At 7 pm on August 14, 1945, President Harry Truman stood before reporters gathered at the White House and announced the unconditional surrender of Japan. The Pacific War was over. Although the formal signing of the terms of surrender ending World War II would not occur until September 2nd,  the … Continue reading “Celebration of V-J Day, 08/14/1945”

Finding a Finding Aid: World War I

This week’s post is from Richard Green, an Archives Technician with the Motion Picture, Video and Recorded Sound Division of NARA's Research Services.  Richard is enrolled in the History and Library Science (HiLS) dual-degree graduate program at the University of Maryland.  The assassination of Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 sparked the beginning of World War I. … Continue reading Finding a Finding Aid: World War I

Harmon Foundation film “The Negro and Art”

This week’s post is by Carrie Goeringer. Carrie came to the National Archives in 2000 to work in NARA’s Cartographic Branch, and since 2003, has worked as an archivist with NARA’s Motion Picture Branch. Before coming to NARA, Carrie worked for the Oklahoma Historical Society Photographic Archives for 8 years. She has a BA in … Continue reading Harmon Foundation film “The Negro and Art”

Don’t Walk Like a Man: Be the Best WAC that You Can Be

In addition to The Pleasure of Your Company, the Women’s Army Corps’ (WAC) Military Etiquette and Grooming series (1970) featured two more films, each more incredible than the last. Look Like a Winner  opens with a male narrator intoning: “Yes, you’ve come a long way…no question about it. You have more to say these days about … Continue reading Don’t Walk Like a Man: Be the Best WAC that You Can Be

The Women’s Army Corps Requests “The Pleasure of Your Company”

The Navy film How to Succeed with Brunettes teaches male officers how to behave like gentlemen, but what were the military’s expectations for the many female recruits? Once again, staff in NARA’s Motion Picture Preservation Lab and Special Media’s Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch were able to find the answer in the large accession … Continue reading The Women’s Army Corps Requests “The Pleasure of Your Company”

Harmon Foundation Film “We Are All Artists”

  This week’s post is by Carrie Goeringer. Carrie came to the    National Archives in 2000 to work in NARA’s Cartographic Branch, and since 2003, has worked as an archivist with NARA’s Motion Picture Branch. Before coming to NARA, Carrie worked for the Oklahoma Historical Society Photographic Archives for 8 years. She has a … Continue reading Harmon Foundation Film “We Are All Artists”

Don’t Shut Your Date in the Door: Military Dating Dos and Don’ts

How to Succeed with Brunettes (1967) and Return of Count Spirochete (1973): The Motion Picture Preservation Lab’s Favorite Titles from the DVIC Accession Sure, the National Archives holds films a lot of really important historical films.  Beautifully made educational films about government programs during the Great Depression?  Yeah, we’ve got that.  Millions of feet of … Continue reading Don’t Shut Your Date in the Door: Military Dating Dos and Don’ts

What Would You Do If 40 Tons of Records Arrived on Your Doorstep?

Mission Preservation! Technical Assessment of the Films of the Defense Visual Information Center in the Motion Picture Preservation Lab In 2006, the National Archives accessioned over 2700 titles from the Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC). By the time the 51 pallets (coming to 40 tons!) of motion picture and video records arrived at Archives II … Continue reading What Would You Do If 40 Tons of Records Arrived on Your Doorstep?