Spotlight: Last Minute Holiday Gifts!

Co-Authored by Beth Fortson and Corbin Apkin.

You wake up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and realize that you have forgotten to get a gift for your sister’s brand new “He’s Totally The One” boyfriend.

You get a text from your old college roommate two days before your New Years Party – she can’t wait to see you and give you the belated, hand-made Hanukkah present!!!

You get to work and everyone is in ugly sweaters but you, because everyone but you remembered the Holiday Party. (Whose name did you pull for Secret Santa again…?)

Stay calm. Do not panic. Special Media has your back. We have pulled some ideal last-minute holiday gifts just for you: The Forgetful, The Procrastinators, The Planning Impaired. You may decide to download, print, and stick it in a frame you picked up at the pharmacy down the block from your office. You may decide to nab some glue and a couple of kitchen tiles to finagle a last minute hand crafted coaster set. You may decide to re-purpose that weird photo snow globe that your great aunt gave you – the one with a picture of her poor poodle dressed as an elf. Seriously. You now have so many options. You’re welcome.

Might we suggest some Christmas classics, such as a bike!

RG-241-Patent 719595: Patent Drawing of J.B. Huss Bicycle Driving Mechanism.

77-RP-7347-4: Smartly dressed couple seated on an 1886-model bicycle for two

Or perhaps a pony?

17-H-26-7128B: “Welsh Pony Stallion. “Shooting Star.”

RG-241 Patent 768760: Patent Drawing of W.S. La Londe Toy Riding Horse.

Maybe a puppy!

Calendars are also pretty nice.

106-IN-78: Kiowa Anko calendar on buckskin.

RG-241 Patent 811846: Patent Drawing of C.P. Hidden Perpetual Calendar.

There are the practically minded to consider – perhaps new shoes, an outfit, or socks?

RG-241 Patent 64,205: Drawing of Improved Boot

16-G-61-N-2059: “David H. Young – Cotton hosiery. Designed in BH8. 1941.”

16-G-61-BN-39065: “United States Department of Agriculture Office of Information. Rowen Co., N.C. Demonstration in fitting a pattern at a local girls sewing club. Miss Lois Sloop Leader. Historical. Credit USDA Photo by G.W. Ackerman.”

RG-241 Patent 685994: Patent Drawing of G. Levitas & M. Gorchakoff Combined Coat and Vest.

Are you are shopping for a sports nut?

RG-241 Patent 723606: Patent Drawing of W.S. Jacobs Foot Ball.

79-RED-32: Photograph of Washington Redskins Quarterback Sammy Baugh (33)

255-STS-S73E5137.jpg: “Baseballs from the American and National Leagues float in the flight deck to commemorate the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians. Views were taken with an electronic still camera.”

RG-241 Patent 716,541: Patent Drawing for J. A. Hillerich’s Bat

RG-241 Patent 632,885: Patent Drawing for H. R. Sweny’s Golf Club

RG-241 Patent 696,895: Patent Drawing for E. Kempshall’s Golf Ball

Or music lover?

Maybe you want something a bit more classy, such as candies or jewelry or books.

102-LH-1421: “Where the money goes to. Each Branch Office usually has a candy counter. St. Louis, Mo.”

48-DPA-N_indian_AC_DSC_0028.JPG

306-CS-1G-14: “The Librarian Carefully Enters the Consignment Into Her Books”

RG-241 Patent 746794: Patent Drawing of L. Coulet & P., J. & A. Pomen Poster.

RG-241 Patent 162321: Patent Drawing for F. Steffany’s Watch Case

Maybe…. not.

No matter who you are shopping for – no matter how prepared you are – the National Archives Catalog can be your one stop shop for research and gift inspiration. Stay tuned, because later this week Motion Pictures will bring you a video play list specifically selected to distract everyone from asking all those old family classics like, “So what do you plan to do with your life, anyway?”

From all of us in Special Media here at The National Archives and Records Administration, Happy Holidays.