Documerica Photographer Spotlight: Erik Calonius

Today’s post is written by Larry Shockley, archives specialist in NARA’s Office of Innovation.  In 1972 a freelance photographer by the name of Erik Calonius was hired by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to capture photographs relating to EPA activities, environmental problems, and everyday American life in the 1970’s. Many of the photos that Calonius … Continue reading Documerica Photographer Spotlight: Erik Calonius

The Production File Tells the Story: How “Death Mills” Came to U.S. Audiences

This post was written by Criss Austin. Criss is the supervisor of the Motion Picture Preservation Lab. On April 29th, 1945 the United States Army liberated the Dachau concentration camp. The 42nd and 45th Divisions and 20th Armored Division, along with Signal Corps photographers and cameramen, assisted the survivors and documented the atrocities they found. … Continue reading The Production File Tells the Story: How “Death Mills” Came to U.S. Audiences

President Truman’s Media Milestone: The First Televised Speech from the White House

Today’s post is by Laurie Austin. Laurie is an audiovisual archivist at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.  In 2022, we take for granted that the president can communicate directly with the American people whenever necessary through a White House speech. The media landscape now provides a staggering array of ways to view such a … Continue reading President Truman’s Media Milestone: The First Televised Speech from the White House

James Reese Europe: America’s Jazz Ambassador

Today's post was written by Robert Nowatzki. Robert is an Archives Technician in Research Services at the National Archives at College Park. The musical career of American jazz bandleader, composer, and arranger James Reese Europe (1881-1919) was as influential and unique as it was tragically short. He played a leading role in introducing early jazz … Continue reading James Reese Europe: America’s Jazz Ambassador