Matthew Henson was an African American explorer most known for accompanying Robert Peary on multiple expeditions to the Arctic, and in 1909 they claimed to be the first team to reach the North Pole. It has been long debated whether or not Peary and Henson actually reached the North Pole - there was even a … Continue reading Spotlight: Matthew Henson, Explorer
This post was created in collaboration with Sarah Bseirani, Archivist, and Hilda Gitchell, Archives Technician, in the Still Picture Branch. Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia at the age of 100. At the time of his passing, President Carter was the longest-lived president in U.S. … Continue reading Remembering President Jimmy Carter
In 1945, the U.S. Government faced low morale and growing frustration over undelivered mail amongst those serving in Europe. It was decided the large backlog of undistributed mail would be dealt with by the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The battalion, nicknamed the “Six-Triple Eight," was a multi-ethnic unit of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) comprised … Continue reading The Six Triple Eight Link Roundup
Original Caption: Meeting in Paris after a two-year separation, Lt. Col. Barney Oldfield and his wife, Cpl. Vada M. Oldfield, initiate their reunion by signing each other’s “short snorters” in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The Oldfields come from Lincoln, Nebraska. France, 7/20/45. Local Identifier: 111-SC-210020. Going to war is never easy. Going to … Continue reading Short Snorts, Long Legacies: The World War II Club of the “Short Snorters”
For over a century, school traditions, pride, and rivalries have fostered a sense of community within college football, contributing to its popularity and making it one of America’s favorite sports. As the popularity of college football grew in America during the interwar period, newsreels started covering the sport as part of their regular news releases. … Continue reading Spotlight: Go! Fight! Win! College Football in Universal Newsreel
From Rocket Belts to Air Cars, the National Archives and Records Administration holds many records related to the tests and demonstrations of the US Military's various experimental vehicles throughout the decades. Here in the Still Picture Branch, we have photographs showing the early adoption of new technologies like the Jet Pack and the Aerocycle, which were driven by the unique needs of military transportation at the time they were developed.
Sinking of the SS [President] Coolidge. October 26, 1942. Local ID: 80-G-36993 This October 26, 2024 marks the 82nd anniversary of the sinking of the SS President Coolidge. On October 26, 1942, the ship attempted to enter the harbor of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. However, as the ship entered the largest channel, it struck an American … Continue reading The Sinking of the SS President Coolidge
Still is taken from Universal Newsreel Volume 7, Release 406. “Thirty women pilots have groomed their ships for a wholesale assault today and tomorrow on man’s supremacy in the air.” This quote is taken from a newspaper clipping from the production file for Universal Newsreel volume 7, release 406. Since the early years of aviation, … Continue reading Girl Aces Hold Own Air Show: Universal Newsreel and the 1935 Women’s Championship Air Show
"Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" a wise bear once said. In 1944 Smokey Bear was introduced to the world by the US Forest Service in a campaign to help prevent wildfires throughout the United States. While he is known today by his "Only You" phrase, his slogan started as "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires."
This week, sixty years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act, signed into law on July 2, is the nation’s benchmark civil rights legislation and remains one of America's most significant legislative achievements. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The act … Continue reading Spotlight: Passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964
