What do all those numbers associated with NARA records mean?

So have you ever wondered what all the numbers are that NARA associates with its records? If you have checked the Archival Research Catalog recently you might have noticed that one of our numbers has a new name.  The former Inventory Identifier has been renamed the Inventory Entry Number.  We heard from several researchers who … Continue reading What do all those numbers associated with NARA records mean?

Name your wiki!

Last week we asked for your help developing an “Archives wiki.”  The first order of business is to name the wiki.  We have a few names that you have told us you don’t want (like People’s Pedia) and a request not to be too stuffy, but no suggestions for names yet.  So tell us what do … Continue reading Name your wiki!

Calling All Citizen Archivists

The National Archives is planning to launch a public wiki that will allow users to participate on our website.  We need your help in developing an "Archives Wiki."  This project will be similar to the UK Archives' "Your Archives."  Check out this wiki and let us know what you think you would want in your … Continue reading Calling All Citizen Archivists

Family Tree Friday: The last word on CMSR personal papers.

My last few posts have explored the compiled military service records (CMSRs) at the National Archives, highlighting in particular the extra information found in the records, especially the personal papers relating to individual soldiers such as enlistment and discharge forms, casualty sheets, or final statements of service.  One last point to make is that personal … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: The last word on CMSR personal papers.

Forty Years of Cleaning Up America: Honoring Earth Day with a Look at Photographs from Project DOCUMERICA

This guest blog post was written by NARA Archives Specialist Jerry Simmons. Earth Day turns 40 today!  To mark this great, green event, I wanted to highlight the Environmental Protection Agency’s Project DOCUMERICA collection held in the Still Pictures branch of the National Archives at College Park.  Though none of these images depict actual Earth … Continue reading Forty Years of Cleaning Up America: Honoring Earth Day with a Look at Photographs from Project DOCUMERICA

Join Us and David Ferriero for Our Next Monthly Meeting on Friday, April 23rd

David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, is joining us for the second half of our monthly researcher meeting.  We hope you will be able to join us as well.  The meeting will be held on Friday, April 23rd, beginning at 1:00 PM in room G-24 at the National Archives building in Washington, DC.    … Continue reading Join Us and David Ferriero for Our Next Monthly Meeting on Friday, April 23rd

List of records digitized by NARA's digitization partners now online!

In response to many researcher requests, we have added a list of the records digitized by our digitization partners, Ancestry.com and Footnote.com, to our web site.  The list is arranged in alpha-numeric order by NARA microfilm publication number.  You can re-sort the list by microform publication title, partner, or record group by clicking on the … Continue reading List of records digitized by NARA's digitization partners now online!

Family Tree Friday: Vital Statistics in Federal Records

Most researchers know that they need to contact the appropriate state or county to get birth certificates or other vital records. Because these are not federal records, they are not in NARA’s holdings. So why can you sometimes find copies of official state-issued vital statistics in our records? Think about it – when you contact … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Vital Statistics in Federal Records

Stop by to See Us at the NARA Genealogy Fair

Are you planning to attend the National Archives' 6th annual Genealogy Fair? If so, we hope you'll come visit us at our exhibit tables. NARA's new Open Government Plan (PDF) highlights how crucial social media is to opening up the Archives and establishes the redesign of Archives.gov as NARA's "flagship initiative." Stop by, bring us … Continue reading Stop by to See Us at the NARA Genealogy Fair

Participate in the Archives.gov Web Redesign Card Sort!

We are redesigning Archives.gov to make it easier and quicker for you to find the information you need as part of NARA’s Flagship Open Government Initiative.  We want your opinions to help us to develop a web site designed for participation.  Throughout the redesign process, we’ll be inviting you to participate by voting, sorting, commenting, … Continue reading Participate in the Archives.gov Web Redesign Card Sort!