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!
Category: Research
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!
Family Tree Friday: Personal papers in compiled service records reveal important clues.
In my last blog post I explained how to decipher the information contained on a volunteer soldier's compiled military service record envelope or "jacket." Those jackets also indicate whether or not the service record includes any personal papers. Personal papers are individual documents such as an original enlistment paper, a casualty sheet, discharge certificate, or … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Personal papers in compiled service records reveal important clues.
Family Tree Friday: How to decipher compiled service record jackets.
Compiled military service records at the National Archives for the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) through the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) are filed in separate envelopes or jackets that contain basic information about the soldier. The example shown here for my ancestor Adam Dale (his surname is actually DEAL, which shows how spelling mistakes/variations can find their way … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: How to decipher compiled service record jackets.
Filing Manuals online!
Trying to find the War Department decimal classification number for the Maritime Labor Board or the Department of State's decimal classification number for extradition treaties? We have scanned some of the filing manuals which our researchers use most frequently and posted them in the researcher section of Archives.gov. Included are filing manuals from the War Department, the … Continue reading Filing Manuals online!
DC-area Researchers – Agenda for the Researcher Meeting on March 19th at Archives II
Please join us for our monthly researcher meeting on Friday, March 19th, at 1 PM in the auditorium at Archives II in College Park. Jim Hastings, the Director of Access Programs, and Diane Dimkoff, the Director of the Customer Services Division, will be on hand to discuss the following questions and topics: 1. Digitization a. … Continue reading DC-area Researchers – Agenda for the Researcher Meeting on March 19th at Archives II
The National Archives at New York City is moving!
The National Archives at New York City is moving to the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House at One Bowling Green in New York City in the fall of 2011. The new space will enable us to continue to provide the same great service and access to our records while also allowing us to expand our … Continue reading The National Archives at New York City is moving!
Family Tree Friday: A few slave manifests still survive.
Since February is Black History Month, it seems appropriate to mention some of the lesser-known records that are available for African American research at the National Archives. Among those are vessel manifests that document the antebellum domestic slave trade. Even though Congress outlawed the slave trade in 1807, the law of course did not prohibit … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: A few slave manifests still survive.
Question: Which U.S. decennial census is your favorite and why?
On April 2, 2012, the Federal Census Bureau will be releasing the 1940 Census for public access. For many genealogists and researchers, the release of this census will open new insights into pre-war America, as well as provide opportunities for genealogists and family historians to continue their research into this most recent decade. Like all … Continue reading Question: Which U.S. decennial census is your favorite and why?
Open Government: NARA Releases Six Datasets
As part of the Open Government initiative, NARA recently released six datasets available for the first time as raw data in XML format. The datasets are: three editions (2007, 2008, and 2009) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) archival descriptions from the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) organization descriptions from the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) … Continue reading Open Government: NARA Releases Six Datasets