Tech Tuesday: Applied Research puts NARA "Out in Front" at NAGARA

by Matthew Schaefer, posted in 1940 Census, Tech Tuesdays

At the NAGARA plenary address in Nashville a few weeks ago, I was asked to talk about NARA’s new Applied Research Division, which wandered into an explanation about why we haven’t been ERA Research for the past two years. Folks were encouraged to attend my 1940 Census session, featuring NARA research partners who are using cool smart tools to make sense out of scanned images—there was not an empty chair in the room, leading to fruitful discussions and promising collaborations…and that’s what you missed at NAGARA! Read the full story here...

Are You Preparing for the 1940 Census? We are!

by Matthew Schaefer, posted in 1940 Census, DC-area Researchers, Digitization, Genealogy / Family History, Miscellaneous, Online Research, Research

Do you have the opening of the 1940 Census on April 2, 2012 marked on your calendar?  We do here at the National Archives.  For past Census releases we provided access to the Census on microfilm.  For the 1940 Census we will be providing free online access.  You’ll be able to search on the internet using … Continue reading Are You Preparing for the 1940 Census? We are!

Tell us your stories!

by lbarber, posted in Contests, DC-area Researchers, Family Tree Fridays, Genealogy / Family History, Miscellaneous, Research, Social Media (Web 2.0)

We're just over halfway through this summer's "I Found it in the National Archives" contest and have enjoyed reading the stories that have come in so far! From Rebecca Lawrence-Weden's tale of a lighthouse, a walnut and the Great War to Wendy Griswold's experience shedding some light on a 106-year-old family tragedy, the determination and … Continue reading Tell us your stories!

Family Tree Friday: Finding religion in Federal records…from 1926!

by dstokes, posted in Family Tree Fridays, Genealogy / Family History, Research

When you consider the vast holdings of federal records at the National Archives, what usually jumps to mind are such mainstay documents as Civil War pensions and service records, immigration passenger manifests, Congressional petitions and memorials, or homestead applications.  Certainly, the Charters of Freedom—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—figure prominently … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Finding religion in Federal records…from 1926!

Do you dream about filling out your records pull slips online?

by Matthew Schaefer, posted in DC-area Researchers, Genealogy / Family History, Online Research, Research

NARA is in the very early stages of developing a process for electronically requesting records (i.e., an online pull slip). We are currently concentrating on requirements. We invite you to attend one or both of two meetings to discuss what requirements and features you'd like to see for doing records requests electronically.  Project director Rich Tomlinson will brief … Continue reading Do you dream about filling out your records pull slips online?

Results Should Not Vary: Pursuing Quality in Digitization Services

by Matthew Schaefer, posted in Digitization, Preservation

In Digitization Services, we’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about quality. What does it mean? How do we measure it? And why should we care about it? After the establishment of the Products and Services (P&S) web portal resource in 2010 (see the http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/?p=5320 blog post), Digitization Services knew we still had more … Continue reading Results Should Not Vary: Pursuing Quality in Digitization Services

Family Tree Friday: The National Youth Administration (1935-1943)

by dstokes, posted in 1940 Census, Family Tree Fridays, Genealogy / Family History, Photographs, Research

This week's post comes to you from guest blogger Jennifer Dryer, who works in the National Declassification Center at the National Archives.  Jennifer is completing a cross-training assignment with the Archives I Research Support Branch, where she has been working on reference relating to the upcoming 1940 Census release.  Some questions on the 1940 census … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: The National Youth Administration (1935-1943)

DC-Area Researchers briefing: Thursday, August 18th

by mdoviak, posted in DC-area Researchers

We hope you will be able to join us for a Researcher Users Group briefing on Thursday, August 18th at 1:30 pm in the McGowan Theater at Archives I.  As a follow up to the June meeting, this briefing will discuss the changes in public and researcher space in the National Archives Building in Washington, … Continue reading DC-Area Researchers briefing: Thursday, August 18th