Archival Research Catalog is Retiring on August 15th

After 10 years of providing online access to the National Archives’ holdings the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) is permanently retiring on August 15th. You can still search descriptions and digital content using our Online Public Access search http://www.archives.gov/research/search/ Online Public Access contains all of the descriptions and digitized content that was in ARC.  Online Public … Continue reading Archival Research Catalog is Retiring on August 15th

Online Public Access catalog down for maintenance May 10-25, 2013

The National Archives’ Online Public Access (OPA) system will be down for maintenance from May 10 to May 25, 2013. We are in the process of rolling out a new version of OPA that will bring the catalog up to date. After the updated system is rolled out, the catalog will be updated on a … Continue reading Online Public Access catalog down for maintenance May 10-25, 2013

So, What Have We Been Doing in Reference?

We are just finishing up performance appraisals at NARA - that annual event where employees and supervisors get together and discuss how the employee has done in the past year to meet his or her “critical elements.”   Critical elements are the duties and responsibilities each one of us has to support NARA’s goals and objectives. … Continue reading So, What Have We Been Doing in Reference?

Family Tree Friday: World War II Records at College Park

Continuing the theme of my last post, which introduced alternate ways to research 20th century military service (to compensate for the personnel files lost in the 1973 file at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis), this time we'll look at two essential series of unit records relating to World War II. By far … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: World War II Records at College Park

"What Are You Working On, Judy Luis-Watson?" Video Edition!

Ever wonder what exciting new projects the many employees at NARA are working on? The “What are You Working On?” blog feature aims to introduce a variety of NARA employees and highlight some of the exciting projects we are working on around the agency. Check for this blog series on Wednesdays! This week we introduce … Continue reading "What Are You Working On, Judy Luis-Watson?" Video Edition!

Family Tree Friday: U.S. Voltigeurs in the Mexican War

In my last post, I talked about the Sea Fencibles, a unique fighting unit from the War of 1812.  I thought it would be interesting to continue that trend, moving on this time to introduce the Regiment of U.S. Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen from the Mexican War.  Voltigeurs, you may ask?!?  What in the world … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: U.S. Voltigeurs in the Mexican War

NARA Coast to Coast: "Pay Day" for Some World War I Military Personnel Records

Today, guest blogger Theresa Fitzgerald from the National Archives at St. Louis has written a special NARA Coast-to-Coast post sharing some recent discoveries in World War I era military records. On July 12, 1973 a fire engulfed the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center. This event destroyed 80% of all Army personnel records with discharge dates between November … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: "Pay Day" for Some World War I Military Personnel Records

"What Are You Working On, Jason Schultz?"

Ever wonder what exciting new projects the many employees at NARA are working on? The “What are You Working On?” blog feature aims to introduce a variety of NARA employees and highlight some of the exciting projects we are working on around the agency. Check for this blog series on Wednesdays! This week, we introduce … Continue reading "What Are You Working On, Jason Schultz?"

NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, part 2

In the NARA Coast-to Coast post last week, we discussed the general process for naturalization. This week we will focus on some of the exceptions to the normal process for minors, women, and aliens serving in the U.S. military. Naturalization and Minors (Children) Minor children were granted derivative citizenship when their father, or after 1922 … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, part 2

It's Constitution Day!

Here at the National Archives we have been celebrating the anniversary of the signing of our most famous record all day. We invite you to join in the celebration, too, by exploring the many ways to learn about the Constitution online: See digital copies in the Archival Research Catalog and on Our Archives (NARA's wiki) . … Continue reading It's Constitution Day!