Today's Document: Happy Thanksgiving, Fellow Tumblrs!
Did you know that there was once so much confusion over what day Thanksgiving would be officially celebrated on that Congress had to pass a joint resolution declaring that last Thursday in November would be the legal holiday?
Here’s the story: In 1863 President Abraham…
Source: archives.gov
September 19 - There be pirates in t’ National Archives
It’s “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and don’t fear, we’ve got pirates in the National Archives! Here’s a caricature of “Paul Jones the Pirate.” This copy of an circa 1779 engraving found within the Records of the Office of War Information.
Constitution of the United States
Drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787, this four-page document, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States.
August 31, 2005 - A statue is partially submerged in flood waters as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Jocelyn Augustino of FEMA.
Because you probably don’t know what a “teletype” machine looks like…
The White House to Kremlin “Hotline”
On August 30, 1963, The Kennedy White House announced the creation of a teletype “Hotline” between the Kremlin and the White House. The Hotline was established in the aftermath to the Cuban Missile Crisis - to be used only in an emergency to ensure clear communication between the President and the Soviet Premier.
The White House Hotline teletype machine was used for the first time for communication between President Lyndon Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexsei Kosygin during the Six Day War in the Middle East.
These days, the Hotline machine is on exhibit at the LBJ Library & Museum.
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
Today is Women's Equality Day
Today is Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the success of the women’s suffrage movement. Read the original documents proposing an amendment to the Constitution.
(via todaysdocument)
Source: usagov
San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
It was 5.9 earthquake here at the National Archives in DC, but it could have been worse.
Making the Impossible Decision
On August 12, 1961, immediately before the construction of the Berlin Wall this couple makes the decision to pass their son over barbed wire to West Berlin.
The original caption:
A German fate at the fence of barbed wire!
It may be that a couple from Berlin will never see each other again because it became separated by the drawing of the line across Berlin. On August 12, one day before Ulbricht had ordered to surround West Berlin with barbed wire, a man was flying into West Berlin. His wife should follow him a few days later as the little son was still in a holiday-camp. In the meantime the nearly impenetrable “iron curtain” was drawn around West Berlin. The couple met at the fence of barbed wire. The “Vopo” guard was indulgent and allowed the meeting. The couple discussed their situation and they decided that the little son shall grow up in freedom. At a moment when the “Vopo” did not watch them the mother handed the child over the barbed wire.
Accumulating random crap since 1976! Mostly strange humor, fountain pens, history, politics, LGBT issues, art, odd pictures from my iPhoto library, and irrelevant status updates. I'm an ESTJ. In my day job I'm a scientist or something. And I like boys.
