NARA seeks feedback for digitizing plan 2007-2016

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: Yesterday's email brought notice of the National Archives request for input on the digitizing efforts to be taken for the next ten years. All inquires should be addressed to Vision@nara.gov.

Draft NARA Digitizing Plan available for public comment
Posted for comment: September 10, 2007
Comments due: November 9, 2007
Send comments to: Vision@nara.gov or by fax to 301-837-0319

Draft Plan

"The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is seeking public
comment on its draft Plan for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access,
2007-2016. This draft plan outlines our planned strategies to digitize and make
more accessible the historic holdings from the National Archives of the United
States.

The document is divided into several sections. The first section, INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND, provides information on NARA's mission, our archival holdings, and our past experience with digitization, to give you the context of the draft Plan for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access, 2007-2016. Section II, PLAN OVERVIEW, describes our planned goals, activities, and priorities for digitization. Sections III through V provide listings of current digitization activities being carried out by NARA and through partnerships to digitize and make available archival materials. Appendix A contains draft operating principles that we are using as we enter into partnerships and Appendix B references relevant NARA guidance that applies to handling of archival materials being digitized and the technical guidelines for image creation and description. We particularly invite your comments on Sections II, III, V, and Appendix A."

C-SPAN's Presidential History Series

From: Public.Affairs@nara.gov
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:41 PM

To: Public AffairsSubject: Presidential Libraries are Focus of C-SPAN's New Presidential History Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2007

Presidential Libraries are Focus of C-SPAN's New Presidential History Series "Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered" to debut this Friday, September 7 at 8 pm ET

WASHINGTON DC. . . The first weekly segment of C-SPAN's new series, produced with extensive assistance from the National Archives, will air on Friday, September 7. As the nation prepares to elect a new president in 2008, "Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered" will offer a "behind the scenes" look at the modern American presidency, featuring the most authoritative experts and historians, and never-before-seen resources from the National Archives twelve Presidential Libraries.

Viewers will journey behind the exhibit halls of the Presidential Libraries to see the evolution of the modern presidency with extensive use of never- or rarely-seen film, video, private home movies, sound recordings, photographs, documents and artifacts collected from inside the Libraries' vaults. In addition, more than 1,000 rare recordings, identified for this series from the various Libraries' holdings, will be digitized by C-SPAN and made publicly available via the Internet.

"The National Archives is very grateful to C-SPAN for recognizing the value and unique contributions that Presidential Libraries make to our collective memory. C-SPAN has culled our holdings and has unearthed new materials that will delight and inform viewers," said Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein.

"C-SPAN's distinct style and long experience producing history programs, combined with the resources of the National Archives Presidential Libraries will result in unique history programming for our viewers," said C-SPAN President Susan Swain.

Covering Presidents Hoover to Clinton, the 12-part "Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered" series will air every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET, from September 7 through November 30, 2007. Each live, two-hour program on location from one of the Presidential Libraries will include archival materials, interviews, and viewer call-in segments with respected experts such as curators, archivists, historians and other "witnesses to history."

Live segments will take viewers where the public cannot go -- into the archives of each library where rare artifacts are preserved. Each program re-airs on C-SPAN later the same night at 11 pm ET (8 pm PT).

Richard Norton Smith, a nationally-recognized presidential historian who has served as the director of four National Archives Presidential Libraries, is a consultant to C-SPAN for this series and will take part in all twelve programs in both live and taped segments.

"Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered" segments will be broadcast from the National Archives Presidential Libraries:

• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, West Branch, IA - September 7, 2007
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Hyde Park, NY - September 14, 2007
• Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO - September 21, 2007
  Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, KS - September 28, 2007
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, MA - October 5, 2007
• Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, Austin, TX - October 12, 2007
• Richard Nixon Presidential Library, College Park, MD & Yorba Linda, CA - October 19, 2007
• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, MI - October 26, 2007
• Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta, GA- November 2, 2007
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, CA - November 9, 2007
• George Bush Presidential Library, College Station, TX - November 16, 2007
• William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, AR - November 30, 2007

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration, an independent federal agency, is the nation's record keeper. Founded in 1934, its mission is unique -to serve American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives meets a wide range of information needs, among them helping people to trace their families' history, making it possible for veterans to prove their entitlement to medical and other benefits, and preserving original White House records. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at www.archives.gov .

About the Presidential Libraries
The National Archives and Records Administration operates twelve Presidential Libraries, representing U.S. Presidents from Herbert Hoover through Bill Clinton. These are not libraries in the usual sense. They are archives and museums, preserving the written record and physical
history of our presidents, while providing special programs and exhibits that serve their communities. Described by President Reagan as "classrooms of Democracy," Presidential Libraries belong to the American people and provide insight into the times in which these presidents lived and served the nation. For more information about Presidential Libraries, visit
http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries .

About C-SPAN
C-SPAN, the political network of record, was created in 1979 by America's cable companies as a public service. C-SPAN is currently available in 91.7 million households, C-SPAN2 in 84.5 million
households, and C-SPAN3 in 13 million households nationwide. For more information, visit: www.c-span.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Video and sound clips from the series are available online at www.C-SPAN.org/presidentiallibraries . Still photos or a DVD with video clips are available by contacting C-SPAN at 202-626-7958.
# # #

For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 357-5300.

New NARA podcast series: "Presidential Archives Uncovered"

Presidential Libraries of the National Archives Launch Podcast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2007
From: Public Affairs Public.Affairs@nara.gov

Washington, DC. . . Using technology to bring its unique holdings to the public, the Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration today announced its podcast series, "Presidential Archives Uncovered."

Based on the Presidential Timeline web site http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/ "Presidential Archives Uncovered" broadcasts audio clips from the Libraries' collection, ranging from serious policy discussions between the President and his advisors to conversations among Presidential family members. In one of the audio clips, for example, President and Mrs. Nixon discuss the pandas' arrival at the National Zoo in 1972, following the President's historic trip to the People's Republic of China earlier that year. A new clip will be added each month.

Audio is freely available on the Presidential Libraries' podcast web site and at iTunes.

"Presidential Archives Uncovered"
* Web site: http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/research/podcasts.html
* Subscribe: http://128.83.78.2/nl/plpodcast.xml

A podcast is audio content that is automatically delivered over a network via free subscription. Once subscribed to, Podcasts can be regularly distributed over the Internet and accessed with an iPod, laptop, or desktop computer (both Macs and PCs).

National Archives Films to Be Made Available Through

From: Public.Affairs@nara.gov
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 8:39 AM
July 30, 2007

Thousands of National Archives Films to Be Made Available Through CustomFlix Labs

Washington, DC. . . The National Archives and Records Administration today announced that it has reached an non-exclusive agreement with CustomFlix Labs, part of the Amazon.com, Inc. group of companies (NASDAQ:AMZN), to make thousands of historic films from the National Archives available for purchase on Amazon.com. The National Archives and Records Administration holds more than 200,000 motion picture titles that include documentaries, newsreels, instructional films, combat footage, research and development films, and many other formats that provide an unequalled visual history of the United States.

The National Archives has selected the CustomFlix DVD on Demand service to initially make its collection of Universal Newsreels, dating from 1920 to 1967, available on DVD to the general public for purchase on Amazon.com. Newsreels cover worldwide events in politics, entertainment, fashion, sports and technology. Historic moments in world history, such as the death of FDR, the end of WWII, the famous 1960 Nixon-Kennedy debate and the royal wedding of Princess Margaret, are all chronicled. Thousands of public domain films and other U.S. Defense Department and U.S. Information Agency titles from the National Archives motion picture holdings will also become available in the near future.

"Our initiative with CustomFlix Labs will reap major benefits for the public-at-large and for the National Archives," said Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States. "While the public can come to our College Park, MD research room to view films and even copy them at no charge, this new program will make our holdings much more accessible to millions of people who cannot travel to the Washington, D.C. area. CustomFlix Labs DVD on Demand will provide the National Archives with digital reference and preservation copies of the films that are sold on Amazon.com. This is an important contribution to our preservation program."

The CustomFlix Labs DVD on Demand program allows organizations like the National Archives and Records Administration to offer their DVDs for sale on Amazon.com without inventory. DVDs are manufactured only when customers purchase them, eliminating the risks and hassles associated with traditional distribution, while ensuring titles remain in stock. Once purchased on Amazon.com, DVDs can be delivered to the customer within 24 hours.

"The National Archives and Records Administration houses an amazing collection of motion picture titles that historically have been hard for the general public to access," said Dana Piccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CustomFlix Labs. "Our DVD on Demand service will make these titles readily available for purchase on Amazon.com to be enjoyed by history buffs today, as well as for future generations to come."

Films from the National Archives can be purchased today on Amazon.com with more titles to be available soon. For more information on CustomFlix Labs DVD on Demand, please visit www.CustomFlix.com .

About National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration, an independent federal agency, is the nation's record keeper. Founded in 1934, its mission is unique -- to serve American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can
discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives meets a wide range of information needs, among them helping people to trace their families' history, making it possible for veterans to prove their entitlement to medical and other benefits, and preserving
original White House records. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at www.archives.gov .

About CustomFlix Labs
CustomFlix Labs is a DBA of On-Demand Publishing LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc., (NASDAQ:AMZN). CustomFlix Labs is the leader in manufacture on demand services for independent and enterprise media content owners. Founded in 2002 with the mission of profitably connecting content owners to a worldwide audience, CustomFlix Labs now offers professional digitization into the Future-Proof Archive service, inventory-free physical media distribution via both CD on Demand and DVD on Demand, as well as video downloads through Amazon.com's Unbox digital download service.

About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything
they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com .

National Archives Sept 2007 events schedule

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from the National Archives Public Affairs desk. All inquiries should be addressed to: public.Affairs@nara.gov

July 25, 2007

SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL ARCHIVES RECORDS IN SEPTEMBER

Washington, DC. . . In September, the National Archives will feature a series of programs highlighting records from the National Archives holdings on a wide range of subjects including genealogy, Hispanic military service, Puerto Rico, and Asian immigration.

All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted and will be held in the National Archives Building Research Center and at Archives II at College Park, Maryland. Both facilities are fully accessible. To request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program, please email public.program@nara.gov or call (202) 357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.

Please note: For programs at the National Archives Research Center, the public must use the building's Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC. The National Archives at College Park, MD is located at 8601 Adelphi Road. For directions to both locations, see: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro.

Wednesday, September 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Jefferson Room Hispanics in the 19th Century through Military and Census Records Archivist Constance Potter and Archives Specialist John Deeben will present a workshop on Hispanics in the Southwest in the 19th century, focusing on Civil War military service, regimental, and pension records for volunteers from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas as well as population and non-population census schedules. Reservations are required, and a fee of $20 is payable by cash or check at the door. Call 202-357-5333.

Friday, September 28, 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Jefferson Room Who's on Your Family Tree? Beginning Your Family Genealogy How can you get started on your family genealogy? Marie Melchiori, CG, CGL, will take a look at home, local, county, and Federal sources as well as what might be on the Internet. Reservations are required, and a fee of $20 is payable by cash or check at the door. Call 202-357-5333.

Tuesday, September 4, at 11 a.m., Room G-24, Research Center Footnotes National Archives Librarian Jeffrey Hartley will discuss how the National Archives and Footnote.com are bringing unprecedented access to selections of the Archives' holdings and how to use this resource. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, on Thursday, September 6, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, September 11, at 11 a.m., National Archives at College Park, Lecture Room D Early Chinese/Asian Immigration History: Records of the National Archives Pacific Region (San Francisco) Archives Specialist Bill Greene will focus on the 250,000 immigration case files and related records in the National Archives Pacific Region (San Francisco), which document Chinese/Asian immigration history during the Chinese Exclusion Acts period, 1880s-1940s. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives Building in Washington in Room G-24, Research Center, on Thursday, September 13, at 9:30 a.m.)

Thursday, September 13, at 11 a.m., Room G-24, Research Center Mexican Border Crossings Archivist Claire Kluskens will discuss Mexican border crossing records that document the arrival of permanent and temporary immigrants to the United States at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tuesday, September 18, at 11 a.m., Room G-24, Research Center Hispanic Volunteers in the Antebellum U.S. Army Archives Specialist John Deeben will discuss service records and other documentation for Hispanics who served in the U.S. Army, 1835-55. Many fought in the Second Seminole War, the Mexican War, and the Apache and Navajo wars of the 1850s. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, on Thursday, September 20, at 11 a.m.)

Friday, September 21, at 11 a.m., Room G-24, Research Center Hispanic-Related Films from the National Archives We present and discuss a variety of film clips illustrating Hispanic population, culture, activities, and families in the early to mid-20th century.

Tuesday, September 25, at 11 a.m., Room G-24, Research Center Documenting Community, Politics, and the Economy in Puerto Rico, 1898-1950 Archives Branch Chief Kenneth Heger will provide an overview of the records of the two Federal agencies that administered Puerto Rico-the Bureau of Insular Affairs and the Office of Territories-focusing on their value to local historians. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, on Thursday, September 27, at 11 a.m.)

Wednesday, September 26, at noon, Room G-24, Research Center From the Records Book Group We will discuss The Archaeologist Was a Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval Intelligence, by Charles H. Harris III and Louis R. Sadler. Please check the Archives Shop (202-357-5271) for book availability and a special discount for participants. October's book will be The Secret in Building 26: the Untold Story of America's Ultra War against the U-boat Enigma Codes, by Jim DeBrosse and Colin Burke.

To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call (202) 357-5333, or view the Calendar of Events on the web at: http://www.archives.gov/calendar/.

To contact the National Archives, please call 1-866-272-6272 or 1-86-NARA-NARA; (TDD) (301) 837-0482.
# # #

For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 357-5300.

National Archives to celebrate Constitution Day

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from the National Archives Public Affairs desk. All inquiries should be addressed to: Public.Affairs@nara.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 25, 2007

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY

Washington, D.C. . . . The National Archives celebrates the 220th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution throughout September with exciting public programs including a special family day on Sunday, September 16, and a panel discussion on racial equality on Constitution Day, September 17. These events are free and open to the public.

The National Archives has the original Constitution on permanent display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.

Constitution Day Family Celebration - Happy Birthday U.S. Constitution!
Sunday, September 16, 12 noon - 3 p.m., Presidential Conference Center

• Sign the Constitution (Presidential Conference Room Lobby, noon-3 p.m.)
• View the film The Making of the Constitution, 1997, 25 minutes (Jefferson Room, noon and 1 p.m.)
• Have a piece of birthday cake and meet President James Madison, Father of the Constitution, and First Lady Dolley Madison (Washington Room, 12:30-2 p.m.)
• Meet Syl Sobel, author of The U.S. Constitution and You (Washington Room, 1-2 p.m.)
• Join Mrs. Madison as she describes White House entertainment in the early 19th century (Jefferson Room, 1:45-2:30 p.m.)
• Explore historical documents that demonstrate the Constitution in action. Take on the role of a "Presidential researcher" and match original documents to sections of the Constitution (Boeing Learning Center, noon-3 p.m.)

Unfinished Business: Racial Equality in American History
Monday, September 17, at 7 p.m., William G. McGowan Theater
What social and political factors have influenced the path of racial progress, and how have law and court decisions contributed to American equality? In the newest volume from Oxford University's Inalienable Rights series, Unfinished Business: Racial Equality and American History, Michael J. Klarman offers a succinct account of racial equality and civil rights throughout American history. Archivist Allen Weinstein moderates a panel featuring Klarman, historian John Hope Franklin, and Lonnie Bunch, director, National Museum of African American History and Culture. A book signing will follow the program.


Related programs and exhibits at the National Archives:

School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents
Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery
As a boy, Richard Nixon won an oratorical contest by expounding upon "The Ever-Increasing Strength of the Constitution." Learn this and more in the new family-friendly "School House to White House" exhibition. Documents, artifacts, photos and films drawn from the collections of the National Archives Presidential Libraries reveal fascinating details about children that would grow up to be presidents. Journey back to a time of one room school houses, large public schools, and private tutors. See these future presidents as young sports stars, choir members, and musicians. Watch them mature into serious college and military academy students. Together these experiences demonstrate the variety of educational and extra-curricular experiences that trained and influenced our nation's future leaders.

The 1297 Magna Carta
West Rotunda Gallery
The 1297 Magna Carta is on display in the Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives. In 1215 on the plains of Runnymede an assembly of barons confronted the despotic King John of England and demanded that traditional rights be recognized, written down, confirmed with the royal seal, and sent to each of the counties to be read to all freemen. King John agreed, binding himself and his heirs to grant "to all freemen of our kingdom" the rights and liberties described in the great charter, or Magna Carta. Thus King John placed himself and England's future sovereigns and magistrates within the rule of law.

Between 1215 and 1297, Magna Carta was reissued by each of King John's successors. The 1297 Magna Carta, confirmed by Edward I, was entered on the English statute rolls and thus became the foundation document of English common law. Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta remain. The 1297 Magna Carta on display at the National Archives was purchased by the Perot Foundation in 1984 and is on indefinite loan to the National Archives. It is the only Magna Carta permanently residing in the United States.

A New World Is at Hand
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
Flanking the permanent display of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights is the exhibition, "A New World Is at Hand." Featuring a selection of the National Archives' most treasured documents, this exhibition reveals the drama, passion, and poignancy of the struggle for freedom that has defined much of U.S. history. On Constitution Day, we call particular attention to George Washington's own working copy of the first printed draft of the constitution. Other highlights of the exhibit include Benjamin Franklin's draft of the Articles of Confederation, a working draft of the amendments that would become the Bill of Rights, and a document from the milestone Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court case.

The Public Vaults
This permanent interactive exhibition - literally located behind the wall of the display of the Constitution - is organized according to the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The Public Vaults creates the feeling of going into the stacks and vaults of the National Archives, and offers visitors a "hands on" examination of the workings of the three branches of government, as outlined in the Constitution.

Special online educational program - Teaching With Documents: U.S. Constitution Workshop
What does the light bulb have to do with the U. S. Constitution? Or the board game "Monopoly"? How about the letter you wrote to the president when you were in elementary school? The answer to all three questions is: plenty-if you know your Constitution. See: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-workshop/index.html

Exhibition Hours and Contact Information:
Summer exhibit hours through Labor Day are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Beginning September 4, hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving and December 25. The National Archives is fully accessible. If you need to request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please email public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.
07-118

National Archives Hosts Fourth of July Celebration

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from the Public Affairs Office of the National Archives in Washington, D. C. All inquiries should be addressed to Public.Affairs@nara.gov

National Archives Hosts Fourth of July Celebration

WHAT: The National Archives will celebrate the 231st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence with its traditional Fourth of July program.

The celebration will include patriotic music, a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence by World War II veterans and exciting free family activities and entertainment for all ages.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Ceremony: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Family activities: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Exhibits (including the original Declaration of Independence): 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

WHERE: Constitution Avenue steps, National Archives Building Between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.
Space will be reserved for the electronic media

"July Fourth at the National Archives" is made possible in part by the generous support of John Hancock Financial Services.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

"July Fourth at the National Archives"

This popular family event is free and open to the public. Seating on the Constitution Avenue steps is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Highlights of the morning ceremony and family activities that will be held throughout the day include:

Ceremony
10 a.m.-11 a.m.

• Presentation of Colors by the Continental Color Guard
• Performance by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) Fife and Drum Corps
• Remarks by Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein and filmmaker Ken Burns
• Dramatic Reading of the Declaration of Independence by special guests: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Ned Hector, and WWII veterans Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cervantes USAF (Ret.) and Major Norman T. Hatch USMCR (Ret.)
• Patriotic video presentations

Family Activities
11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (under tenting on Pennsylvania Avenue)

• Meet General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Rosie the Riveter, and other historical figures from the Revolutionary and World War II eras
• Sign a full-sized facsimile of the Declaration of Independence
• Show patriotic pride with a National Archives temporary tattoo
• Plant a Victory Garden and learn about wartime conservation efforts
• Don a tri-corner hat and step up to the podium to declare your independence
• Air your grievances in a Revolutionary manner with a quill pen and ink
• Explore full-size facsimiles of landmark historical documents
• Meet children's author Louise Borden as she signs copies of her new book, The John Hancock Club

The National Archives Building is fully accessible. Please note: there will be a sign language interpreter for the ceremony.

Visit http://www.archives.gov/, or call (202) 357-5000 for information on all National Archives public programs.

NARA opens electronic records vault in Suitland

Strict environmental controls provide safety & security

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: Thanks to Joy Rich who consistently receives the NARA news postings earlier than Ol' Myrt. All inquiries should be addressed to Miriam Kleiman of NARA Public Affairs Public.Affairs@nara.gov .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2007

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OPENS ELECTRONIC RECORDS VAULT IN SUITLAND
Suitland, MD

The National Archives announces the opening of a new Electronic Records Vault at the Washington National Records Center (WNRC) facility in Suitland, Maryland. The 976 square-foot, state-of-the-art vault will allow the National Archives, for the first time in its 73-year history, to store and service temporary electronic records for Federal agencies.

The Electronic Records Vault features a non-aqueous fire suppression system, strict environmental controls, and multiple levels of security to protect and preserve Federal electronic records. Complimenting the Electronic Records Vault is the WNRC's new media disintegrator to securely destroy Federal electronic records at the end of their retention schedule. The National Archives will also provide door-to-door pickup and delivery of electronic records for agencies in the Metropolitan Washington area.

A similar Electronic Records Vault will simultaneously come online at the National Archives new Federal Records Center in Fort Worth, Texas to service electronic records for agencies west of the Mississippi.

"The Electronic Records Vaults are an exciting project for the National Archives," said David Weinberg, Director of the National Archives Federal Records Centers Program. "Our customer agencies expressed a need to keep their electronic records safely in Federal custody throughout their life cycle, and we built the Electronic Records Vault in response to this demand. We are proud that we will be able to securely store all types of Federal electronic records the same way that we have safeguarded Federal paper records for decades."

The Washington National Records Center provides records management services to headquarters and field offices of Federal agencies located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It also serves Federal Courts located in the District of Columbia and Armed Forces worldwide. It is the first stop for Federal records after they are no longer actively used by the agency of origin. Agency records stay at the WNRC, where they are tracked through an automated database, until they are either destroyed or accepted by the National Archives as permanent records.

To arrange press tours of the new Electronic Records Vault and/or schedule interviews contact WNRC Director Alan Kramer at 301-778-1600.

For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

Stolen US Civil War documents recovered

National Archives Honors Pennsylvania Brothers For Helping to Recover Stolen Documents

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from the Publiv Affairs Office of the National Archives. All inquiries should be addressed to: Public.Affairs@nara.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2007
NATIONAL ARCHIVES HONORS PENNSYLVANIA BROTHERS FOR HELPING TO RECOVER STOLEN DOCUMENTS

Washington, D.C. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein honored two Pennsylvania brothers, Dean Thomas and Jim Thomas, in a ceremony today for assisting the National Archives in recovering stolen Civil War documents. In presenting the brothers with certificates of appreciation and facsimiles of some of the stolen documents, Professor Weinstein said, "The National Archives has a great responsibility to keep the nation's documents safe and secure, but we can't do this without the public's help. When private citizens such as the Thomas brothers join us in this effort--it's extraordinary. If you help the government recover stolen documents, others will follow. You set a good example."

The brothers, book publishers in Gettysburg, PA, saw documents up for sale on eBay in September 2006. Dean Thomas recognized them as ones he had seen and photocopied while researching at the National Archives Philadelphia Regional Archives 20 years ago. Mr. Thomas immediately contacted the National Archives, which began an investigation of the thefts. The investigation led to the arrest of former National Archives intern Denning McTague. 164 documents were stolen by Mr. McTague. The investigation is ongoing with 161 recovered to date. Mr. McTague will be sentenced on July 12, 2007.

At the ceremony, National Archives Inspector General Paul Brachfeld presented the Thomas brothers with special paper weights encapsulating original pieces of Civil War era red tape. "It just doesn't get any better for us. You are models for other citizens to follow and we hope it will encourage others to help the government recover alienated documents," Mr. Brachfeld said.

While accepting the gifts of appreciation, Dean Thomas said "All I can tell you is, 'if it's on yours don't take it.' "

Footnote.com releases original Rev. War docs for 1st time on 'Net

FOOTNOTE.COM RELEASES ORIGINAL REVOLUTIONARY WAR DOCUMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE INTERNET

Lindon, UT – May 3, 2007 – Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones is best remembered for responding, “I have not yet begun to fight,” when asked by the British if he wanted to surrender while doing battle on the night of September 23, 1779.

Did you also know that he began his Naval career at the age of 13 or that his given name was John Paul? It is believed that he adopted the surname Jones to throw authorities off his trail after being accused of flogging a man to death. Based on historical documents it seems John Paul Jones had a number of disagreements with authorities that prevented him from rising higher than a captain in the Continental Navy.

Footnote.com released a collection of Revolutionary War documents available for the first time on the Internet. Featuring collections such as the Revolutionary War Service Records, Papers of the Continental Congress and Revolutionary War Rolls, Footnote.com is quickly becoming the leading source for original documents relating to the birth of the United States.

“Through our partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration, we are able to bring these valuable historical records to more people than ever before,” said Roger Bell, President of Footnote.com. “Footnote is truly reinventing how people access and interact with history.”

These documents, which have never been available before on the Internet, expose a side of the Revolutionary War that few have been seen before. Within these collections Footnote members will find original letters written by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin as well as military records for soldiers serving in the war.

Visitors to www.footnote.com/revolutionary-war.php can access free samples of these original documents as well as story pages created by Footnote members.

About Footnote, Inc.Founded in 1997 as iArchives, Inc., Footnote is a subscription based website that features searchable original documents that provide users with an unaltered view of the events , places and people that shaped the American nation and the world. At Footnote.com all are invited to come to share, discuss, and collaborate on their discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues. For more information, visit www.footnote.com.