National Archives Foundation

Today marks 60 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the #VotingRightsAct 🗳️ This landmark legislation outlawed voting discrimination, protecting every citizen’s right to vote. For a limited time, you can see the original on display at the National Archives Museum.

Happy Birthday to astronaut, engineer, and pilot Neil Armstrong, born #OnThisDay in 1930. Pictured here in the lunar module following his iconic walk on the moon, Armstrong is best remembered for his fearless spirit and commitment to space exploration 🚀

Congrats! 👏

(and play #100Docs for yourself at 100docs.vote)

We just wrapped up our 2025 Civics for All of US Teacher Institute! ✏️ 📚 From playing #100Docs to all of the valuable civics resources at the U.S. National Archives, these amazing educators are now walking away with new civics learning tools for their classrooms! #ArchivesInstitute

Celebrating the birthday of Amelia Earhart, born #OTD in 1897. Her trailblazing journey is documented in the holdings of the National Archives and her legacy continues to soar ✈️

Some American docs changed more than *just* America. They changed the globe!

🌍 The UN Charter
🕊️ The Truman Doctrine
🧭 The Marshall Plan

Vote for the idea(s) you think most significantly reshaped America and the world in #100Docs → 100docs.vote

and just to be clear - the site is live permanently! so play as much as you'd like for however long as you'd like

Hi Jamie. Apologies for such a delayed response. Part of the hope of #100Docs is that it can be an invaluable classroom tool. Be sure to check out some of the teacher and learning resources in the main menu sidebar!

We were honored to welcome our first cohort of educators to the Civics for All of US Summer Institute! These incredible teachers explored how to bring the Declaration of Independence and civic learning to life in classrooms across the country, starting here at the National Archives 📝📜

Frank Lloyd Wright redefined American architecture from the iconic horizontal Prairie Style homes to the @Guggenheim's bold curves.

This week’s newsletter explores his legacy through National Register for Historic Places records in the U.S. National Archives: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/a...

#OTD in 1886, the White House Blue Room hosted its first (and only) Presidential wedding as Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom.

While no other sitting Presidents were wed in the WH, it was the start of a tradition for many Presidential families to follow, including Nixon & LBJ's daughters

Sacred Ground: The History of Arlington National Cemetery - National Archives Foundation Across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most hallowed sites in the United […]

Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) stands as a symbol of sacrifice and service. From the first military burial in 1864 to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, its history is rich with stories of honor. Learn more in this week's #ArchivesExperience: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/s...

From farmworker to PhD to legislator, Saund broke barriers, championed civil rights, and fought for justice. His story, one of many, is a powerful reminder of perseverance and public service. Explore more AANHPI records & stories in the National Archives: archives.gov/news/topics/...

This #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we look to trailblazers in the Archives like Congressman Dalip Singh Saund (pictured far left), the first Asian American, Indian American, and Sikh American elected to Congress. His papers are preserved at the JFK Presidential Library jfk.blogs.archives.gov/2020/05/15/d...

Civics Trivia at the National Archives - National Archives Foundation Think you know civics? Prove it! Join us for an exciting night of fast-paced Civics Trivia, inspired by the National […]

Ready to test your civic knowledge? 🧠⚡ Join us for Civics Trivia at the National Archives, a fast-paced competition along w/ free pizza, prizes, and bragging rights on the line.

Hosted w/ our partners Made by Us and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. archivesfoundation.org/events/civic...

#OTD in 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. From Civil War battlefields to global disasters, she built a legacy of fearless compassion that still defines the mission today. Learn more from this past edition of the Archives Experience newsletter: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/a...

Opening the Vault - National Archives Foundation Get up close to historic treasures with Opening the Vault Beginning May 7, 2025, the National Archives will display some of

Plan your visit and see them through August 6: archivesfoundation.org/exhibit/open...

New in the National Archives Museum: Opening the Vault will feature rotating displays of documents pivotal to the formation of America. Currently on view are docs from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin marking the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army and Postal Service.

BBQ: A Delicious Tradition - National Archives Foundation The weather’s getting nicer, summer’s right around the corner, and this week we’ll celebrate National BBQ Day (May 16)! Food,

From Washington’s “Barbicue” to LBJ's BBQ diplomacy, the grill has long brought people together 🍗🔥 Dive into the smoky history of BBQ in the @usnatarchives & discover its enduring role in American culture and politics in this week's Archives Experience: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/b...

RG 241: Restored Patents Now Fully Digitized and Available Online! The RG 241: Restored Patents (NAID 305885) are finally here and available for viewing and download via the National Archives catalog!  In addition to containing some very detailed and colorful imag…

Houdini's patent is a part of Record Group 241, which included many patent drawings recovered after a devastating 1836 fire that destroyed thousands of original records in DC. Learn more about the recovery and digitization of these records here: unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2020/08/18/r...

May celebrates Inventor's Month, and there's no shortage of patent records in the U.S. National Archives! You may even find some unexpected "inventors" in the stacks, like Harry Houdini. Houdini's 1921 patent detailed a quick-release diving suit for solo escape in dangerous situations 🪄

America on Track: Passenger Rail in U.S. History - National Archives Foundation May 1, 1971 marked the beginning of Amtrak, America’s national passenger railroad company. The founding of this federally chartered corporation,

All aboard for a journey through the highs and lows of U.S. passenger rail in the National Archives with nearly a century of history, innovation, and resilience: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/a...

Learn more in this past edition of the Archives Experience newsletter: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/i...

#OTD 90 years ago, the Works Progress Administration was created under President Roosevelt. The WPA provided millions of Americans w/ jobs during the Great Depression. It was one of the first federal programs that supported working women, from mattress-making to physical therapy!

It might surprise you to know the Declaration, the Constitution, & the Bill of Rights are actually quite well traveled. From the State Dept to the Library of Congress, these docs hit the road before arriving here. Get the full story: archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/i...

Happy #EarthDay! The
@usnatarchives.bsky.social contains multitudes of photos that NASA astronauts have captured of earth over the years, from some of the first color images captured during Gemini III (1965) to satellite photography.

Image 1 - NAID: 5804849
Image 2 - NAID: 350901074

#OTD 160 years ago, President Lincoln was shot while at a show in Ford's Theatre. The theatre, which is still active, was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1966. You can explore its rich history through its application in the catalog: catalog.archives.gov/id/117692142

Prior to Roosevelt, many Presidents traditionally donated their papers and affairs to the Library of Congress. Now the @usnatarchives.bsky.social encapsulates 16 Presidential Libraries.

We're celebrating #NationalLibraryWeek by looking at the very first Presidential library under FDR in 1941. Setting the precedent, Roosevelt attended the ceremony himself at the new facility in Hyde Park, NY.