This diary was written by George Boardman, a young man from Maine, who joined the 22nd Regiment during the Civil War. He wrote of many things: the pride and anxiety they experienced as they paraded through downtown Calais before departing for Bangor; his encounter with citizens who did not welcome Union troops; a miserable trip in a dirty coal car; his fear that death would soon intrude on the grand adventure for him and his friends; cold, rainy nights; his excitement at glimpsing the ironclad Monitor. Read more about this diary from the point of view of an archivist at the Eisenhower Presidential Library (and see a larger image): http://go.usa.gov/4ZtY
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This diary was written by George Boardman, a young man from Maine, who joined the 22nd Regiment during the Civil War.

He wrote of many things: the pride and anxiety they experienced as they paraded through downtown Calais before departing for Bangor; his encounter with citizens who did not welcome Union troops; a miserable trip in a dirty coal car; his fear that death would soon intrude on the grand adventure for him and his friends; cold, rainy nights; his excitement at glimpsing the ironclad Monitor.


Read more about this diary from the point of view of an archivist at the Eisenhower Presidential Library (and see a larger image): http://go.usa.gov/4ZtY

Pulitzer prize–winning author Annette Gordon Reed leads a discussion of emancipation, Lincoln, and the Civil War on Thursday, January 24, at 7 p.m. Panelists include James McPherson, Pulitzer prize–winning historian and professor emeritus at Princeton University; Edward Ayers, Civil War historian and president of the University of Richmond; Eric Foner, author and professor of history, Columbia University; and James Oakes, professor of history, City University of New York and author of Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861–1865. A book signing will follow the program. Presented in partnership with the National Archives Afro-American History Society.
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Pulitzer prize–winning author Annette Gordon Reed leads a discussion of emancipation, Lincoln, and the Civil War on Thursday, January 24, at 7 p.m.

Panelists include James McPherson, Pulitzer prize–winning historian and professor emeritus at Princeton University; Edward Ayers, Civil War historian and president of the University of Richmond; Eric Foner, author and professor of history, Columbia University; and James Oakes, professor of history, City University of New York and author of Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861–1865.

A book signing will follow the program. Presented in partnership with the National Archives Afro-American History Society.

Join us for a special noontime lecture on January 23. Former Senator Tom Daschle discusses his book The U.S. Senate, which explores that body’s inner workings, from historic beginnings to modern day issues. A book signing will follow the program. Image: Berryman comments on the irony of two Republicans, Senators Robert A. Taft and John Foster Dulles, arguing on the North Atlantic Treaty while the two top party leaders, Democratic Senator Thomas T. Connally and Republican Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, agree on the issue. The North Atlantic Treaty passes the U.S. Senate on July 21, 1949 with a vote of 82 to 13. It was a defense agreement which laid the foundation for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This was a mutual defense pact involving the United States, Great Britain, France, and Canada (ARC 306151)
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Join us for a special noontime lecture on January 23.

Former Senator Tom Daschle discusses his book The U.S. Senate, which explores that body’s inner workings, from historic beginnings to modern day issues. A book signing will follow the program.

Image: Berryman comments on the irony of two Republicans, Senators Robert A. Taft and John Foster Dulles, arguing on the North Atlantic Treaty while the two top party leaders, Democratic Senator Thomas T. Connally and Republican Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, agree on the issue. The North Atlantic Treaty passes the U.S. Senate on July 21, 1949 with a vote of 82 to 13. It was a defense agreement which laid the foundation for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This was a mutual defense pact involving the United States, Great Britain, France, and Canada (ARC 306151)

Inauguration Fact: Presidents do not need to be inaugurated. In case of the death of a President, the oath of office can be administered by a nearby official. Vice Presidents John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur were all sworn in after the death of a President (and none of them were reelected). Theodore Roosevelt took the oath in Buffalo, NY, after the assassination of William McKinley. In 1923, Calvin Coolidge was at home in Vermont when Warren Harding died and had to be sworn in by his father, a notary public and justice of the peace. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on board Air Force One after President Kennedy’s death. And Gerald Ford took the oath of office in the East Room of the White House after President Nixon resigned. Image: Harry S. Truman taking the oath of office as President of the United States in the Cabinet Room of the White House, following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, 04/12/1945 (ARC 199062), Truman Presidential Library.
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Inauguration Fact: Presidents do not need to be inaugurated. In case of the death of a President, the oath of office can be administered by a nearby official.

Vice Presidents John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur were all sworn in after the death of a President (and none of them were reelected).

Theodore Roosevelt took the oath in Buffalo, NY, after the assassination of William McKinley. In 1923, Calvin Coolidge was at home in Vermont when Warren Harding died and had to be sworn in by his father, a notary public and justice of the peace. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on board Air Force One after President Kennedy’s death.

And Gerald Ford took the oath of office in the East Room of the White House after President Nixon resigned.

Image: Harry S. Truman taking the oath of office as President of the United States in the Cabinet Room of the White House, following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, 04/12/1945 (ARC 199062), Truman Presidential Library.

Inauguration Fact: The Constitution does not dictate where the inauguration should happen. Washington’s first inauguration took place in New York on a second-floor balcony of Federal Hall, with a crowd assembled in the streets below. Washington’s second inauguration and John Adams’s only inauguration were held in Philadelphia. Even when the ceremony was held in the new capital city, the location still varied. Jefferson, the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, DC, took the oath twice in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol. Starting with Andrew Jackson in 1829, inauguration ceremonies were held on the Capitol’s East Portico, but even that was not permanent. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth and final inauguration was a small, wartime ceremony held on the South Portico of the White House. In 1981, Ronald Reagan became the first President to to take the oath of office on the West Portico of the Capitol, facing out onto the Mall. Image Lyndon Johnson takes the Oath of Office as President of the United States on January 20, 1965, Johnson Presidential Library.
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Inauguration Fact: The Constitution does not dictate where the inauguration should happen.

Washington’s first inauguration took place in New York on a second-floor balcony of Federal Hall, with a crowd assembled in the streets below. Washington’s second inauguration and John Adams’s only inauguration were held in Philadelphia.

Even when the ceremony was held in the new capital city, the location still varied. Jefferson, the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, DC, took the oath twice in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol.

Starting with Andrew Jackson in 1829, inauguration ceremonies were held on the Capitol’s East Portico, but even that was not permanent. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth and final inauguration was a small, wartime ceremony held on the South Portico of the White House.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan became the first President to to take the oath of office on the West Portico of the Capitol, facing out onto the Mall.

Image Lyndon Johnson takes the Oath of Office as President of the United States on January 20, 1965, Johnson Presidential Library.

Inauguration Fact: The shortest Inaugural Address is Washington’s second address at just 133 words. The longest Inaugural Address was 8,495 words, delivered by President Harrison on an extremely cold day. (He died of pneumonia a month later.) One of the most memorable lines in American history comes from an Inaugural Address. On March 4, 1933, President Roosevelt was sworn in, and told the crowd that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In honor of the upcoming Inauguration Day, George Washington’s first Inaugural Address is on display at the National Archives until January 31. Image: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address, 03/04/1933, ARC 197333.
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Inauguration Fact: The shortest Inaugural Address is Washington’s second address at just 133 words. The longest Inaugural Address was 8,495 words, delivered by President Harrison on an extremely cold day. (He died of pneumonia a month later.)

One of the most memorable lines in American history comes from an Inaugural Address. On March 4, 1933, President Roosevelt was sworn in, and told the crowd that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

In honor of the upcoming Inauguration Day, George Washington’s first Inaugural Address is on display at the National Archives until January 31.

Image: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address, 03/04/1933, ARC 197333.

You might be surprised to know that Post Office records are a rich source for researchers! On Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m., Claire Kluskens discusses records of the appointment of postmasters and other postal employees. Join at the National Archives in DC for “Beyond the Basics Genealogy: Post Office Records” in Room G-25, in the Research Center (Penn. Ave. entrance). Image: James Robert Howard, right, visits with fellow miners at the post office. Howard works the night shift. Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/13/1946 (ARC 540822)
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You might be surprised to know that Post Office records are a rich source for researchers! On Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m., Claire Kluskens discusses records of the appointment of postmasters and other postal employees.

Join at the National Archives in DC for “Beyond the Basics Genealogy: Post Office Records” in Room G-25, in the Research Center (Penn. Ave. entrance).

Image: James Robert Howard, right, visits with fellow miners at the post office. Howard works the night shift. Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/13/1946 (ARC 540822)



Inauguration Fact: Rutherford B. Hayes became President through the Compromise of 1877. When the electoral votes from the 1876 election were counted, Rutherford B. Hayes was 20 votes short of victory, and 20 votes remained in dispute. The Republican-controlled Congress awarded all the disputed votes to Hayes, and the Democrats threatened to block his inauguration. The two parties ultimately worked out a compromise that accepted Hayes as President and also brought an end to Reconstruction, allowing southern states to control their own affairs. Image: Patent for Hayes campaign fan, Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, Record Group 241, National Archives.
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Inauguration Fact: Rutherford B. Hayes became President through the Compromise of 1877.

When the electoral votes from the 1876 election were counted, Rutherford B. Hayes was 20 votes short of victory, and 20 votes remained in dispute. The Republican-controlled Congress awarded all the disputed votes to Hayes, and the Democrats threatened to block his inauguration.

The two parties ultimately worked out a compromise that accepted Hayes as President and also brought an end to Reconstruction, allowing southern states to control their own affairs.

Image: Patent for Hayes campaign fan, Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, Record Group 241, National Archives.