Originally published May 2016 By Megan O’Hern-Crook, C.A., Manager of Archives & Information Management As the election season approaches, we’re revisiting a 2016 blog that explores the process of Congressional records donations. Members who are leaving office have a lot …
Malady & Memory: Historic Sites that Preserve the Legacy of Resisting Disease
By Scott Vierick, Historian Disease and pandemics have always been a part of human history, but for every illness, there have been countless people who have worked to study and create treatments and cures. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, HAI historians …
Hidden Figures: Unearthing Black History in Museums and Archives
Originally published September 2017 By Michelle Johnson, Former HAI Historian, PhD Candidate at Yale University Museums and archives preserve and tell significant stories. They also serve their visitors, connecting people to their histories and providing an opportunity to hear otherwise …
How to Start Your Records Digitization Project
By the end of 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will manage and retain permanent and temporary federal agency records only in digital form. No more paper record transfers to your local Records Center! Is your agency ready? …
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 2
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 2 Part 1 of this blog explores the historical context of the passage of the Defense Production Act. Read it here. President Harry S. Truman signed the Defense Production Act …
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 1
To fully understand the current relevance and application of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, it helps to remember the two extraordinary wartime crises faced by Americans in the space of 10 …
Archiving to Connect During a Crisis: How We Can Unite to Document COVID-19
By Laura Starr, Certified Archivist, HAI Engagement Strategist I am an archivist and historian. I am a spouse, friend, neighbor, and coworker. I am an American and a global citizen. And right now, I am one of the millions practicing …
Chronicling Health and History: HAI’s Decades-Long Collaboration with the NIH
By Scott Vierick, Historian For the past few months, HAI has been working with historians at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on a panel presentation for the Society for History in the Federal Government’s (SHFG) annual conference. HAI has …
Celebrating a Homegrown Hero: The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Opens in Plains, Georgia
By Hilary Bergen, Historian, Certified Interpretive Planner Imagine your hometown high school became a museum about your life. How would you feel? What would you want visitors to know? What would your hometown say about you? On Presidents’ Day 2020, …
Behind the Scenes: Insights of an Interpretive Planner
Interview with Halley Fehner, CIP, Content Director, Exhibits and Interpretive Planning How did your background influence your decision to become an Interpretive Planner? I come from a history-loving family who also really like to hike, so we visited a lot …
Unsung Treasures of the National Park Service
August 25, 2016 marks the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service. NPS is best known for its stewardship of America’s natural wonders, but its mission includes the preservation of places with cultural and historical significance as well. What many …
What’s Your Legacy? The Enduring Value of an Archive
Upon winning a championship or leaving office, sports figures and politicians are often asked to speculate about their legacy. Although leaving a legacy is something one may aspire to, it is really only something we see in retrospect. Such reflection …