December 2008
Washington, DC, Area Events
Program Highlights
Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, September 3, 1783 [signature page]
General Records of the United States Government
[ARC ID 299805]
- Treaty of Paris
In celebration of our new exhibit, “1783: Subject or Citizen?,” we present programs commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris. (December 3, 13,) - Bill of Rights Day Naturalization Ceremony
The National Archives continues its annual tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony for petitioners seeking American citizenship. (December 16) - American Conversation with Daniel Schorr
The Archivist welcomes the legendary journalist Daniel Schorr for an “American Conversation.” (December 11) - 40th Anniversary of Apollo 8
In honor of the anniversary of man’s historic first orbit around the Moon, we present the 1969 film Debrief: Apollo 8 (December 12) - Noontime Lectures
Authors discuss their books: Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA’s Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda and The Road to Monticello (December 3, 10) - Know Your Records Programs
A variety of programs explore records held by the National Archives. (December 3, 9, 11)
Exhibit Highlights
- Permanent Exhibits
The Charters of Freedom, A New World Is at Hand, The Public Vaults, Magna Carta - Special Exhibit in Washington, DC
1783: Subject or Citizen? - Special Exhibit in College Park, MD
The Long View
Locations, Hours, and Contact Information
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted; reservations are not required unless noted. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For McGowan Theater programs, the doors to the building will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.
1783: Subject or Citizen?
This year marks the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution and reshaped modern North America. In celebration of our 1783: Subject or Citizen? exhibit, we present programs commemorating this historic event.
Map by John Mitchell, 4th edition, 1775; annotated by B.F. Stephens, June 22, 1897 (Records of Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations)
Wednesday, December 3, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
The Mitchell Map and Its Role in Shaping History
How was the Canadian/American border decided? Tonight’s panel will
explore the use of Dr. John Mitchell’s important 1755 cartographic
contribution, “A Map of the British Colonies in North America.” Mitchell’s
map was the cartographic document used by official representatives of Great
Britain and the United States at Paris in 1782 in negotiations leading to
the Treaty of Paris, and it is recognized as an official source in the settlement
of North American boundary disputes well into the 20th century. Moderated
by John R. Hébert, chief of the Geography and Map Division, Library
of Congress, the distinguished panel includes Stephen
J. Hornsby, director, Canadian-American Center, professor of geography & Canadian studies,
University of Maine; Francis M. Carroll, professor of history emeritus, St.
John’s College, University of Manitoba; and S. Max Edelson, associate
professor of history, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This program
is presented in partnership with the Washington Map Society.
Saturday, December 13, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
Treaty of Paris Film Series
This film series features Hollywood’s depiction of the events leading
up to and during the Revolutionary War and the postwar westward expansion
enabled by the Treaty of Paris.
Northwest Passage
The adventurous tale of Rogers’ Rangers, their leader Major Rogers
(Spencer Tracy), and the obstacles and frustrations they encounter while
attempting to open up new territory in Colonial America. Based on the novel
by Kenneth Roberts. Not rated. (1940, 125 minutes)
Naturalization Ceremony
Tuesday, December 16, at 10 a.m.
Rotunda
Bill of Rights Day Naturalization Ceremony
The National Archives, in partnership with the U.S. District Court for
the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services, continues its annual tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony
for petitioners seeking American citizenship. This year’s ceremony
honors the 217th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The
moving ceremony is open to petitioners’ families and guests as well
as to a limited number of members of the public. Seats may be reserved
by calling 202-357-5443.
Please note that the National Archives Experience museum will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. It will remain open until 5:30 p.m. The museum’s winter hours of 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. will resume the following day. The Research Center will open at the regular time.
American Conversation
Daniel Schorr
Thursday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
An American Conversation with Daniel Schorr
Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein welcomes Daniel Schorr in an American Conversation. As the last member of Edward R. Murrow’s legendary CBS reporting team still active in journalism, Daniel Schorr has covered the administrations of 12 Presidents and the beginning and end of the Cold War. His latest book, Come to Think of It: Notes on the Turn of the Millennium, contains a collection of his essays for National Public Radio from the post–Cold War years, 1990–present. Daniel Schorr is currently a senior news analyst for NPR.
Read more about the American Conversations series.
40th Anniversary of Apollo 8
The Apollo 8 crew: James A. Lovell, Jr., William A. Anders, and Frank Borman, November 22, 1968. (Courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Friday, December 12, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
From the Vaults: The Voyage of Apollo 8
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of man’s historic first journey
in orbit around the Moon (December 21–27, 1968), we present the 1969
film Debrief: Apollo 8. Produced by the the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), the film features the first photography of the
lunar surface, the Earth as seen from the Moon, and the poignant Christmas
Eve broadcast from astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders.
The 30-minute film will be preceded by an earlier NASA film, Project Apollo:
Manned Flight to the Moon (ca. 1962), a 15-minute animated description
of the Apollo space program.
Noontime Lecture Series
Book signings will follow the programs.
Wednesday, December 3, at noon
Jefferson Room
Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA’s Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda
From James Bond to Maxwell Smart to Mission: Impossible, spies and their gadgetry have been captivating public interest for decades. Until now, however, much of the information about the tools used by real-life spies has been deemed "inappropriate for public disclosure." Join us as Robert
Wallace, 32-year veteran of the CIA and former director of the Agency’s Office of Technical Service, discusses his book, Spycraft, and brings to life the history of the OTS and its operations both in the engineering laboratory and in the field.
Wednesday, December 10, at noon
Jefferson Room
The Road to Monticello: The Life and Mind of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was an avid book collector, a voracious reader, and a gifted writer. In The
Road to Monticello, Kevin
J. Hayes offers a lively account of Jefferson’s spiritual and intellectual development, focusing on the books and ideas that exerted the most profound influence on him, and reveals an intimate portrait of Jefferson’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge in such fields as law, history, philosophy, and natural science. The
Road to Monticello provides an invaluable look at Jefferson’s intellectual and literary life, uncovering the roots of some of the most important–and influential–ideas that have shaped American history.
Know Your Records Programs: December
Wednesday, December 3, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
Introduction to Genealogy
Archives staff will present a lecture on basic genealogical research
in Federal records. This lecture occurs on the first Wednesday of the
month. The next weekday lecture will take place on Wednesday, January
7.
Tuesday, December 9, at 11 a.m.
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue)
People to People: Trip to China
National Archives Customer Services Division Director Diane Dimkoff will
discuss and show slides from her People to People International (PTPI)
trip taken in October. Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, PTPI
is dedicated to enhancing cross-cultural communication within each community
and across communities and nations. (This lecture will be repeated at
the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, on Thursday,
December 11, at 11 a.m.).
Boeing Learning Center
An exciting space designed to provide parents and educators of all levels with methods and materials for teaching with primary source documents. Open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Exhibits
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom:The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on permanent display in the Rotunda. "A New World Is at Hand" surrounds the Rotunda's centerpiece cases. Presenting a selection of milestone documents, the exhibit chronicles the creation of the Charters of Freedom in the 18th century and their impact on the course of history in the United States and around the world.
The Public Vaults: This interactive exhibit invites visitors into the stacks and vaults of the National Archives to explore the raw material from which history is made. From Washington's letters, Lincoln's telegrams, and FDR's fireside chats to UFO reports and declassified secrets of World War II, these documents chronicle both great national events and the lives of individual Americans.
Magna Carta: This foundation document of English common law was confirmed by Edward I in 1297. Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta remain, and only one permanently resides in the United States. Purchased by David M. Rubenstein in 2007, it is on loan to the National Archives. West Rotunda Gallery.
Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, September 3, 1783 [signature page]
General Records of the United States Government
[ARC ID 299805]
Special Exhibit in Washington, DC
1783: Subject or Citizen? For the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, the National Archives and Library and Archives Canada jointly created this exhibit, which reveals the untold story of the treaty and its effect on everyday lives and features valuable archival treasures from the vaults of both institutions, including the rarely seen American copy of the 1783 treaty. Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery October 3, 2008 through January 25, 2009.
A related exhibit, “Champlain's Dream,” with Samuel de Champlain’s notebooks and artifacts from the John Carter Brown Library, is at the Embassy of Canada Gallery, October 16–December 30. Champlain's Dream, a book by David Hackett Fischer, was published in October 2008 in the U.S. and Canada.
Special Exhibit in College Park, Maryland
Auditorium Lobby at the National Archives Research Center:
"The Long View" features digitally produced facsimiles of historic panoramic photographs from the Still Picture holdings.
Motorcycle Corps, Army Motor Service - Under Command of J. S. Berryman. US Capitol. Wash., DC. Jan. 26, 1919, By R. S. Clements. Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs (165-PP-60-47)
The exhibit not only showcases the wide variety of panoramic techniques, but also includes National Archives records such as cartographic maps and patent drawings that relate to the photographs. Thirty-four panoramas and other records are on display and span the period from 1864 to 1997.
See more panoramas online.
Traveling Exhibits
The traveling exhibit program makes it possible for people across the country to experience selected historical documents and artifacts that reflect our national experience.
Eyewitness: American Originals from the National Archives
Drawing on rarely displayed documents, audio recordings, and film footage culled
from the extensive holdings of the National Archives and its Presidential libraries,
"Eyewitness" features first-person accounts of watershed moments in
history.
Online exhibit
Tour itinerary:
October 4, 2008–January 4, 2009 |
Durham Western Heritage Museum, Omaha, NE |
Online Exhibits
Dozens of exhibits can be experienced online. Visit Now!
Locations, Hours, and Contact Information
The National Archives Experience
Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC
For details, see the Visitor's Map or visit the National Archives Experience.
- Daily, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing.
Open every day except Thanksgiving and December 25.
Admission free.
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted; reservations are not required unless noted. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For McGowan Theater programs, the doors to the building will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.
For details, see the Visitor's Map or visit the National Archives Experience.
For reservations or to be placed on the mailing list, call 202-357-5000 or e-mail public.program@nara.gov.
The National Archives Research Center
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC and 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD.
Research Hours for both locations:
- Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Check the Washington, DC and College Park, MD location information for records pull times and other important details.
Call 202-357-5450 for a docent-led guided tour.
TDD: 301-837-0482. The National Archives is fully accessible. To request an accommodation (such as a sign language interpreter) for a public program, please call 202-357-5000 or e-mail public.program@nara.gov at least two weeks prior to the event.
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