Know Your Records Program

"Know Your Records" videos
now available on NARA's YouTube channel

Researcher Information

See our Reference Reports for Genealogical Research

Contact Know Your Records program

Are you looking for a way to present research work done at the National Archives?

The Know Your Records program staff would like to hear from you. Through this program, lecturers present programs designed to educate researchers, staff, and volunteers about the various holdings found within the National Archives. You can submit your ideas for a presentation at KYR@nara.gov.

Know Your Records Program Know Your Records Program

Free events to keep you in the know, held in Washington, DC, and College Park, Maryland.

Lectures

Lectures are held weekly on Tuesdays at the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, in Room G-24 (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building) and repeated on Thursdays in Lecture Room B, National Archives at College Park, MD. Events are free unless otherwise noted.

May

Tuesday, May 8, at 11 a.m.
The Cornerstone of Genealogy: Vital Records from an Untapped Source
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Susannah E. Brooks presents a new source for German research—vital records kept by the U.S. Consulate Offices in Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries—with an emphasis on marriages and marriage contracts from the 1850s. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 10, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 15, at 11 a.m.
Privacy Act and Personally Identifiable Information
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Hannah Bergman, Assistant General Counsel, discusses the Privacy Act and how it affects public access to records with personally identifiable information. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 17, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 22, at 11 a.m.
Railsplitter Revealed: The Search for Abraham Lincoln at the National Archives
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
David J. Gerleman, assistant editor for the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, explains their mission to find previously unknown Lincoln documents. These new finds showcase the array of problems and requests that crossed Lincoln’s desk during the Civil War. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 24, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 29, at 11 a.m.
Department of State Records
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
David Langbart, archivist, surveys the records of the Department of State in the National Archives. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Wednesday, May 30, at 11 a.m.)

June

Tuesday, June 5, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) records from Titanic Survivors
Zack Wilske, historian for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presents INS records related to Titanic survivors in honor of the 100th anniversary of the disaster. (Repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, June 7, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, June 12, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Pentagon Papers
Alex J. Daverede, supervisory archivist in the National Declassification Center, discusses the Pentagon Papers at the one-year anniversary of the full declassification of these records. (Repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, June 14, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, June 19, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
National Archives Records in FamilySearch
Carol Kostakos Petranek, a FamilySearch associate, explores National Archives records and other resources available free and online at FamilySearch.org. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, June 21, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, June 26, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Ship Logs
Archivists Mark Mollan and Patrick Osborn discuss the variety of ship logs at the National Archives, what information is in these records, and how to access logs that have been digitized.(Repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, June 28, at 11 a.m.)

For DC location details see our Visitor's Map.

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Genealogy Programs

Genealogy programs are held on the first and third Wednesday and third Saturday each month at the National Archives Building; Room G-24, Research Center unless otherwise noted (enter on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building.)

May

Wednesday, May 2, at 11 a.m.
Introduction to Genealogy
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Archives staff present a lecture on basic genealogical research in Federal records on the first Wednesday of the month. May focuses on military records.

Wednesday, May 16, at 11 a.m.
Beyond the Basics: War of 1812
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Archives staff teach “beyond the basics” archival research skills on the third Wednesday of the month. John Deeben provides an introduction to records relating to Volunteer and Regular Army services during the War of 1812.

All Genealogy Workshops Nationwide

June

Wednesday, June 6, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Introduction to Genealogy
Archives staff present a lecture on basic genealogical research in Federal records on the first Wednesday of the month. June focuses on military records.

Saturday, June 16, at 10 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Beyond the Basics:  War of 1812 Military Service
Archives staff teach “beyond the basics” archival research skills on the third Saturday of the month. Claire Kluskens discusses War of 1812 records for military service, pensions, and more.

Saturday, June 16, noon–4 p.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
“Help! I’m Stuck”
Not sure where to begin? Has a genealogical problem stumped you? An archivist is available from noon to 4 p.m. to answer your questions. Sign up for a 20-minute appointment at the Microfilm Research desk on Saturday.

Wednesday, June 20, at 11 a.m.
Room G-25, Research Center (Penn. Ave. Entrance)
Beyond the Basics: 1940 Census
Archives staff teach “beyond the basics” archival research skills on the third Wednesday of the month.

Saturday, June 23, at 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Washington Room (Constitution Avenue Entrance)
Creating a Memory Book to Tell Your Family’s Story
Patti Hann leads a workshop on creating a family memory book from personal photos and documents. Advanced reservations are required, and a fee of $10 is payable by cash or check (payable to “National Archives Trust Fund”). Contact KYR@nara.gov or 202-357-5333 to register.

Lectures

Tuesdays: Room G-24, Research Center
National Archives Building
Washington, DC
Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue

Thursdays: Lecture Room B
National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Genealogy Programs

Room G-24, Research Center
National Archives Building
Washington, DC
Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue

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