Know Your Records Program

2023 Schedule

After the event's premiere date, the video and presentation materials remain available and added to our YouTube Playlists.

May 3–June 14, 2023

2023 Genealogy Series - Public Service: Military & Civilian

In recognition of public service, we offered a special Genealogy Series focused on both military and civilian records. The series provided family history research tools for all skill levels along with a general overview to specific topics. Broadcasts of the program sessions took place in May and June.  All skill level are welcome!

Thursday, August 10, at 1 p.m. ET

Sound Recordings of the World War II Era by Ashley S. Behringer

• Ashley S. Behringer is an Archivist in the Moving Image and Sound Branch from the National Archives at College Park, MD
• Audience skill level: intermediate (all are welcome!)
• Presentation slides and handout 
• Video (available August 10)

You have probably seen famous newsreel footage of World War II held at the National Archives. But have you heard the audio recordings? For many contemporary people, news of the war was primarily a listening experience. Breaking news, radio dramas, speeches, and music reached the ears of the civilian and soldier alike. This presentation explores World War II audio holdings of the National Archives Moving Image and Sound Branch.

Wednesday, September 13, at 1 p.m. ET

The Records of the Provost Marshal General and Enemy Prisoners of War Held in the United States during World War II by Rachael Salyer 

• Rachael Salyer is a Subject Matter Expert in Modern Military Records and an Archivist from the National Archives at College Park, MD
• Audience Skill Level: Intermediate to Experienced (all are welcome!)
• Presentation slidesand handout 
• Video (available September 13)

During World War II, the United States established hundreds of prisoner of war (POW or PW) camps, which held an estimated 425,000 German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners. Archivist Rachael Salyer will discuss the records of these camps created by the Office of the Provost Marshal General (OPMG). She will provide an overview of their establishment and construction, and then will focus on how and where to locate records related to specific camps. Finally, she will also provide suggestions for how to begin researching individual prisoners, as well as camp staff and assigned units.