Public Service Recognition Week
Since 1985, the first full week of May has been set aside as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to honor those who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees. It provides a fitting time to not only celebrate the contributions of National Archives staff but also contributions of the entire federal workforce now—and throughout history.
Letter from Co-Chairs of 2023 Public Service Recognition Week
Presidential Proclamation for 2023 Public Service Recognition Week
Blogs
Herald of the Storms: Isaac Cline • When formal scientific weather forecasting was in its infancy, Isaac Cline was a man with a penchant for predicting disasters.
New York City U.S. Custom House Employee: Matthew Henson • The Arctic explorer later worked for the Customs Service.
Changing the Boundaries: Women at Work in the Government • Female Federal workers pushing the boundaries of their time.
Prologue Magazine
- Burnt in Memory: Looking Back, Looking Forward at the 1973 St. Louis Fire (Spring 2013)
- NARA's Up-to-Date in Kansas City (Spring 2009)
- The NHPRC: Extending the Archives' Reach (Summer 2009)
- The Congressional Archives (Fall 2009)
- Ready Access: NARA's Federal Records Centers (Spring 2008)
- Chasing Technology: The Challenge of Preserving Audiovisual Records (Summer 2007)
- Listening to Nixon: An Archivist's Reflections on His Work with the White House Tapes (Fall 2007)
- Preserving the Past, Keeping Pace with the Future (Fall 2007)
- 20th-Century Veterans' Service Records: Safe, Secure—and Available (Spring 2005)
- There's a NARA Near You! Exploring the Regional Archives (Fall 2005)
- Behind the Scenes with NARA's Exhibits Staff (Winter 2004)
From Our Catalog: Celebrating Federal Workers
White House Staff Prepare for Dinner in Honor of the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice, January 1963
Census Bureau enumerator counting residents in a trailer camp for the 1940 Census, 1940
FBI Special Agent giving instructions to Marines during FBI Special Weapons and Tactical training course, 1982
Social Security agents help unemployed workers register for jobs and fill out benefit claims, 1935
Environmental Protection Agency pesticides inspector draws a sample of toxic liquid from a container during an inspection, 1974
National Archives worker unloading Veterans Bureau Records, 1936
This Treasury Department employee hand-counting and wrapping dollar bills for packaging and distribution, 1907
Bureau of Animal Industry Inspector overseeing sausage manufacturing in a Nebraska meat packing plant, 1910
William Carter, Laboratory Aide in the Food and Drug Administration preparing to test the sterility of certified bandage materials, ca. 1941–45
Resources
A Guide to Documenting Your Public Service • This guide provides all Federal government employees, including senior agency officials and political appointees, with information regarding their responsibilities for managing Federal records.
Military Personnel Records •The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR) is the repository of millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century
Civilian Personnel Records •The National Personnel Records Center's (NPRC) Federal Records Center Program maintains the Official Personnel Folders (OPF) of former Federal civilian employees whose employment ended after 1951.
Public Service Recognition Week • Visit the official PSRW website to learn more about programs, events, and other ways to celebrate public service.