National Archives News

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Each year, we acknowledge the work done and sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. On this date, our country remembers and reflects on the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The National Archives and Records Administration is proud to serve veterans and their families, especially through our work at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. In addition to veterans’ records, our holdings include historical materials, such as photographs, video footage, and military records, which chronicle the military’s history and battles.

Videos

Historic Videos

December 7th (short version)
Japanese Planes Bomb Pearl Harbor
News Flash Describing the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor (audio only)
President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” Speech (audio only)
Recovery of Japanese Midget Submarine Off Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor Deck Logs and Witnesses
Digitizing Records from Pearl Harbor

National Archives Videos

Pearl Harbor Deck Logs and Witnesses
Online screening of December 7th and other historic films
Countdown to Pearl Harbor: Twelve Days to the Attack (author lecture)
Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness (author lecture)
Digitizing Records from Pearl Harbor (Know Your Records lecture)

Articles

Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives

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Attack on Pearl Harbor

Aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941: left to right, USS West Virginia, USS Tennessee, and USS Arizona. View in National Archives Catalog

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Myth Masquerading as History

An FDR scholar checks the historical record and refutes assertions that the President misled the public about the coming of war.

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Day of Infamy Speech

President Roosevelt delivers the "Day of Infamy" speech to a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941. When Roosevelt delivered the speech, most of his on-the-spot changes involved word order.