Free Public Programs in February 2004
Press Release · Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Washington, DC

Press Release
December 23, 2003

Free Public Programs at the National Archives in February 2004

Washington, DC . . . During February, the National Archives presents lectures with topics relating to the United States Colored Troops, Iraqi Jewish Archive, African American dressmakers, and World War II news correspondents.

The programs are free and open to the public and will take place in the Jefferson Room (Room 122) at the National Archives Building, Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended. Call the National Archives public programs line at (202) 501-5000. TDD users may call (202) 501-5404.

Thursday, February 19
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Mrs. Budge Weidman will present "Civil War Letters of the US Colored Troops." As project manager for the Civil War Conservation Corps for the past ten years, Ms. Weidman and a team of volunteers of the National Archives worked with thousands of the compiled military service records of the United States Colored Troops. This slide presentation will highlight the poignant and poetic letters from this series of records. Noon.

Tuesday, February 24
PRESERVATION
Doris Hamburg and MaryLynn Ritzenthaler will present, "Preservation of the Iraqi Jewish Archive." These two National Archives conservators went to Iraq in the summer of 2003, at the request of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), to provide advice on how to care for a collection of important Iraqi historical materials that were damaged from wartime activities. Ms. Hamburg, Director of Preservation Programs, and Ms. Ritzenthaler, Chief of the Document Conservation Laboratory, will provide an illustrated account of their mission in Baghdad, as well as a discussion of the condition of the archival materials, and the preservation strategies being developed to secure the future of this important collection. Noon.

Tuesday, February 24
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Rosemary Reed will discuss her book, Threads of Time, The Fabric of History: Profiles of African American Designers, 1850-Present. Joined in this discussion by a local fashion designer, Ms. Reed will examine women entrepreneurship and American history. In her book, Ms. Reed researched and profiled African American dressmakers and designers who touch history, i.e. Elizabeth Keckley, who created designs for Mrs. Lincoln, and Ann Lowe who did the debutante and wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Ms. Reed will also be joined by models presenting fashions of these historic designers. 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 26
WORLD WAR II NEWS CORRESPONDENTS
Dr. Jack Pulwers will discuss his book, The Press of Battle: The GI Reporter and the American People. With over 375 interviews and 300 photos documenting the first "embedded" reporters of World War II, Dr. Pulwers examines the risks GI reporters and photographers took to provide the evidence and reality of the Second World War. In his own words, Dr. Pulwers explains how the correspondents carried out their "fighting, sighting, and writing" in the most trying of circumstances. A former network newscaster and radio broadcaster, Dr. Pulwers's sixty years of experience in the news industry includes chief of broadcasting and news supervisor for Armed Forces Radio; interviewer of the world famous including Eleanor Roosevelt, President Harry Truman, Louisiana Governor Huey Long, the Beatles, and Elvis Presley; and as professor emeritus of Journalism at Catholic University. 7 p.m.

For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700.

To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: 202-501-5000, or view the Calendar of Events on the web at: www.archives.gov/about_us/calendar_of_events/index.html

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