The National Archives Hosts Free “Write” Stuff Festival July 7-8, 2017
Press Release · Thursday, June 1, 2017

Washington, DC

Literacy, Writing and Research Festival Celebrates Summer Vacation!

The National Archives welcomes the start of summer break with its first-ever, two-day “Write” Stuff Festival showcasing how research impacts writing and storytelling July 7-8. Writers young and old, accomplished and novice, are invited to the National Archives to meet and learn from favorite authors and illustrators. Young writers (4th-6th grade) can participate in special “story development” workshops in person or online. Additional Festival highlights include book signings, discussions, hands-on activities, and more! Full schedule online.

The “Write” Stuff Festival is free and open to the public, but online registration is required for Friday’s “kids only” afternoon workshops, which are limited to 4th-6th graders. All events will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater and Boeing Learning Center. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW.  The building is Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station.

Festival events for Friday, July 7, “Be a Writer Day”

The morning starts with a panel discussion in the William G. McGowan Theater.  Authors and illustrators John Hendrix, Syl Sobel, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Jacqueline Jules and Tonya Bolden will share their inspirations, research and writing processes and challenges with you. Kitty Felde, host of the Book Club for Kids podcast, will moderate the discussion, offer tips and take questions.

Following a book signing in the Theater lobby, authors will lead five “kids only” (4th-6th graders who have pre-registered online) breakout story development workshops (see workshop descriptions online) for young writers in 4th-6th grades. The day concludes with a closing session (parents can join their young writers) for a wrap up and“lessons learned” during the breakout workshops.

Not in DC?  Participate online!  

Playwright, author, and Book Club for Kids podcast host Kitty Felde joins National Archives Education Specialist Katie Munn for a Making Fiction from Facts webinar to address these questions and more:  
– How to find inspirational material
– How to access online resources from the National Archives
– What are the rules for using facts in your fiction?
– When is it time to stop researching and start writing/painting/singing?

Registration required; participants will receive a link to join the webinar via email the week of the program.

Festival events for Saturday, July 8 - Family Research & Literacy Day

On Saturday, Family Research & Literacy Day, budding writers and their families will have the opportunity to:
– Participate in “hands on” activities led by featured authors and illustrators Marty Rhodes Figley, Syl Sobel, Janet Macreery, Diane Kidd and Margaret A. Weitekamp, John Hendrix, Tim Grove, Tonya Bolden, and Kitty Felde;
– Watch a live recording of the “Book Club for Kids” podcast with host Kitty Felde;
– Meet featured authors and illustrators and get books signed;
– View DC National History Day project finalists;

– Enjoy story times with special celebrity guest readers; and,

– Learn about literacy and research organizations

About the Boeing Learning Center

The Boeing Learning Center offers in-depth education programs for middle and high school students as well as workshops geared to the needs of parents and teachers. Programs and resources include a Learning Lab, Resource Room, Digital Classroom, and Primarily Teaching, a national professional development program for teachers. Boeing Learning Center staff train educators in the effective use of primary sources in the classroom with facsimile documents, instructional videos, sample lesson plans, and other tools. The staff engages walk-in visitors, of all ages, with hands-on activities to enhance civic literacy and promote an understanding of the American stories found in the records of the Federal government. Learn more about the Boeing Learning Center online.

Related online resources

Getting Started with Primary Source Research for Teachers and Students

DocsTeach online portal for finding and creating interactive learning activities using primary source documents

Education Programs at the National Archives in DC

Educational Resources from the National Archives Center for Legislative Archives

National Archives Regional Education Resources

Education programs at the National Archives Presidential Libraries

National Archives’ Document Analysis Worksheets

100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives

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