The National Archives Hosts Special Daytime Public Programs in December
Press Release · Monday, December 11, 2017

Washington, DC

The National Archives presents a series of daytime public programs in December.  These programs are free and open to the public, and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.  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.

LECTURE:  The Fate of the Submarine H.L. Hunley
Monday, December 11, at noon
On February 17, 1864, in the waning years of the Civil War, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley pressed a black powder explosive against the side of the Union ship USS Housatonic and sank it, becoming the first submarine ever to be successful in combat. The submarine was raised in 2000, but conservation efforts only deepened the mystery of why she sank, as the remains of the crew were all found seated peacefully at their battle stations with no signs of trauma or attempts to escape. Dr. Rachel Lance, an expert in biomedical engineering from Duke University, will present an illustrated lecture on her research, and findings.  The program will be streamed live on YouTube.  Presented in partnership with the Washington Area Maritime Archivists Curators and Historians Group.

BOOK TALK:  Finally, A Parade for You: A Gift of Gratitude for the Military Men and Women Who Served Our Country During the Vietnam War
Wednesday, December 13, at noon
Author Molly Burton will discuss her book Finally, a Parade for You, a collection of mini-biographies of men and women who sacrificed their peaceful lives to serve their country during the Vietnam War.  This talk will be streamed live on YouTube, and a book signing follows the program.

FILM:  From the Vaults: Remembering Vietnam
Thursday, December 14, at noon
We present the first in a series of archival selections from the National Archives’ motion picture holdings related to the war in Vietnam.  Today’s films will be Hidden War in Vietnam (1963; 30 mins.) and Why Vietnam? (1965; 31 minutes).

BOOK TALK:  1967: The Year of Fire and Ice
Friday, December 15, at noon
Professor Victor Brooks takes us back 50 years and explores how the year 1967 -- a year of dramatic change -- affected the lives of 200 million Americans in everything from support for the expanding war in Vietnam and the first Super Bowl to the beginning of the 1968 Presidential campaign and the “Summer of Love.” This event will be streamed live on YouTube, and a book signing follows the program.