FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2008

Special Programs Highlight National Archives Records in February 2009

Washington, DC. . . In February, the National Archives will feature a series of programs highlighting records from its holdings. All programs are free and open to the public and will be held in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Please note that some of these programs will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

Visitors to all programs in the National Archives Building Research Center (Room G-24) should use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. The National Archives at College Park, MD is located at 8601 Adelphi Road. For directions to both locations, see: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro.

Tuesday, February 3, at 11 a.m.
Declassifying Secrets: Opening Classified Records for Public Disclosure
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archivist Neil Carmichael will discuss the declassification process at the National Archives, past executive orders, present initiatives, and the future of declassification in the executive branch. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium, on Thursday, February 5, at 11 a.m.).

Wednesday, February 4, at 11 a.m.
Introduction to Genealogy
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archives staff will present a lecture on basic genealogical research in Federal records. This lecture occurs on select Saturdays and the first Wednesday of the month. (The next lecture will take place on Wednesday, March 4.)

Tuesday, February 10, at 11 a.m.
Discovering Lincoln in the Records
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archivist Trevor Plante will discuss Lincoln records held at the National Archives in the Washington, DC, area. His talk will include an overview of documents in Federal custody written to and from Abraham Lincoln as well as several that bear his signature. Digitized copies of documents that show the President saving soldiers from the death penalty and Lincoln assassination records will also be on view. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium, on Thursday, February 12 at 11 a.m.).

Tuesday, February 17, at 11 a.m. and noon From the Records Book Group and Lecture Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Following a related presentation at 11 a.m., the From the Records Book Group will discuss The Pentagon: A History-The Untold Story of the Wartime Race to Build the Pentagon-and to Restore It Sixty years Later by Steve Vogel. Please check the Archives Shop (202-357-5271) for book availability and a special discount for book group participants. The March book selection will be The Harp and the Eagle: Irish-American Volunteers and the Union Army, 1861-1865 by Susannah Bruce.

Wednesday, February 18, at 11 a.m.
Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archives Specialists Rebecca Sharp and Katherine Vollen will discuss how to locate passport applications and how these records can enhance your genealogical research. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium, on Thursday, February 19, at 11 a.m.).

Saturday, February 21, at 10 a.m.
Introduction to Genealogy
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archives staff will present a lecture on basic genealogical research in Federal records. This lecture occurs on select Saturdays and the first Wednesday of the month. (The next weekend lecture will take place on Saturday, March 21.)

Saturday, February 21, noon-4 p.m.
“Help! I’m Stuck”
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) On select Saturday afternoons, an archivist with extensive experience in genealogy and the records of the National Archives will be available to assist with your research questions. Please sign up for a 20-minute appointment at the Research Center. (The next opportunity will be on Saturday, March 21.)

Tuesday, February 24, at 11 a.m.
Records of the New Deal
Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Pennsylvania Avenue) Archives Genealogy Specialist John Deeben will examine the central files of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (1933-1936) and demonstrate how the records provide personal and family information about individuals within the context of their experiences during the Great Depression. (This lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in the auditorium, on Thursday, February 26, at 11 a.m.).