A Petition from the Hopi Villages

— 27 March 2023 at 20:01

Dated March 27 & 28, 1894, this is a page from a petition sent from the Moqui Villages of Arizona to "the Washington Chiefs." The document is unique in that every family in the tribe is represented by their symbol.
More Native American Records in the Catalog...

A Hopi (Moqui) petition signed by all the Chiefs and headmen of the tribe asking the Federal Government to give them title to their lands instead of individually allotting each tribal member. (NAID 300340); Series: Letters Received, 1881 - 1907; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1793 - 1989; Record Group 75; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Convoy ascends the "twenty-one curves"

— 26 March 2023 at 20:51

Taken on March 26, 1945, the caption of this photo states "U.S. Convoy which operates between Chen-Yi and Kweiyang, China, is ascending the famous twenty-one curves at Annan, China."
More Photos of World War II...

U.S. Convoy which operates between Chen-Yi and Kweiyang, China, is ascending the famous twenty-one curves at Annan, China., 03/26/1945 (NAID 531304); Signal Corps Photographs of American Military Activity, 1754 - 1954; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 - 1982; Record Group 111; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Protest of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

— 25 March 2023 at 20:28

On March 25, 1911, fire swept through the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, killing 146 employees, most of them women.

This photo was part of the exhibit The Way We Worked, on display at the National Archives in Washington DC in 2006.

More photos from The Way We Worked...

Demonstration of protest and mourning for Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of March 25, 1911, By an unknown photographer, New York City, New York, April 5, 1911; General Records of the Department of Labor; Record Group 174; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Elvis Presley's Service Obligation

— 24 March 2023 at 20:47

In 1958, at the height of his fame, Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army.
More Military Personnel Files in the Catalog...

Acknowledgement of service obligation signed by Elvis Presley on March 24, 1958, to indicate that he understands that his total service obligation (both active and reserve) is 6 years, 03/24/1958 (NAID 299792);, Official Military Personnel File of Elvis A. Presley, ca. 1958 - ca. 1960; Records of the Army Staff, 1903 - 2005; Record Group 319; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

26th Amendment

— 23 March 2023 at 20:15

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971, and ratified July 1, 1971, the 26th amendment granted the right to vote to American citizens aged eighteen or older.
Read more at the Charters of Freedom...

Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens eighteen years of age or older (NAID 1415809); Public Laws, 92nd Congress, 1st Session; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

March with Martin Luther King for Justice and Jobs

— 22 March 2023 at 20:58

In his final campaign before his death, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. lent his support to a strike by sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. This flyer was distributed to sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, asking them to "March for Justice and Jobs" on March 22, 1968. Included are directions for the route to be followed and instructions to the marchers to use "soul-force which is peaceful, loving, courageous, yet militant."
Read more at Teaching with Documents...

[Defendants'] Exhibit 1, City of Memphis v. Martin Luther King, Jr., [et al.], 1968 (NAID 279325); Records of the United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee, Western (Memphis) Division, Record Group 21; National Archives and Records Administration

National Archives: Today's Document

Photograph of Lt. Henry O. Flipper

— 21 March 2023 at 20:37

Born into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, on March 21, 1856, Henry Ossian Flipper was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1873. Over the next four years he overcame harassment, isolation, and insults to become West Point's first African American graduate and the first African American commissioned officer in the regular U.S. Army.
Read more at Featured Documents...

Photograph of Lt. Henry O. Flipper, Photo by Kennedy, ca. 1877 (NAID 2668824); Center for Legislative Archives; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives; National Archives and Records Administration (Reproduced with the permission of the U.S. House of Representatives)

National Archives: Today's Document

USS Langley — First Aircraft Carrier

— 20 March 2023 at 20:57

Recommissioned on March 20, 1922, the USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier.
More photos of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers

(CV1), formerly the . Aerial, bow on, plane on deck, 08/03/1923 (NAID 520639); General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1943 - 1958; General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1804 - 1958; Record Group 80; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

"Recruiting in the New York City Hall Park&quot

— 19 March 2023 at 20:31

Recruiting in the New York City Hall Park in 1864. Illustration from a sketch by George Law, published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, March 19, 1864.
More Images of the Civil War

"Recruiting in the New York City Hall Park in 1864." Illustration from a sketch by George Law, published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, March 19, 1864 (NAID 535914); Photographs Used in Publications, 1943 - 1945; Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Overseas Operations Branch. New York Office. News and Features Bureau. (12/17/1942 - 09/15/1945) ; Records of the Office of War Information, 1926 - 1951; Record Group 208; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

"Act to provide a Naval Armament"

— 18 March 2023 at 20:03

In March of 1794, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the "Act to provide a Naval Armament." It authorized the President to acquire six frigates, four of 44 guns each and two of 36 guns each, by purchase or otherwise. In addition, it specified how many crew members would be necessary and what their pay and daily rations would be.
Read more about the New U.S. Navy

Senate Draft of an "Act to provide a Naval Armament" March 18, 1794 (Page 2) (NAID 1943414); Records of the U.S. Senate; Record Group 46, National Archives

National Archives: Today's Document

St. Patrick's Day Order — a Holiday for the Troops

— 17 March 2023 at 20:36

Issued March 16, 1780, this General Order by George Washington's grants Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th as a holiday to the troops.
More Documents from the Revolutionary War...

George Washington's General Order of March 16, 1780, granting Saint Patrick's Day as a holiday to the troops., 03/16/1780 (NAID 300356); Numbered Record Books, 1894 - 1913; War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, 1709 - 1915; Record Group 93, National Archives

National Archives: Today's Document

"The Double Pike"

— 16 March 2023 at 20:03

Dated March 16, 1865, Owen G. Warren of New York City sent this sketch for an attack-defense weapon to the U.S. Army’s Office of Ordnance. Warren’s invention was a shovel with a detachable scoop. The handle could convert into a double pointed pike to be used for attack. The scoop part of the shovel could be attached to a soldier’s vest as a protective breast plate. Warren wrote, "In strong hands it more than matches the bayonet." His idea was not implemented.
More Civil War Inventions

"The Double Pike" By Owen G. Warren, March 16, 1865, Drawing on tissue with some color; Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance; Record Group 156; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Appointment to the U.N. of Eleanor Roosevelt

— 15 March 2023 at 20:43

Dated March 15, 1946, this is the record of the appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt to the position of United States Representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was appointed by President Truman to the United States Delegation, a position she held until 1953. She was chairman of the Human Rights Commission during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
More about Eleanor Roosevelt

Appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt as U.S. Representative to the United Nations, 03/15/1946 (NAID 597839); Official Civilian Personnel Files, 1921 - 1979; U.S. Civil Service Commission. (1883 - 01/01/1979); Record Group 146; National Archives and Records Administration.

National Archives: Today's Document

Eli Whitney's Patent for the Cotton Gin

— 14 March 2023 at 20:23

Designed to separate cotton fiber from seed, Whitney's cotton gin, for which he applied for a patent on October 28, 1793, and received a patent on March 14, 1794, introduced a new, profitable technology to agricultural production in America.
Read more at Our Documents...

Eli Whitney's Patent for the Cotton Gin, March 14, 1794 (NAID 305886); Records of the Patent and Trademark Office; Record Group 241, National Archives

National Archives: Today's Document

Naval Trainer Building a Model Stuka

— 13 March 2023 at 20:11

Taken March 13, 1943, this photo shows Seaman Carlton J. Dearborn building a model of a Stuka Dive Bomber. According to the caption, "Dearborn teaches sailors to identify enemy and Allied aircraft."
More Photos of African Americans During World War II...

"Carlton J. Dearborn, S2c [cements a stringer on the fuselage of balsam model of Stuka Dive Bomber at Camp Smalls, U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, IL. Dearborn teaches sailors to identify enemy and Allied aircraft]." March 13, 1943. (NWDNS-80-G-294792; NAID 520667); General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1943 - 1958; General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1804 - 1958; Record Group 80; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Truman Doctrine

— 12 March 2023 at 20:43

On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman presented this address before a joint session of Congress. His message, known as the Truman Doctrine, asked Congress for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Turkey and Greece.
Read more at Our Documents...

President Truman's Message to Congress; March 12, 1947 (NAID 2668751); Document 171; 80th Congress, 1st Session; Records of the United States House of Representatives; Record Group 233; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

Bombers provided by the Lend-Lease Act

— 11 March 2023 at 20:27

Passed on March 11, 1941, the Lend-Lease act set up a system that would allow the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed "vital to the defense of the United States."
Read more at the Our Documents

"American twin-engine bombers, provided by lend-lease, are shown being hoisted aboard ship in an unnamed American port." (NAID 196321); Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, 1882 - 1962 ; Franklin D. Roosevelt Library; National Archives and Records Administration.

National Archives: Today's Document

USS Monitor with Battle Damage

— 9 March 2023 at 20:12

On March 9, 1862, the first prophetic battle between ironclads — the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (aka Merrimac) — took place at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Shown here is the USS Monitor several months later with evidence of battle damage.
More photos of Civil War Ironclads

The Original after her Fight with the . Near the port-hole can be seen the dents made by the heavy steel-pointed shot from the guns of the . Hampton Roads, Virginia. Stereo., 07/1862 (NAID 559269); Stereographs of the Civil War, 1861 - 1865; Library of Congress Collection, ca. 1905 - ca. 1909; National Archives.

National Archives: Today's Document

The Navy's First African-American Nurse

— 8 March 2023 at 20:20

"Cmdr. Thomas A. Gaylord, USN (Ret'd), administers oath to five new Navy nurses commissioned in New York..." Phyllis Mae Dailey, the Navy's first African-American nurse, is second from the right. March 8, 1945.
More Photos of African American Women During World War II...

"Cmdr. Thomas A. Gaylord, USN (Ret'd), administers oath to five new Navy nurses commissioned in New York...", 03/08/1945 (NWDNS-80-G-48365; National Archives Identifier: 520618); General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1943 - 1958; General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1804 - 1958; Record Group 80; National Archives.