The Unwritten Record Blog
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The Unwritten Record is the National Archives and Records Administration's blog dedicated to special media holdings. The blog features information on fascinating finds, new accessions, preservation projects, and rediscoveries across the agency's non-textual holdings.
The Unwritten Record Blog
1w ago
Among hundreds of thousands of captions, just a handful proclaim Sgt. Irene Marquardt’s position as the “only Wac photographer" in the European Theater of Operations. A colleague had asked if we knew how many women photographers are represented in the holdings of the Still Picture Branch ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
3w ago
The United States Navy’s involvement with USS Monitor did not end when the armored vessel sank off North Carolina on December 31, 1862. Through multiple missions in the 1990s and 2000s, the Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explored the wreck and recovered significant portions of the vessel including the gun turret and ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
1M ago
This month marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The American invasion, codenamed Operation Detachment, sought to capture Iwo Jima’s two airfields, South Field and Central Field. After five weeks of intense battle and considerable losses for both Japanese and American soldiers, the Americans secured the island. This provided the United States ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
1M ago
In celebration of this year’s Valentine’s Day, we would like to share a handful of Valentine-related photographs held in the Still Picture Branch at the National Archives.Make sure to also check out our previous blog posts from The Unwritten Record for more records related to Valentine’s Day: Interested in seeing more? Check out the National ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
1M ago
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer most known for accompanying Robert Peary on multiple expeditions to the Arctic, and in 1909 they claimed to be the first team to reach the North Pole. It has been long debated whether or not Peary and Henson actually reached the North Pole – there was even a ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
2M ago
This post was created in collaboration with Sarah Bseirani, Archivist, and Hilda Gitchell, Archives Technician, in the Still Picture Branch. Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia at the age of 100. At the time of his passing, President Carter was the longest-lived president in U.S ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
3M ago
In 1945, the U.S. Government faced low morale and growing frustration over undelivered mail amongst those serving in Europe. It was decided the large backlog of undistributed mail would be dealt with by the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The battalion, nicknamed the “Six-Triple Eight,” was a multi-ethnic unit of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) comprised ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
3M ago
Going to war is never easy. Going to war in dangerous circumstances is even harder. But sentimental trinkets can soften the burden. “Short Snorters” were sentimental enough for this task. Before World War II a “short snort” was used as slang for a small shot of liquor. Similarly, during this time pilots had discovered that ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
4M ago
Being the week of Thanksgiving, this time of year is usually all about pie. But National Cake Day sneaks in on November 26! To honor the delicious treat during a time when it may be overshadowed by its flaky-crust cousins, please enjoy this collection of images from the Still Picture Branch holdings of tasty cakes ..read more
The Unwritten Record Blog
4M ago
For over a century, school traditions, pride, and rivalries have fostered a sense of community within college football, contributing to its popularity and making it one of America’s favorite sports. As the popularity of college football grew in America during the interwar period, newsreels started covering the sport as part of their regular news releases ..read more