TODAY'S DOCUMENT FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
The National Archives has all kinds of treasures in its stacks, and one way we share them with the public is through our social media account “Today’s Document.” Available to follow on Twitter, Tumbl
Today's Document
Some of our documents capture landmark moments in U.S. history, such as this 1783 map showing the borders of the newly independent United States.
Map of the United States of America Laid Down from the Best Authorities Agreeable to the Peace of 1783, National Archives Identifier 31491106
Others show tantalizing glimpses of everyday life in a vanished world. One series of photographs we find particularly interesting show the people displaced by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1938. Here is a family picture we recently shared, showing the Glandon family in their home:
"The Glandon family around the fireplace in their home at Bridges Chapel near Loydston[sic], Tennessee. Glandon's wife plays both the guitar and the organ." National Archives Identifier 532689
Recently, we shared this deposition of George Rheims, from an Admiralty case for limiting the liability of the White Star Line for the sinking of the Titanic. Rheims describes seeing the iceberg through a window in the corridor and jumping off the ship before it went down. You can read his whole account here.
Deposition of George Rheims, National Archives Identifier 6212861
Other records are a bit fun. Here is the death certificate of Merian C. Cooper, a soldier in World War I. He added a handwritten note informing the Army that he was not, in fact, dead. Cooper went on to direct the movie King Kong about 15 years later.
Death Certificate for Merian C. Cooper, National Archives Identifier 7787194
We also shared this photograph of First Lady Nancy Reagan on the set of the 1980’s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (called “Different Strokes” in the photo’s official title).
Nancy Reagan Holds a T-Shirt During Rehearsal and Taping of Television Show "Different Strokes" with Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, and Mary Jo Cattlett at Universal Studios in Los Angeles California, National Archives Identifier 75852697
Interested in seeing more? You can follow the Today’s Document account on X (Twitter), Tumblr, and Facebook.