May 12, 1966. Lady Bird, President Johnson, Max Brooks, W.W. Heath, and Bill Moyers, among others, meet with architect Gordon Bunshaft to see his concept model for the future Presidential Library which will be built on the UT Austin campus.
In his oral history, Bunshaft describes the presentation:
Bunshaft: The President walked in and he said, “Mr. Bunshaft, I only have five minutes.” God, I ran him back and forth between these two things, and he stayed about fifteen minutes. I didn’t ever figure out how he could understand what I was talking about. This is a complex building, if you see it, especially on drawings. I ran him back and forth. That was a Friday. He didn’t say a word [about] whether he liked it or not. He left and Mrs. Johnson said, “Well, we’ll have to do a lot of thinking and talking about this.” Then that was the end of it. Monday the President called up Heath in Texas and said, “I approve the design.”
Mulhollan: From a lengthy fifteen minute briefing.
B: Yes. That floored everybody, because we assumed it would take at least a month. […] Frank [Stanton] had thought that the President might talk of this. He didn’t know about the approval. In fact, I didn’t either Tuesday. And [Johnson] described the building to his wife. After dinner, President Johnson described every damned detail of this building to Mrs. Stanton.
M: And got it right.
B: Got the whole damned thing. Now, how the hell he could have understood it and remembered it from fifteen minutes is beyond me. In fact, the next meeting I had, I talked to one of the secretaries, Juanita Roberts, and I said, “Look, he must have come back and studied that model.” The model was taken away the next morning, but he could have come back that evening. She’s very close, not his secretary, she’s an assistant; she’s not out there, but she’s in Washington—anyhow, swore up and down that the President never went back.
— Transcript, Gordon Bunshaft Oral History Interview I, 6/25/69, by Paige E. Mulhollan, Electronic Copy, LBJ Library.
Sometimes it seems like that commentary is missing on your end though, and since you’re the govt it’s reinforcing troubling normative whitewashed history. Lots of us are critical thinkers but a lot of people have never heard a competing narrative!
That’s actually deliberate. As the National Archives, our role is to preserve & make these records—the raw materials of history—available to the public. Speaking very generally, commentary and interpretation goes beyond our mandate, especially as a non-partisan Federal Agency. If there’s background information that accompanies the record we’ll include it, and may add any necessary context. But in general we try to stick to the basic facts and let the records speak for themselves (and on Tumblr that usually works surprisingly well).
Thanks for writing!
Completed 40 years ago in May 1973, Chicago’s Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower) was the tallest building in the world, and still reigns as the tallest building in the United States, until the imminent completion of New York’s One World Trade Center.
NEW AMTRAK TURBOLINER…THE NEW SEARS TOWER IS SEEN ON THE SKYLINE. 06/1974
From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Series
(More items from DOCUMERICA are currently on exhibit at the National Archives: “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project”)
Well that’s an upsetting primary source.
While this comment was in reference to this morning’s letter requesting the National Guard’s assistance at Kent State, you could probably say that about many of our posts. But these comments are an opportunity we hate to miss. Sometimes history is upsetting (a lot of the time, actually). This is probably a good time to mention our post from last year:
“All the documents of “homesteaders” stealing land from Native Americans is bumming me out.”
In short, if you’re not bummed out sometimes by our posts, then we’re probably not doing our job.
But to make up for it, maybe you missed our post from Bugs Bunny’s sort-of-75th birthday?
And thanks for writing!
“Gradually the low oak and willow hammocks give way to an unbroken cypress forest. Most of the growth is young, but around dark ponds are hoary old trees hung with Spanish moss. Cypress is one of the few coniferous or evergreen trees that sheds its leaves. From early winter to early spring the gray trunks and branches are bare, and it is an eerie experience to drive for miles through ghostly ranks of young and old cypress woods, the smoky skyline sweeping up from the younger growth to the tall tops of old cypresses around the pools.”
Florida: A Guide To the Southernmost State (WPA, 1939) on the Everglades.
ARC ID: 544605
(Our first submission for National Parks Week! Clearly The American Guide likes the Everglades National Park! Original photo caption: “CHOKOLOSKEE ROOKERY IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, 07/1972”)
The Federal Government on Tumblr
Increasingly, Federal agencies (like us here at the Bureau of Land Management) are using Tumblr to share photos, science, events, initiatives, and other great content with the Tumblr community. Here’s a list of some awesome Federal government blogs you should be following on Tumblr. It’s probably not exhaustive, but these are the ones we know about that post more than occasionally.
Reblog and help share the word:
America’s Great Outdoors: The Department of the Interior (our parent agency) shares an amazing photo a day of your public lands.
Archivist of the United States: The Tumblr of our “collector in chief” at the National Archives, David S Ferriero.
Bureau of Reclamation: Reclamation, and Interior Dept agency, is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States.
Congress in the Archives: Since the First Congress in 1789, the records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have documented the history of the legislative branch. The National Archives helps you explore this history.
Conservation at Work: The Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, posts photos of conservation on farms and other private lands across the nation.
Fish and Wildlife Service: The Pacific Region of the FWS encompasses extraordinary ecological diversity. Photos, science, and more.
Internal Revenue Service: Because who doesn’t want tax information on Tumblr? Useful tips, videos, etc., straight from the IRS.
My Public Lands: The awesomeness of the Bureau of Land Management, which manages more than 245 million acres of amazing lands, as told by students, interns, and newer employees.
Our Presidents: One space to bring the past 13 Presidents together. Discover behind-the-scenes history here. Managed by the National Archives.
National Archives: News and current events from the United States National Archives and Records Administration whose holdings include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, military records, Presidential records, and millions of other documents related to the Federal Government.
Peace Corps: Life is calling. How far will you go? Get up close with the amazing work done by peace corps volunteers.
U.S. Department of State: Videos, photos, testimony, and updates from the State Department. Foreign policy updates on Tumblr—how cool is that?
Today’s Document: Highlighting interesting documents the National Archives’ holdings—both the well-known and the obscure—to observe historical events (usually the significant events but sometimes just the curious ones).
USA.gov: Government made easy. On Tumblr. Enough said.
US National Archives Exhibits: Images and stories from the National Archives related to “Searching for the Seventies: the DOCUMERICA Photography Project,” the newest exhibition on display at the Archives’ facility in Washington, DC.
But wait, there’s more!
Preservation at the National Archives: All things preservation at the National Archives and Records Administration. Posts to this site come from all of the Preservation Programs departments, including: Conservation, St. Louis Preservation, and National Preservation Programs.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: Dedicated to the memory of our nation’s 35th president and to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world.
LBJ Time Machine: Taking a trip through time, from the birth of Lyndon Johnson in 1908 through 2013 at the LBJ Library and Museum.
FDR Library: Follow the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum as we count down to the rededication of the Roosevelt Library and the opening of the new permanent museum exhibits.
The Tumblrweed Times from the National Archives at Riverside, CA: We are the National Archives at Riverside—a unit of the U.S. National Archives. Our records document the Federal government in the western states of Arizona, southern California and Clark County, Nevada.
Measuring Success on Tumblr with Today’s Document:
Many of our followers requested more information on our recent presentation at DC’s Social Media Week, so, by popular demand, here are a few excerpts of our 5-minute* Lightning Talk for “Defining and Measuring Success on Social Media for Museums and Arts Organizations:”
Be sure to see the full Storify feed for a great recap of all the presentations from the #SmwMuseSocial panel. Thanks to all the panelists & attendees and everyone who helped to live-tweet the event!
(*undoubtedly we went well over the 5 minute limit but Dana Allen-Greil, our moderator-extraordinaire, was too polite call us on it.)
![“Miss Ohio” — Congress in the Archives’ submission for “Ohio’s Statehood Anniversary”:
By 1912, 13 states had adopted the progressive idea of direct presidential primaries to break the control of party bosses on delegate selection for the national convention. Theodore Roosevelt dominated these state primaries. In this cartoon, which features Roosevelt and President William Howard Taft tugging on the arms of a personified “Ohio,” Clifford K. Berryman depicts the climax of this preconvention battle, which took place in that state in late May. Berryman terms Ohio “The Mother of Presidents” not only because it was Taft’s home state, but also because it sent a large quota of delegates to the national convention. In an intense and bitter contest, Roosevelt won a complete victory, winning the popular vote by a large margin and capturing nearly every district delegate.
Untitled [Ohio, the Mother of Presidents], by Clifford K. Berryman, 5/21/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 206104)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/2cdb819a50d109cf2bed23aa01704d72/tumblr_mj5j4vaInY1qhk04bo1_1280.jpg)
“Miss Ohio” — Congress in the Archives’ submission for “Ohio’s Statehood Anniversary”:
By 1912, 13 states had adopted the progressive idea of direct presidential primaries to break the control of party bosses on delegate selection for the national convention. Theodore Roosevelt dominated these state primaries. In this cartoon, which features Roosevelt and President William Howard Taft tugging on the arms of a personified “Ohio,” Clifford K. Berryman depicts the climax of this preconvention battle, which took place in that state in late May. Berryman terms Ohio “The Mother of Presidents” not only because it was Taft’s home state, but also because it sent a large quota of delegates to the national convention. In an intense and bitter contest, Roosevelt won a complete victory, winning the popular vote by a large margin and capturing nearly every district delegate.
Untitled [Ohio, the Mother of Presidents], by Clifford K. Berryman, 5/21/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 206104)
Allied women in Paris to plead for international suffrage. Women, representing Allied Nations, who called upon the President during his stay in Paris, and asked to be given a place at the Peace Conference, to inquire into and report upon the conditions concerning women and children throughout the world.
First row, left to right: Mrs. J. Borden Harriman (United States); Mme. DeWitt Schlumberger (France); Mme. Pichon-Laudry (France). Second row: Mrs. Juliette Barrett Rublee (United States); Dr. Katherine Bennett Davis (United States), Mme. Brunsching. Third row: Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett (Great Britain); Mrs. Oliver Stratchey (Great Britain); Miss Rosamond Smith (Great Britain). Fourth row: Mme. Brigode (Belgium); Marie Paunt (Belgium); Miss Nevia Boyle (South Africa); Mlle. Van den Plas (Belgium). Sixth row: Mme. Sonnine Capi (Italy); Mlle. Eva Mitzhouma (Poland). 02/27/1919
Transmittal and Certificate of Achievement awarded to Sergeant Elvis A. Presley …”in recognition of faithful and efficient performance of duty and for outstanding service to the United States Army.”, 02/24/1960
We had the privilege to share some of our experiences with Today’s Document on Tumblr as part of DC’s Social Media Week this morning.
Our panel, “Defining and measuring social media success in museums and arts organizations” included other great presentations from:
- National Gallery of Art
- Pew Internet and American Life Project
- Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Public Affairs
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Smithsonian Institution’s Office for Web and New Media Strategy
- Ford’s Theater
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- (special thanks to Dana Allen-Greil of the National Gallery of Art for organizing/moderating and inviting us, and the National Museum of the American Indian for hosting the panel!)
We spoke about our success on Tumblr so far but also the challenges in getting to the next level of public engagement. What do you think we can do to meet the “engagement challenge?”
Q:If you're truly the National Archives, how about some West Coast love? Of the 20-something most recent stateside pictures on your Facebook where a place is identified, two are west of the Mississippi: New Mexico & Hawaii. We're America, too! (Breakdown: DC 8, MA 4, NY 3, PA 2, HI 1, NM 1, SC 1). Thanks.
First, we’re touched you follow our posts so closely! Really our #1 goal is to show you something from the National Archives’ holdings that relates to today in history (and maybe gets you to think just a bit). We do what we can to vary our posts across geography, era, topic, etc., but history and our holdings do not always cooperate. Having said all that, of course we love the West Coast! (the rest of the country too, for that matter). And don’t forget our colleagues at the Riverside Archives’ “Tumblrweed Times” - their holdings include California, Nevada & Utah!
And as always — we’re open to suggestions! If there’s an item in the National Archives holdings you’d like us to feature, please feel free to suggest it!
Residence of G. L. Rule Feb. 18, 1898. Have lived here since Sept. 1893. Family stands in foreground; sod building and cabin in background, Arizona Territory
From the Series: Photographs Accompanying Reports to the Secretary of the Interior
“…when the attack was made on the City of Washington and on the City of Baltimore, the citizen soldiers were in service without pay or rations, several months in each of the years 1812-1813 and 1814. And it is for the consideration of those service that your memorialists think they are entitled to 160 acres of Land each.”
Memorial of the “Association of Defenders of Baltimore in 1814” for a grant of 160 acres per man as remuneration for services in the war, 02/17/1853
Marilyn Monroe sings several songs for an estimated 13,000 men of the First Marine Division. Miss Monroe stopped at the First Marine Regiment on her tour of the military units in Korea., 02/16/1954
