All articles tagged with #national archives
A rare Exeter printing of the Declaration of Independence, seized with the Royal Navy privateer Dalton in 1776, has been discovered in Britain’s National Archives in London, making it the only known copy outside the United States and shedding new light on how such documents circulated after the escape from American shores.
A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence printed in July 1776 and one of only 11 surviving copies was discovered by a volunteer at The National Archives in Kew. Seized by the Royal Navy in 1776, it’s now being conserved and prepared for display in Revolution 250, marking a notable find outside the United States as part of ongoing commemorations.
A Washington Post feature explains that the Declaration of Independence, kept under glass at the National Archives, is increasingly hard to read due to age, humidity and decades of handling. It bears stains, creases and a visible handprint as archivists fight to slow its decline, balancing visible display with conservation to keep the founding document legible while reminding readers that it—like the nation—has endured imperfections.
A federal judge ruled the Presidential Records Act is likely constitutional and ordered the White House to comply, rejecting a DOJ opinion that the law is unconstitutional. The 54-page decision says Congress has the power under the Property Clause to regulate presidential records and found a substantial risk the White House isn’t following the Act; the order becomes effective May 26.
A federal judge ruled the Presidential Records Act is likely constitutional and granted a preliminary injunction requiring Trump aides to continue complying with it, rejecting the DOJ's claim that the law intrudes on presidential power; the order takes effect May 26 as higher courts consider the matter, while the National Archives continues to make records available under the PRA during ongoing lawsuits.
America’s founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary-era oaths and the Treaty of Paris, will travel on the Freedom Plane from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to eight U.S. cities through August—carried by a National Archives–Boeing partnership to bring history to the public while keeping the artifacts secure.
Sen. Marco Rubio is no longer serving as the acting head of the National Archives after hitting the Federal Vacancies Reform Act limit; with no deputy archivist in place, James Byron had been performing the duties of archivist, and the agency is in a leadership transition amid ongoing questions about records management and Rubio's other roles.
The National Archives, with the National Archives Foundation and partners including Boeing, will launch the Freedom Plane National Tour in 2026, transporting eight original founding-era documents by a Boeing 737 to major museums in Kansas City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, Dearborn, and Seattle from March to August. The display features items such as the 1823 engraving of the Declaration of Independence, the 1774 Articles of Association, oaths of allegiance from 1778, the 1783 Treaty of Paris, a draft Constitution, and the 1787 tally of votes, with free admission and tickets via each museum.
A watchdog group, American Oversight, is urging Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—Trump’s designated representative to the National Archives—to step aside as gatekeeper to Trump’s presidential records, citing a potential conflict from his attorney‑client relationship with the former president as large portions of first-term records approach public release under the Presidential Records Act.
A federal watchdog is investigating how the National Archives improperly released nearly un-redacted military records of Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill to an ally of her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, amid New Jersey's gubernatorial race.
An investigation is underway into the alleged illegal and politically motivated release of Rep. Mikie Sherrill's military records by the National Archives, which was inadvertently made public due to a staff error, raising questions about potential political motives and transparency.
The NJ gubernatorial race was impacted after the National Archives mistakenly released unredacted military records of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, including her Social Security number, prompting calls for investigation and legal action amid accusations of political weaponization and privacy violations.
House Minority Leader Jeffries calls for a criminal investigation into the unauthorized and potentially illegal release of Rep. Mikie Sherrill's military records by the National Archives, amid concerns over privacy violations and political implications in a closely watched gubernatorial race.
A significant privacy breach occurred when the National Archives released an almost unredacted version of Rep. Mikie Sherrill's military records to her opponent's ally, raising concerns about violations of privacy laws and the mishandling of sensitive information during a heated political campaign in New Jersey.
A lost 1642 will related to William Shakespeare's final home, New Place, has been rediscovered in the National Archives after 150 years, shedding new light on a legal dispute over the property between Shakespeare's family and Thomas Nash, Shakespeare's granddaughter's husband.