Last week, I was very rudely reprimanded by a NARA employee in the research room. I respect the fact that NARA has rules regarding the treatment of their records. Any institution, especially an institution the size of NARA, should have rules. I know that it is the staff’s responsibility to enforce these rules and I listen to them and respect them if I have been doing something wrong.
But honestly, I cannot deal when staff members are rude to me. Honestly, the way in which I was treated last week made me cry. I know that I’m quiet and that I look like I’m barely legal so I don’t command the respect of some of my peers. But I’ve been researching for years; the least I expect is professional behavior. I’ve been to many institutions that can’t afford to pay a single employee but manage to do a professional job. A salary is no excuse for impolite behavior.
I would just like to remind everyone that NARA is here because of researchers like me: researchers who need a large amount of records on a regular basis and who use these records for the promotion of the historical profession. If I didn’t have the need, NARA wouldn’t exist. You see, NARA wasn’t just started because the government needed to dump its records somewhere. The government formed NARA because researchers like J. Franklin Jameson needed a centralized repository for federal records.
If you’ve read any early works on American history, you know that they are rife with inaccuracies. This is often because in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries archival institutions did not exist in the United States. Historians simply did not have a place to go to find the records they needed. For government records, researchers would have to go to the specific agency where a document was created to obtain it. These different agencies did not give open access to their records. I have seen, multiple times, correspondence from the early twentieth century in files at NARA where clerks claimed they could not find the file a researcher was looking for. Clearly, the file existed because I found this correspondence within the requested file. The clerks just didn’t feel like trying to find it in the messy, dark storage rooms where the files were improperly kept. Clearly, this method didn’t work.
So as the historical profession grew, historians began to ask Congress to help them out. First, the Library of Congress got its act together. Then the idea of a national archive became popular. The idea of a national repository of government records wasn’t new. Pretty much all of Europe already had them. In the early nineteenth century lawmakers in the United States had thought about creating an archive, but it stalled. That is, until historians pushed for it. So in 1930 Congress finally passed a bill to create the federal repository and in 1934 it became its own independent agency.
Many early archivists had been historians. The first two Archivists of the United States, Robert D.W. Connor and Solon J. Buck, had both previously held historical positions. These two AOTUSes were instrumental in the formation and early development of NARA. Clearly, the agency would not have survived without those who needed to research inside it.
So remember, this agency (and all of the jobs it creates) would not exist without people like me!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
I Told Ya So!
In the past, I've predicted several trends seasons before they became popular. In the past, I've had no way to document this. As part of this blog, I want to document my trendsetting ways to prove to the world that I can actually be a leader.
Recently, I've had several predictions become popular. In May, I was all about wearing red. Now red is the it color for fall. In early July, I became super obsessed with satchels. Now everyone is carrying a satchel. Now, before you go out and spend $30,000 on a red Birkin bag, I should warn you that I am now obsessed with a new color combination: grey and burgundy! Now my love with grey and burgundy has not been as intense as some of my other love affairs, but I still think that it will be popping up in the future. Just look at how great this Jessica Simpson Collection show looks! I'm almost compelled to buy it.
And no, I don't think grey is the new black! Black is the only thing that can be the new black. I've been having a love affair with grey in combinations since November of 2009 and I'm about to make it a long term relationship.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Did you feel that earthquake? The Archives did!
Today, an earthquake that hit the East coast measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. I was up in the research room at A1 when it happened, and trust me, the whole building shook. One of the first questions I heard after the shaking stopped was "Is the building supposed to shake like that? It's an archive; it should be earthquake proof."
Well guess what??? A1isn't designed for earthquakes. In the late 1920s/early 1930s John Russell Pope (the unpaid architect of the National Archives building) did not have the foresight to plan for and earthquake since they so rarely happen in this area. Now, before you start hating on Pope, his design is still revolutionary. The Archives was the first federal building with full air conditioning!
In my secondary source research, I can only find one real description of the architecture of the building. This description is part of the National Register listing for the property. Last updated in 1971, it states,
"The National Archives, designed in the Neo-Classical manner by John Russell Pope and part of the Federal Triangle, is located on a hexagonal track bounded By Constitution Avenue, 7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and 9th Street; the main entrance faces south on Constitution. The building was constructed in two stages s ground was broken for the building in 1931, and the exterior was completed by 1935; an interior extention which filled the inner court was begun in 1935 and completed in 1937. The steel- framed structure is of limestone with a base of Jilford granite. It measures approximately 330 feet(east to west) by 206 feet (north to south) and is 160 feet high, containing five stories (21 tiers). Large pumps were built beneath the structure to safeguard the foundations from flooding by the Old Tiber Creek, whose bed runs under the building.
The Archives Building has been described as a building within a building. The outer structure with its Corinthian columns and porticos enclose the inner core which rises above it in the form of a monumental attic. At grade level, the basement story is treated as a podium composed of several courses of Milford granite fronted by a smooth wall forming a moat that surrounds the building. The main facade is entered through a flight of steps flanked by two large granite pedestals surmounted by figures of "Heritage" and "Guardianship "_ by James- 'Earle Fraser. The stairs lead to a portico containing a double row of 8 Corinthian columns which projects 20 feet from the facade. On the main facade, on either side of this projecting portico, is a row of 5 Corinthian columns. The columns are 53 feet high and support an entablature (containing a frieze with the inscription ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) on which rests a pediment with figures also created by Fraser. Here is depicted the transfer of the documents of history to the recorder of the Archives. At the ends of the pediment are griffins, guardians of the Archives.
A paved terrace flanked by pedestals holding seated figures representing the “Past" and the "Future" leads to the ground level entrance on the Pennsylvania Avenue facade. This doorway is flanked by two high relief figures representing "Guardians of the Portal" and were created by Robert Aitken as were the pedestal figures. Above the entrance is a colonnade of 8 Corinthian columns supporting a pediment. The colonnade is flanked by five similar columns recessed about five feet. The pedimental figures by Adolph Weinman portray "Density" flanked on the left by the "Arts of Peace" and the "Song of Achievement" and on the right by the "Arts of War" and the "Romance of History." The pediment is terminated by two griffins.
On the east and west facades are colonnades, each with 10 Corinthian columns supporting a full entablature. The corners of the building are of solid masonry balancing the openness of the colonnades and giving stability to the building.
Rising above the colonnade is a solid mass broken by an ornamental frieze containing 13 medallions emblematic of the Departments of Government whose archives are stored in this building. This wall terminates in a cornice of ornamented cresting and above this, but recessed several feet, the building terminates in a plain cornice.
The Constitution Avenue entrance leads into a foyer on the main floor. Directly behind this is the exhibition hall in the form of half-rotunda which is separated from the foyer by a low flight of steps and a metal screen. The hall, with its coffered half dome rising 75 feet, contains a shrine which displays the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in specially designed heat and light resistant and air-conditioned bronze exhibit cases which can be lowered into a bomb proof vault. Flanking the shrine are two large murals depicting the signing of the "Declaration of Independence" and the "Constitution" by muralist Barry Faulkner. The north portion of the building is occupied by administrative offices including three large conference rooms, a cataloging unit, projection room, main conference room and theater. The storage space is located in 21 tiers protected from natural light, with specially regulated humidity, and an elaborate burglar alarm system."
In my next archive post, I'll discuss how this architectural description should impact the current renovations.
Well guess what??? A1isn't designed for earthquakes. In the late 1920s/early 1930s John Russell Pope (the unpaid architect of the National Archives building) did not have the foresight to plan for and earthquake since they so rarely happen in this area. Now, before you start hating on Pope, his design is still revolutionary. The Archives was the first federal building with full air conditioning!
In my secondary source research, I can only find one real description of the architecture of the building. This description is part of the National Register listing for the property. Last updated in 1971, it states,
"The National Archives, designed in the Neo-Classical manner by John Russell Pope and part of the Federal Triangle, is located on a hexagonal track bounded By Constitution Avenue, 7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and 9th Street; the main entrance faces south on Constitution. The building was constructed in two stages s ground was broken for the building in 1931, and the exterior was completed by 1935; an interior extention which filled the inner court was begun in 1935 and completed in 1937. The steel- framed structure is of limestone with a base of Jilford granite. It measures approximately 330 feet(east to west) by 206 feet (north to south) and is 160 feet high, containing five stories (21 tiers). Large pumps were built beneath the structure to safeguard the foundations from flooding by the Old Tiber Creek, whose bed runs under the building.
The Archives Building has been described as a building within a building. The outer structure with its Corinthian columns and porticos enclose the inner core which rises above it in the form of a monumental attic. At grade level, the basement story is treated as a podium composed of several courses of Milford granite fronted by a smooth wall forming a moat that surrounds the building. The main facade is entered through a flight of steps flanked by two large granite pedestals surmounted by figures of "Heritage" and "Guardianship "_ by James- 'Earle Fraser. The stairs lead to a portico containing a double row of 8 Corinthian columns which projects 20 feet from the facade. On the main facade, on either side of this projecting portico, is a row of 5 Corinthian columns. The columns are 53 feet high and support an entablature (containing a frieze with the inscription ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) on which rests a pediment with figures also created by Fraser. Here is depicted the transfer of the documents of history to the recorder of the Archives. At the ends of the pediment are griffins, guardians of the Archives.
A paved terrace flanked by pedestals holding seated figures representing the “Past" and the "Future" leads to the ground level entrance on the Pennsylvania Avenue facade. This doorway is flanked by two high relief figures representing "Guardians of the Portal" and were created by Robert Aitken as were the pedestal figures. Above the entrance is a colonnade of 8 Corinthian columns supporting a pediment. The colonnade is flanked by five similar columns recessed about five feet. The pedimental figures by Adolph Weinman portray "Density" flanked on the left by the "Arts of Peace" and the "Song of Achievement" and on the right by the "Arts of War" and the "Romance of History." The pediment is terminated by two griffins.
On the east and west facades are colonnades, each with 10 Corinthian columns supporting a full entablature. The corners of the building are of solid masonry balancing the openness of the colonnades and giving stability to the building.
Rising above the colonnade is a solid mass broken by an ornamental frieze containing 13 medallions emblematic of the Departments of Government whose archives are stored in this building. This wall terminates in a cornice of ornamented cresting and above this, but recessed several feet, the building terminates in a plain cornice.
The Constitution Avenue entrance leads into a foyer on the main floor. Directly behind this is the exhibition hall in the form of half-rotunda which is separated from the foyer by a low flight of steps and a metal screen. The hall, with its coffered half dome rising 75 feet, contains a shrine which displays the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in specially designed heat and light resistant and air-conditioned bronze exhibit cases which can be lowered into a bomb proof vault. Flanking the shrine are two large murals depicting the signing of the "Declaration of Independence" and the "Constitution" by muralist Barry Faulkner. The north portion of the building is occupied by administrative offices including three large conference rooms, a cataloging unit, projection room, main conference room and theater. The storage space is located in 21 tiers protected from natural light, with specially regulated humidity, and an elaborate burglar alarm system."
In my next archive post, I'll discuss how this architectural description should impact the current renovations.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Welcome!
For my first post, I would like to explain this blog. For the past three weeks, two major things have been occurring in my life on a daily basis. First, my sorta boss Jon Deiss has been pushing me to do some new research and start a regular blog. Second, many of the guards at the National Archives in Washington, DC have been complimenting my bags whenever I leave the building. So I came up with the title "The Handbag Whisperer" since I clearly have great taste in handbags. However, before this epiphany, I thought it would be worthwhile to do research on the history of the National Archives. So I just think I'm going to try to do both in one blog because that's the kind of person I am. And yes, I am also the type of person who will start a blog on a Friday night when they know they have to get up early the next day.
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