“Topaz, Utah. Knitting warm woolen clothing for her children against the coming winter, this Japanese mother, at the Topaz Relocation Center, takes advantage of the warm Utah sun.”  10/17/1942

Parker, Tom, Photographer.  Series: Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority, 1942 - 1945. Record Group 210: Records of the War Relocation Authority, 1941 - 1989

Professional photographers were commissioned by the War Relocation Authority to document the daily life and treatment of Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II.  

Browse nearly 4,000 photos of Japanese American relocation and internment in the Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority in the @usnatarchives online catalog.

There are over 300 hand-colored drawings in this series of “British Dazzle Camouflage.” Unlike other types and styles of camouflage, it was not intended to hide the ship, but rather to visually disrupt the outline of the ship so that an observer–like an experienced submariner–would have no idea what they were looking at. 

Get ready to make fetch happen – August 26 is National Dog Day!

We’ll jump at any chance to feature our favorite golden retriever, Liberty. She joined the Ford family shortly after they moved into the White House and quickly became one of the photographers’ favorite subjects. Can you blame them?

Images: 

Susan Ford Playing with the Fords’ Dog Liberty on the South Lawn of the White House, 10/5/1974

President Gerald R. Ford’s Dog Liberty Lying at Henry Kissinger’s Feet during a Meeting with President Ford and Brent Scowcroft in the Oval Office, 11/16/1974

President Gerald R. Ford Swimming with His Dog Liberty in the Camp David Pool, 2/8/1975

We think JFK would have approved of National Waffle Day. In 1958, then-Senator Kennedy was asked to submit a recipe for a casserole cookbook. He responded that he did “not have a favorite casserole recipe” but used the opportunity to share his favorite recipe for waffles.

Well played, JFK.

We think JFK would have approved of National Waffle Day. In 1958, then-Senator Kennedy was asked to submit a recipe for a casserole cookbook. He responded that he did “not have a favorite casserole recipe” but used the opportunity to share his favorite recipe for waffles.

Well played, JFK.

Newsmap - Volume 1, Number 15, 8/3/1942

Series: Issues of the World War II Era “Newsmap” Publication , ca. 1942 - ca. 1998. Record Group 26: Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, 1785 - 2005

August 3, 1942 edition of the “Newsmap” publication, a weekly issuance of the U.S. Army which was distributed to members of the military and provided news about the progress of World War II. Each issue generally had information on obverse and reverse sides and featured texts, photographs, illustrations, and maps. The reverse is usually a poster (not available in this instance). The publications were designed for posting on bulletin boards or other display areas. The obverse side would have been displayed during the week the publication was issued and on the following week the back was displayed.

Learn how you can help transcribe these vintage posters as a Citizen Archivist!

Nikos Skalkottas, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Nikos Christodoulou  

The classic television series The Twilight Zone premiered 55 years ago on October 2, 1959.

Here its host and creator, Rod Serling, riffs on his iconic role, narrating a Fire Safety PSA:

Excerpted from: Smokey Bear TV Spot, CARELESS KILLERS. From the Series : Public Information and Training Motion Picture and Television Productions. Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, 1794 - ca. 2003

It’s Earth Day!

"City farmers" tend their gardens in the Fenway administered by the Fenway Civic Association. Four hundred twenty-five gardens are tilled on these five acres in metropolitan Boston, 04/1973.

Ernst Halberstadt, photographer.  From the series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972 - 1977

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Green Cities” and the gardeners of Boston’s Fenway Victory Gardens have been at it since 1942!  (We wonder if cityofbostonarchives has any other photos from these historic gardens…)

The Fiftieth Running of the Boston Marathon,  April 20, 1946

"One hundred and one long distance runners compete in the fiftieth annual marathon race of over 26 miles at Boston in the United States. Among the runners are former winners and young hopefuls. Through the suburbs of Boston the runners make their way. And all eyes are on courageous Stylianos Kyriakides of Greece, who passes last year’s winner. Kyriakides goes on to win in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 27 seconds and gain the laurel wreath."

United States Patent 1,059,284: Ladder-Gripping Attachment for Shoes, 04/15/1913

This patent was included in the patent file for shoes invented by Michael Jackson. The shoes enabled him to execute his signature dance move that allowed him to lean forward to an exaggerated angle while performing on stage the song “Smooth Criminal.” This patent for a Ladder-Gripping Attachment for shoes was included in file because the patent examiner searched for any relevant patents.

International Day of Human Space Flight

An outer space view of the Colorado River, surrounded by part of Arizona and Utah. The photo was taken from the space shuttle orbiter Columbia during the first space transportation system test mission, 04/12/1981

April 12 is the anniversary of two milestones in space exploration, Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's voyage as the first human into space on 4/12/1961 and the first Space Shuttle mission, by the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbiaon 4/12/1981 (STS-1).  This photograph was taken taken on the first day of the mission.