Image description: This human Statue of Liberty was made of 18,000 officers and men at Camp Dodge in Des Moines, Iowa during September 1918.
Photo from the National Archives’ Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs
June 9 is Ask Archivists Day, and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is participating in the event on Twitter.
Archivists collect, preserve, and protect our historical records and documents. This could be anything from old letters to photographs to emails. An archivist might be able to help you find information about your family using historical military records, land records, or ship passenger logs.
Archivists can help you answer questions such as:
- What was the occupation of my great great grandfather?
- Did I have any relatives immigrate through Ellis Island?
- Who owned my house 100 years ago?
If you have a question for an archivist, just ask it on Twitter using the #AskArchivists hashtag on June 9. The @USNatArchives will be fielding questions for NARA and individual employees will be ready to help. You can also contact NARA via email or phone.
Other government agencies participating in Ask Archivists Day include:
- Archives of American Art, Smithsonian, @ArchivesAmerArt
- Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, @CarterLibrary
- National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, Library of Congress, @ndiipp
- National Museum of American History, Smithsonian, @amhistorymuseum
- Smithsonian Institution, @smithsonian
Please note that archivists can’t perform detailed research for you, but they can point you in the right direction. If you’re new to archival research, NARA’s Getting Started Overview is a good introduction.
