BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Archives -- Exhibit: Public Vaults

DC -- Natl Archives -- Exhibit: Public Vaults:

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. VAULTS_100129_002.JPG: Public Vaults
2. VAULTS_100129_016.JPG: The French Arrive: On July 14, 1780, Gen. George Washington wrote to the president of Congress, Samuel Huntington, informing him that the French Fleet, carrying the Comte de Rochambeau and 5,100 men of the French Army, had arrived off Newport, Rhode Island, on the afternoon of the [sic] July 10. These troops later marched with Washington to Yorktown. Washington also forwarded a plan to reorganize the inspector general's department, with the request that Congress approve and fund the plan with uncharacteristic speed.
3. VAULTS_100129_036.JPG: Instrument of Downfall: President Richard M. Nixon ordered the Technical Services Division of the U.S. Secret Service to install a number of tape recorders and microphones in various parts of the White House. This Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder was used in various locations as indicated on the tag. This taping system eventually led to Nixon's resignation when the existence of the Watergate tapes was made known.
4. VAULTS_100129_060.JPG: Film in a pumpkin: These canisters held film that Whitaker Chamber hid in a hollowed-out pumpkin on his Maryland farm. He terrified in 1948 before the House Un-American Activities Committee that the film contained images of classified documents stolen in 1937 and 1938 by former senior State Department employee Alger Hiss, whom Chambers accused by being a Soviet agent. The firm, known as the "Pumpkin Papers," was presented as evidence of Hiss's espionage activity at his 1949 trial. Because of the statute of limitations, Hiss could not be prosecuted for espionage but was instead convicted of perjury in 1950. Photo: Congressman Richard M. Nixon and House Un-American Activities Committee chief investigator Robert Stripling viewing microfilm evidence in the Alger Hiss case, December 6, 1948.
5. VAULTS_100129_066.JPG: Signed and Sealed: The Great Seal of the United States bears the imprint of the three committees and 14 individuals who worked for 6 years to complete the design. Approved by the Continental Congress on June 20, 1782, the Great Seal of the United States is a symbol of our sovereignty as a nation. Some of America's greatest minds worked on the project, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. None, however, left a more lasting impression than Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson, who combined the work of previous contributors to create the seal as we know it. Kept by the Secretary of State, the seal is used to authenticate the signature of the President and appears on proclamations, warrants, treaties, and commissions of Government officials. Its presence is one key to proving that a record is authentic. The Eagle Lands: The third committee to design the Great Seal met on May 4, 1782, and consulted William Barton, a student of heraldry. His designs, completed five days later, incorporated the eagle for the first time. They were sent to Congress for approval early the next month. Here Comes the Stars and the Stripes: In the spring of 1780, the second Great Seal committee consulted Francis Hopkinson, designer of the American flag and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His contributions to the final design include the 13 red and white stripes on the shield, the constellation of 13 stars, and 13 arrows, and the olive branch with 13 olives -- all on the front of the seal. Not Quite Right: In 1841, to replace the much-worn original Great Seal die and counter die, John Peter Van Ness Throop cut a new seal from steel. Throop's version included elements not authorized by Congress. He reduced the number of arrows from 13 to 6, changed the shape of the top of the shield, and added olives to the branch. This counter die was used for 36 years. The Eagle Takes Center Stage: On the front of the fourth design, Charles Thomson combined elements of all three previous attempts. He made the eagle the focal point with its wings pointed down as if in flight. The shield on the eagle's breast was blue and 13 red and white chevrons pointing up. William Barton later altered these elements to create the current design. The Great Seal Today: This representation of the front side of the current Great Seal die retains the American bald eagle, the shield with 13 stripes, the olive branch with 13 olives, the bundle of 13 arrows, and the constellation of 13 stars. The eagle carries in its beak a scroll with the Latin motto E Pluribus Unum -- meaning "Out of many, one." Contrary to Thomson's design, this die does not have the rays of light breaking through the cloud above the eagle's head.
6. VAULTS_100129_097.JPG: The Lincolns At Home: Abraham Lincoln, 40-year-old attorney at law, and his family were recorded on this page from the 1850 census for Sangamon County, Illinois, which includes the city of Springfield. His wife, Mary, their son, Robert, and their Irish maid, Catharine Gordon, are also listed. Lincoln's son, Edward Baker, who died on February 1, 1850, shortly before his fourth birthday, is missing form this tabulation.
7. VAULTS_100129_117.JPG: Instrument of Diplomacy: Treaties protect and promote the interests of nations. Usually, each country entering into one of these international agreements maintains a copy and gives a signed and sealed exchange copy to other parties to the agreement. In keeping with their importance, early treaties were often highly decorative. They were bound in fine leather or rich fabrics and adorned with gold or silver coats of arms, tassels, and wax seals. Often a small round box called a skippet -- which held a wax impression of the nation's or monarch's seal -- was attached with silk or metallic cords. The Federal Government discontinued the use of skippets in 1871 -- and other ornamentation by 1920 -- because of cost. Tax Break: The Kingdom of Belgium and the United States concluded this convention for the extinguishment of Scheldt dues on July 20, 1863. The treaty discontinued the dues, or taxes, paid by US ships that traveled the Scheldt River to reach Belgian ports. This step was taken to encourage trade between the two nations. The Belgian coat of arms appears in the resin of the skippet.
8. VAULTS_100129_146.JPG: Where's Longstreet? President Abraham Lincoln sent this telegram on July 12, 1864, to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant asking him to look for Confederate Gen. James Longstreet's troops. Later that day, Lincoln came under fire as Confederate Gen. Jubal Early's soldiers skirmished with Union troops at Fort Stevens, just inside the District of Columbia. Rumors had Longstreet's 1st Corps leaving the Richmond/Petersburg defenses and heading north to reinforce Early.
9. VAULTS_100220_011.JPG: On the move: Explorers were very concerned with the weight and size of their equipment because everything needed to be packed on dog sleds. From 1904-9, the Peary expeditions carried this small lightweight camp stove as they sought the North Pole. Reaching the Poles: The National Archives houses the donated personal papers, photographs, and memorabilia of Polar explorers. These materials reveal the explorers' contributions, the dangers they faced, and the triumphs they experiences. The Arctic and Antarctic were considered the last great frontiers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explorers from various nations, including the United States, mounted expeditions to penetrate the polar regions, taking surveyors, scientists, artists, and even explorers' relatives. Expeditions lasted for months, if not years, and some explorers faces sickness, hunger, isolation, and at times, death. They marveled at the beauty of polar regions, and some of them even thrived in the harsh conditions. The work undertaken by explorers resulted in scientific advances, increased geographic knowledge, and improved survival techniques and technologies. First African American Arctic explorer: Matthew Henson (1866-1955) was born in Charles County, Maryland. At the age of 11, he ran away from home to Washington, DC, and a year later went to sea as a cabin boy on a sailing ship. Captain Childs of the ship Katie Hines taught Henson to read, write, and navigate. After the death of Captain Childs, Henson returned to Washington. He met Robert Peary while he was working at a hat store as a stock clerk. Upon the recommendation of the store owner, Peary asked Henson to be his valet. Henson worked with Peary for over 22 years and went on eight Arctic expeditions, including the famous 1908-9 trip to the North Pole. Henson learned to speak the Inughuit language and communicated expedition needs to the Inughuit (northernmost group of Inuit or Polar Eskimos). Much of the cooperation Peary received was because the Inughuit trusted and had affection for Henson.
10. VAULTS_100220_032.JPG: Finding a path: Explorers' strategies for reaching either Pole required several scientific instruments to not only chart the course through the unmapped regions, but also to confirm when the Pole was reached. This sextant was used by members of the Peary expeditions to sight the sun at noon to determine their latitude.
11. VAULTS_100220_037.JPG: Hazardous Terrain: Early explorers used a variety of different kinds of sleds and skis to cross over snow and ice. Amory H. Waite, Jr., a member of Richard E. Byrd's second Antarctic expedition (1933-35), used wooden skis and poles.
12. VAULTS_100220_052.JPG: An essential member of the team: Robert Peary relied on Henson for many tasks on the expeditions. He selected Henson as the only Western expedition team member to join him and the four Inughuit on the last leg of the trip to the North Pole. Much of the success of the expedition rested with Henson and his ability to communicate with the Inughuit and ensure that the sled dogs were well cared for and able to pull the supplies and equipment.
13. VAULTS_100220_057.JPG: Crucial Role: Matthew Henson supervised the construction of the sleds according to original plans created by Peary. Also he worked with the Inughuit to train and care for the dogs. Even among the Inughuit, who drove sleds their entire lives, Henson was considered an excellent dog sled drive who could navigate the difficult terrain of the Polar Sea.
14. VAULTS_100220_065.JPG: Critical to Survival: When starvation threatened the expedition in November 1905, Henson went in search of food not only for the crew, but just as importantly for the sled dogs. In a letter to Peary chronicling the expedition, Henson writes to the loss of three of the dogs during a blizzard.
15. VAULTS_100220_084.JPG: An expedition member: Expedition artist Russell Porter filled an entire notebook with sketches of the sled dogs, who were vital to the success of the expedition.
16. VAULTS_100220_102.JPG: The cost: This page from the logbook of the USS Nevada lists those killed, wounded, and missing as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The list of those sailors killed is continued from the previous page. The noon to 4pm entry began with an observation that he ship continued to sink as a result of the intentional grounding of the vessel. Navy Logbook: Every four hours, officers aboard US naval vessels record what transpired in a deck log. Most events are routine. A few, however, mark turning points in American history. Deck logs have their own language. Ships c/c (change course) or c/s (change speed). Distances are measured in yds (yards), depths in ft (feet). Speed is recorded in kts (knots), direction in T (degrees true). The SOPA is the Senior Officer Present Afloat. The watch officer signs the entries for each four-hour period, and the ship's navigator and commanding officer approve each day's entries. Historians use these logs along with photos, film, action reports, and war diaries to re-create events accurately.
17. VAULTS_100220_149.JPG: A writer's childhood home: Charles P. Ingalls applied for a grant of 154 acres in the Dakota Territory under the 1862 Homestead Act. He raised his family on this land near De Smet, South Dakota. Ingalls was the basis for the character "Pa" in the beloved Little House children's books written by his daughter Laura Ingalls Wilder. This home provided the setting for several of her Little House books. Homestead Form: Today, Government forms are commonplace. But when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862, they were something of a novelty. The Act offered 160 acres of land to those who lived on the property for five years and submitted proof of improvements, including a house and cultivation. To prove their claims, homesteaders filled out some of the first standard forms issued by the US Government. These homestead forms are a bonanza for genealogists. They contain the name, age, address, and naturalization status of the applicant as well as children's names and birthdates.
18. VAULTS_100220_162.JPG: Jackson Invades Spain: During the War of 1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson captured the Spanish town of Pensacola, Florida, on November 7, 1814. Spain had allowed the British to use the town as a base from which to incite the local Indians to fight for the British against the Americans. After running the British and their Indian allies out of the area, Jackson destroyed the fortifications and batteries and marched on to history at New Orleans.
19. VAULTS_100220_179.JPG: Before opening Japan: Commodore Matthew C. Perry informed Navy Secretary John Y. Mason of the successful assault on the Mexican port of Vera Cruz and its castle on March 29, 1847, during the Mexican War. Perry is best known for his expedition five years later, when he opened relations between the United States and the closed society of Japan.
20. VAULTS_100220_195.JPG: "Yankees" retake Leesburg: One day after the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, Union troops captured nearby Leesburg, Virginia. The town fell "to 3,000 Yankees," as reported in this telegram to Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the Surgeon in Charge of Hospitals Samuel B. Fisher.
21. VAULTS_100220_204.JPG: Reports from the Front: In times of war, dramatic events were often documented by men and women serving in the field -- even during battle. These writers did not think of themselves as historians or even as history makers. But their first person accounts of military engagements are among the most compelling historic records in the National Archives. Frequently, these accounts were written in the course of performing daily duties. The outcome of the war, or in some cases the outcome of the battle, was often still unknown. The reports convey the sense of urgency felt by participants caught up in the midst of battle. Even when written on bureaucratic forms, they remind us of the real human beings who lived through these experiences. Earning a nickname: The 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment launched a devastating attack on Belleau Woods, France, on June 6, 1918. Eighteen hours later, Maj. Berton W. Sibley, the battalion commander, sent this report. During two days on the front lines, the battalion suffered over 400 casualties. Due to their tenacity during this battle, the Germans called the Marines "tuefelhunden" or devil dogs.
22. VAULTS_100220_219.JPG: Coastguardsmen in harm's way: A month after supporting the Leyte landings, Lt. (jg) J.C. Salter, the commander of USS LST-207, submitted this action report to the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Manned by Coast Guardsmen, LST-207 fired upon a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft as it attacked a nearby destroyer. Both the aircraft and LST-207 missed their targets in this November 16, 1944, action.
23. VAULTS_100220_231.JPG: Holding the door open: Shortly after China entered the Korean War, the Puerto Rican National Guard's 65th Infantry Regiment took its place in the defensive perimeter protecting the Korean port of Hungnam. Their position sat astride the main road from the southern end of the Chosin Reservoir. The 1st Marine Division took this road as it fought its way through Chinese Army units. This December 11, 1950, staff duty journal records the passage of trucks and ambulances carrying the marines through checkpoints established by the 65th Infantry.
24. VAULTS_100220_324.JPG: Quarter Model: This full scale quarter model shows many features of the new encasements that house the Charters of Freedom -- including the solid titanium frame plated with 24-karat gold. Perforations across the surface of the aluminum document platform expose both sides of the parchment to the humidified argon environment. The base was made from a solid block of aluminum alloy with pockets milled away to reduce the weight.
25. VAULTS_100220_350.JPG: Surveying the West: Photographs and other records left by early Western survey parties enable us to see our nation's landscapes as they appeared in the 1800s. During the 19th century, the US Government sent dozens of survey parties throughout the West to answer basic questions about newly acquired lands. Usually led by military officers or scientists, these parties crisscrossed the continent. They drew maps, filled journals with their observations, gathered natural and geological specimens, and covered canvases and sketch books with rich detail. At mid-century, photographers joined the surveys. On large photographic plates, they recorded landscapes, images of Native Americans, and survey members at work. Another tool at their disposal was the stereoscopic camera. It had two lenses set 2 inches apart that created a double image, or stereograph. When viewed in a stereoscope, the images appear as one three-dimensional image.
26. VAULTS_100220_361.JPG: This is a photo of the stereograph. There are two lens pieces. Note the one on the right. You'll see a close up of it shortly.
27. VAULTS_100220_380.JPG: "Made in RUSSIA"
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.) I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
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Photo Contact: [Email Bruce Guthrie].