Business and Industry
Soaring: Pioneers of American Aerospace
62 years ago this May, U.S. Astronaut Alan Shepard set an historic era of American aerospace into motion with his journey aboard the Mercury capsule Freedom 7. Launch into his legacy and the iconic Americans who eventually brought us into the space age…
Trailblazers in the Archives: Celebrating AANHPI Heritage
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a moment to reflect on and honor the role these Americans have played in our national story.
From famed actor Anna May Wong and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku, to astronaut Ellison Onizuka and famous “Trekkie” George Takei, records found at the National Archives tell us more about the lives of AANHPI individuals who have made notable contributions to American film, sports, science, and more.
From famed actors Bruce Lee and Anna May Wong, to astronaut Ellison Onizuka and famous Trekkie George Takei, to Olympian Duke Kahanamoku, records held at the National Archives tell us more about the lives of AANHPI individuals who have made notable contributions to American film, science, sports, and more.
Revolutionary Women
This month marks 29 years since Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to preside over the court, temporarily sitting in for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. Fourteen years earlier, O’Connor had become the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court, ultimately paving the way for Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. From Sandra Day O’Connor to Sally Ride to Kamala Harris, our history holds countless moments when women broke through barriers and into arenas that had previously been exclusively occupied by men. In this week’s Archives Experience, we spotlight a few trailblazing women from America’s history.
You’ve Got Mail!
The urgency of Paul Revere’s historic ride proves that even in the earliest days of our nation’s history, there was often a need for haste to get our messages delivered. What we now call “snail mail” was never going to be fast enough for a people anxious for independence.
As our borders expanded, our desire to overcome the barriers of distance and time became a common thread in our shared story. Several pivotal innovations redefined our ability to connect with one another and get our messages across.