Tvs reel america brings archival films to help tell the story of america. Help tell the story of the 20th century. The National Archives were established in congress in 1934. In 19 53 film produced by the u. S. Air force for the archives which described its mission and shows how the declaration of independence and u. S. Constitution were cared for and displayed. Students, businessmen, historians, and plain citizens. It is a favorite stopping place for visitors to the nations capital. As they enter the exhibition hall, they see before them the marble shrine which was a specially built to display the three great charters that spell out liberties enjoyed by all americans. The sister of documents are the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights. Hall arehe exhibition the flags of the 48 states of the union. Here is the flag of california. This is the standard for oklahoma. On either side of the shrine in specially designed cases are displayed documents concerning many of the important events that led to american independence to the confederation of the american states and to the establishment of the federal union. These are some of the bestknown papers of american history. Are the resolution moving for independence and produced in the Continental Congress in 19 in 1776. The articles of confederation, the 1st constitution. The treaty of paris by which Great Britain recognized the independence of the former colonies. On the walls on either side are too colorful heroes, one shows Thomas Jefferson submitting the declaration of independence to john hancock in the Continental Congress. The other shows James Madison of virginia delivering the completed constitution to george washington, president of the constitutional convention. These murals are the work of the artist barry faulkner. The three great charters are carefully preserved for future generations to protect them from harmful dust and chemicals in the air, each parchment sheet has been separately sealed within a glass of bronze case containing only the inert gas, helium, and the proper amount of moisture. To shield them from damaging light rays, special yellow filters have been installed in the glass covers of the shrine and over the spotlights. 20 feet beneath the shrine, especially constructed vault provides safe storage for the documents when they are not on display or in case of fire. At a moments notice, and electrically operated mechanism will safely lower the encased documents into this massive vault. Provisions have been made for operating the mechanism should electric power fail. Thus, the National Archives has taken every possible precaution for the safekeeping of these historic documents. Here, the documents are being lowered by scissor jacks into the vault. After they are securely in place, the interlocking leads of the vaults heavy lid close. Sound recordings are also kept. In this library are the recorded this exhibit is a specially popular. For new york, we see the deed of gift of the statue of liberty from the french people to the american people. Andmaryland, fort mchenry report of its defense in 1814. Just after this, Francis Scott key wrote the national anthem. For florida, many of them maps earlyhen spain showed boundary lines. The treaty of 1819, which spain ceded the east and west floridas to the states. Of westernketches scenes made by an artist who served with the Army Engineers during the survey of the great basin in 1859. These are some of the showpieces of the National Archives. Visitors find them of special interest. Showpieces are only a small fraction of the buildings content. In its 196 windowless air conditioned stack areas, are housed nearly 800,000 cubic feet of valuable federal records. In these areas are kept 1001 kinds of reports, correspondence, journals, maps, papers, legislating papers, and the like would have been chosen for preservation from the great mass of records created in the course of government business since the birth of the republic. These records are the nations are needed to protect the interest of the government and the rights and privileges of its citizens. Before records are placed in the stack areas, they are fumigated in tanks such as this one to kill insects that may have attacked them where they had previously been stored. After a thorough fumigation, they are taken out of the tank and wheeled to the far end of the room where they are cleaned. Many records, and covered with dirt and dust, which has to be removed by airbrushing. By carefully blowing compressed air over them. Some records come to the National Archives in poor physical condition. Those that have been folded are flattened. If important records show signs of serious where, it is but between sheets of acetate and laminated to seal it permanently against further damage. One of the main tasks of the National Archives is to serve the government and the people of the United States are making available to them either information in the record or the records themselves. Thousands of requests for such Services Come to the National Archives each year. Trained archivists take these request and search the records under their care to find the required information. Go throughe to veterans records are records of precedent setting legal cases. They know down the information needed and pass it onto to the inquirer by letter and telephone or personal conference. Sometimes they suggest they come to the National Archives and examine the records themselves. Searchers, in person to the National Archives to study the records. Some use the large Central Search room with the shelves of list and guides. Library andng several available typewriters and microfilm readers. Here is a scholar interested in american diplomatic relations with china during the box rebellion of 1899 in 1900. Yes telephoned ahead to ask for the records he needs and has explained his problem the archivist in charge. The volumes ofas the state departments correspondence with american diplomats in china during that. During a period. The searcher is interested in the chinese sketch depicting events of the box rebellion, it is one of several forwarded to the state department by the american council. State Department Records are among those frequently used by scholars, both american and foreign. In addition to the many volumes, at these records contain treaties such as these with her handsome bindings, ribbons, and seals. Treaties have always been. Arefully preserved they form the framework of international law. Among interesting old documents, this agreement made in louisiana between the french and the chief of the cherokee Indian Nation in 1761. Executive orders of proclamations include a papers as president lincolns emancipation proclamation and president trumans propagation proclamation of the end of world war ii. Handsomely bound collection of revolutionary war papers, sketches showing military uniforms. Poster which the nation appealed to citizens to donate binoculars. Interesting sketches in the journals of the expedition to 1850s. The maps and plans of United States military post, such as this one on Governors Island in new york harbor. This collar is hunting for pictures for his book on early american inventions. This scholar is hunting for pictures for his book on early american inventors. Early equipment for undersea divers to illustrate his work. This lawyer is trying to prove a land title for his client. He may want to study papers related to spanish land claims in california, treaties with indian tribes. Wing of the search room is a woman who wants to trace her family history. In a veterans pension application, she finds her grandfathers marriage certificate. And in affidavit that he had served honorably in the civil war. Records on National Archives are used to protect the rights of individuals. Take the actual case of a man who could not prove his citizenship. Had been even prove he born. His parents told him he was born aboard the susquehanna, an American Ship bringing the family to the United States. At their word was not legal proof. His congressman referred the young man to the National Archives to see if the ships captain had recorded the event. And archivist gave him the log of the susquehanna and in it was the entering telling of his birth entry telling of his birth. A Certified Copy of the entry provided by the National Archives is all the man needed to prove his citizenship. Military Intelligence Officers have use the valuable maps kept in special equipment in this part of the archives building. Maps made for civil purposes are helpful to the military. During world war ii, maps of the Aleutian Islands and maps showing roads and trails of the philippines prove valuable. Among the millions of photographs in the National Archives, many are of historic importance. Large photographs of world war ii catch the eyes of servicemen. Noteworthy is the collection of Matthew Bradys famous civil war photographs. Some recordings also are cap are the National Archives. The recorded voices of such wellknown americans as Theodore Roosevelt and franklin d. Roosevelt. The principles for which we stand are the principles of fair play and a square deal for every man and every woman in the United States. First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. In this theater, historical films are shown on request to those who need to study them. These scenes are from the inaugurations of president s mckinley and wilson. This laboratory makes reproductions of our global materials. Archival materials. Here we see the making of a microfilm, a very small reproduction. Here is the photostat machine in reproduction in operation. Records in great demand for research are printed on microfilm. All of the volumes on this table are reproduced on microfilm rolls in six small boxes. To those who arent reproductions of the great documents, faithful facsimiles are sold out moderate prices. Archivesthe national facsimiles. Containing freedom readable reproductions of the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights is a popular souvenir of a visit to the National Archives. The National Archives is the custodian of the living past and a link to the unborn future. There is significance in the phrases study the past and what is past is prologue. These are beneath the statues at one entrance of this beautiful building which preserve the drama and romance of americas history. Next month, former republican congressman from texas and president ial candidate ron paul. He has written more than a dozen books on history. Join the conversation as he takes your calls, emails, and tweets live for three hours sunday, august 3. Next month is mary frances berry. In october, a Supreme Court sessions bothes past and present. Brooks. Ber, arthur readers. N for serious from a, we will hear motorola researcher who headed a team that invented the first cell phone in 1973. And then became the first person ever to make a call on a mobile phone. The director of the Smithsonian Center for the study of invention and innovation talk to cooper about the phone that cost almost 4000 when it was offered for sale in 1984