威尼斯人娱乐场

Spring Prologue--Traces Origin of Science Agencies, Previews 威尼斯人娱乐场 Exhibit
Press Release 路 Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Washington, DC

Washington, DC鈥�At President Thomas Jefferson鈥檚 direction, the men climbed the hills of Long Island, New York, not to watch the ships come into New York harbor in the early years of the 19th century, but to apply mathematics to the positions of the stars and the directions and angles of signals from one hill to another.

These men were engaged in the first Survey of the Coast, which gave rise to the government鈥檚 first scientific agency, now called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the forerunner of a large portion of today鈥檚 government.

鈥淭he Survey of the Coast as such is gone, but its legacy is the full array of scientific agencies in the government . . . reorganized in a variety of offices and services within NOAA,鈥� writes John Cloud in the Spring 2007 issue of Prologue: Quarterly of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration in an article, 鈥�The 200th Anniversary of the Survey of the Coast.鈥�

The Spring Prologue also features a preview of a major new exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington, 鈥�School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents.鈥� The exhibit, which runs through January 1, 2008, features more than 150 objects from the 12 Presidential libraries, including report cards, student writings, teacher evaluations, and various artifacts.

In 鈥�Diplomacy and Duels on the High Seas,鈥� Stuart Butler recounts how a prominent Virginia lawyer was called on to set up a duel at sea between American and British warships in 1815. The duel never occurred (the War of 1812 ended), but Butler鈥檚 account reveals much about British and American diplomatic relations and naval operations at that time.

笔谤辞濒辞驳耻别鈥檚 Spotlight feature, 鈥淪haring the Excitement in History,鈥� focuses on the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� new Boeing Learning Center, the hub for the agency鈥檚 education efforts throughout the country鈥攊ncluding the regional facilities and the Presidential libraries.

Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein reviews the progress NARA is making in its effort to promote civic education through its museum, education, communications, and outreach programs in 鈥�Civic Education: Lighting the Path to the Future.鈥�

And 鈥�Genealogy Notes鈥� looks at records of the U.S. House of Representatives and shows that these records, too, can be good sources of genealogical information. John P. Deeben gives us a look at instances when citizens went to Congress as a last resort for a solution to their problems in 鈥淎 Final Appeal to Capitol Hill.鈥�

For nearly four decades, Prologue has shared with readers the rich resources and programs of the 威尼斯人娱乐场, its regional archives, and the Presidential libraries.

Each issue features historical articles鈥攄rawn from 威尼斯人娱乐场' holdings and written by noted historians, archivists, and experts鈥攁s well as articles explaining and describing many of the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� activities and programs as the nation鈥檚 recordkeeping agency. The Washington Post said, 鈥�Prologue . . . can be regarded quite literally as an invitation for further study. It is also consistently absorbing reading.鈥�

A one-year subscription to Prologue costs $20, and you can order in a number of ways:

• Call 202-357-5482 or 1-800-234-8861
• Print out the order form and mail it to Prologue, P.O. Box 100684, Atlanta, GA, 30384.
• Order online at http://estore.archives.gov.
• Fax credit card orders to Prologue at 301-837-0319.

Single copies of Prologue are available at the Archives Shop or at the Cashier's Office in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington or at the Publications Sales Office at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 at College Park. Back issues are also available at the College Park location. Single copies are also available in the shops at some Presidential libraries.

For more information about the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and its programs and exhibits, go to www.archives.gov.

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For press information, contact the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.

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