Veterans Day originally began as Armistice Day, which celebrated the end of World War I. After World War II, the day was expanded “Veterans Day” to honor all veterans, not just the service members who died during the First World War.

At the National Archives, we are proud to serve veterans through our work at the National Personnel Records Center. Veterans who need their service records for benefits can find help here.

Families of veterans who have died may also ask for copies of service records for family history, military burial, and medal replacement.

Image: Disabled veteran, ca. 1943, ARC 195917, FDR Library

In 1977, Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek’s Uhura) appeared in a recruitment film for NASA!

Some of the original footage is here in our Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/80620160

🔊 #AskAConservator – Sound waves meet conservation! Our ultrasonic welder bonds polyester film to create protective sleeves for delicate maps and documents. Hull maps, for example, get their own sleeves, allowing them to be digitized safely and easily. Just align, secure, and with a press of the foot pedal, it’s welded! 🖤

📜 #AskAConservator – When working with moisture-sensitive materials, like documents with iron gall ink or water-sensitive inks, remoistenable tissue is a game-changer! It activates with just a hint of moisture, protecting fragile details. We prepare these by layering an adhesive onto ultra-thin repair tissue, creating a perfect tool for delicate repairs.

🛠️ #AskAConservator – Here’s a peek into my stash of conservation tools! From essentials like scalpel blades and bone folders to unique items like a homemade Delrin lifter, each tool plays a role in preserving history. Paper pieces serve as protective barriers, and even graphite-scribbled blotter helps detect adhesive residue! Every item here has a purpose—some still waiting for their moment.