4 A BIG! Success at the Archives As 2009 marks the National Archives’ Independence with unexpected artifacts efits you receive as a member of the Summer 2009 Issue 8 75th anniversary, many celebrations such as Shaquille O’Neal’s size 22 shoe, Society for the National Archives. Thank have taken place throughout the year to the Archives is able to better educate you again for your involvement and explore the Archives’ history, examine visitors about its wide-ranging role as generosity as a Society member! You can the records in its holdings, and educate our nation’s official record keeper. enjoy the BIG! exhibit in the Lawrence for The National Archives visitors about the vital importance of Invitations to exclusive exhibit F. O’Brien Gallery until January 3rd, this institution. On March 12th, the openings is just one of the many ben- 2010. n Society Foundation was proud to invite special guests to an exclusive evening devoted Foundation Awards Highest Honor to the Archives’ “biggest” celebration, Society Members Join the Fun at the opening of its 75th anniversary July 4 Celebration to Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author, Save the Date! exhibition, BIG! In thanks for the significant sup- Society members and their fami- Historian Annette Gordon-Reed Event: port that makes exhibitions like BIG! lies enjoyed the National Archives’ “75 Years of Archival possible, the Foundation was delighted Independence Day celebration, which Distinguished presidential scholar, Treasures,” With Cokie Roberts, Michael Beschloss, Drew Gilpin to welcome Society members and their included patriotic music, a dra- professor, and author Annette Faust, and David Grubin invited guests to experience this unique matic reading of the Declaration of Gordon-Reed will be honored at the When: display of big records, big ideas, and Independence on the Archives’ steps, Foundation for the National Archives’ Monday, September 14 big events from the Archives’ holdings and free family activities and entertain- annual black-tie Gala on September 15 Where: William G. McGowan before it opened to the public. Curators ment. as the recipient of the 2009 Records of Theater, National Archives were also on hand to answer any ques- Kicking off the day with the Achievement Award. Building, Washington, DC Gordon-Reed was awarded the tions guests had while exploring items Promise of America Breakfast, histori- Event: Foundation for the National 2009 Pulitzer Prize in History for her such as the 13-by-13 foot Civil War- cal re-enactors playing John Hancock, Archives Annual Gala and era map of the Gettysburg battlefield, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, book The Hemingses of Monticello: Records of Achievement Award a drawing for the refitting of the SS John Adams, and Private Ned Hector An American Family, about President Ceremony Thomas Jefferson’s slave family. She Leviathan measuring over 21 feet long, entertained the crowd, and guests were treated to a special Declaration Tour for a When: Tuesday, September 15 or a 5 foot 7 inch tall spool containing rare opportunity to view the four copies of the Declaration of Independence on dis- also received the 2008 National Book Award for the book, making her the Where: National Archives Building, a petition signed by 150,000 people. play at the Archives. Washington, DC By combining historically signifi- The event was hosted by Bob Dotson, NBC News correspondent for the first African-American woman to win cant documents such as the original TODAY Show. Acting Archivist of the United States Adrienne Thomas and Timothy the non-fiction award in its 59-year Event: Guggenheim Tribute: 20th Articles of Confederation and a rare Naftali, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, also history. Anniversary Screening of The Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of addressed the crowd. This event was sponsored by John Hancock Financial. n The Foundation’s annual award Johnstown Flood recognizes an individual who has When: Wednesday, September 23 played a major role in increasing the integral the African-American experi- Where: William G. McGowan public’s understanding of the National ence is to the American story. Like her Theater, National Archives Members of the Society for the National Archives Archives, our nation, and its his- fellow awardees, she has made history Building, Washington, DC Bess and Tyler Abell Cynthia and Ben Guill James McPherson* Albert and Shirley Small tory. Previous recipients of the award more accessible to the American public Honey and Lamar Alexander William and Mary Love Harman The Merrill Family Foundation, Inc. David and Carolyn Stump include James McPherson, John Hope through her use of primary documents, Event: Presidency and the Nuclear Michael R. Beschloss Dr. Fruzsina M. Harsanyi David W. Mesker John Fox Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Bezos Marilynn and John A. Hill Molly C. Moynihan Riley K. Temple Franklin, David McCullough, Tom including those that are held and pre- Age Presidential Symposium Governor James J. Blanchard Mary D. Janney Katherine Neville and Dr. Karl Pribram John “Jack” Todd In Memory of Brokaw, and Brian Lamb. served by the National Archives.” When: Monday, October 12 Tom Brokaw* Governor Frank Keating The Lawrence F. O’Brien Family Lawrence F. O’Brien A’Lelia Bundles William K. and Alice S. Konze Joel I. and Joan Picket Marvin Weissberg and Judith Morris “We are very pleased to honor Gordon-Reed first became interest- Where: John F. Kennedy Library, Ken and Julie Burns Mary Lynn and Nick Kotz Robert and Wendy Riggs Tom and Carol Wheeler Professor Gordon-Reed,” said ed in Thomas Jefferson as a young girl Boston Patrick and Donna Butler Brian P. Lamb* Henry Rivera John and Diana Zentay Foundation President Ken Lore. in still-segregated east Texas when she Eugene Eidenberg Ken and Pat Lore Cokie Roberts Jay S. Zimmerman Please contact Caneil McDonald, Director of Special Richard A. Eliasberg David McCullough* Anna Eleanor Roosevelt “Through her research and writing on read a children’s biography about him. Events, at (202) 357-7361 or Caneil.McDonald@ Jane Fawcett-Hoover Cappy and Janie McGarr Howard J. Rubenstein *Denotes honorary Society membership Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and Then, at age 14, while concealing her nara.gov with any questions or to RSVP to an event. Jerry and Nanette Finger Foundation David McKean Deborah and Michael Salzberg Nancy Folger and Sidney Werkman Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty, III Theodore D. Segal their descendents, she teaches us how status as a minor, she joined a Book- continued on page 3 2 3 Foundation President Ken Lore Off to a Michael and Afsaneh Beschloss to Chair Running Start Annual Gala Ken Lore, who became Chairman and on outreach to high school students, Michael Beschloss serves as vice presi- ebration and honor Annette and her Morgan in corporate finance in President of the Foundation for the particularly those in underserved com- dent of the Foundation for the work,” said Michael. “No one has done London and New York, and for Shell National Archives in January, is no stranger munities, in an effort to produce a gen- National Archives, which he has served a better job of showing how central International Group Planning in to most Society members. A partner and eration of more informed and involved for ten years, and is also a Society African-American history is to the London. She has also taught interna- co-chair of global real estate in the law firm citizens. Already, he has initiated and member. He has written nine award- American story, and what better place to tional trade at Oxford University, from Bingham McCutchen, Lore has played an facilitated a new partnership between winning books on American Presidents, honor her than the National Archives, which she holds a Master of Philosophy important role on the Foundation’s board the National Archives and its Boeing most recently the New York Times best- since we are the repository of the degree in economics. She is currently for the past six and a half years, serving as Learning Center and the Marshall- trustee of the Ford Foundation and the vice president before taking over the reins Brennan Constitutional Literacy Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. from former President Tom Wheeler. Project of American University Law The Beschlosses live in Washington, As past chairman of the Foundation’s School. DC, with their two sons, who are both Capital Campaign Committee, Lore under- The Marshall-Brennan Project particularly interested in National stands the great potential of the Boeing enables second- and third-year law Archives holdings that pertain to the Learning Center in educating the public. students to give back to the com- history of baseball. n Creating a “board challenge,” he led the munity by teaching courses on con- way in raising an additional $1 million to stitutional law and juvenile justice in build a cutting-edge ReSource Room and During his term as President, Lore public high schools in the District of Annette Learning Lab for the Learning Center, hopes to build stronger ties with local Columbia and Maryland. Beginning which are helping the National Archives communities by expanding educational this fall, the law school fellows and Gordon-Reed improve civics and history education in their high school students will visit the activities in Washington, on the Web, continued from page 1 classrooms nationwide. and through traveling exhibits, includ- Archives together to view the official Now, as President, Lore has big plans ing the planned Discovering the Civil Constitution and to participate in the of-the-Month Club in order to receive for the future. War exhibition, which will premiere “Constitution-in-Action” lab in the Fawn Brodie’s biography, Thomas “The challenge,” he said, “is to main- in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery in Boeing Learning Center. Students will Jefferson: An Intimate Portrait. She later tain existing efforts and simultaneously 2010. be introduced to the major themes of pursued her fascination with Jefferson’s expand the scope of the National Archives Lore, who has a passion for history the revered document and the role it life while attending Dartmouth Experience. This will require new resources, and is dedicated to instilling that pas- plays in our daily lives by working with College, where she majored in history. vision, and tenacity.” sion in young people, also is working a variety of archival records. n seller Presidential Courage. The New York records that demonstrate just that fact.” A Harvard Law School graduate, she Times Book Review recently called him In addition to being an author and has been a professor of law at New “clearly the most widely recognized historian, Michael Beschloss serves as York Law School since 1992. She also Presidential historian in the nation.” His the NBC News Presidential Historian teaches history at Rutgers University. New Faces of the Society wife Afsaneh is an economist who served and is a regular commentator on PBS’s She speaks and moderates numerous Two of the most recent generous supporters as Treasurer and Chief Investment The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In conferences across the country on to join the Society for the National Archives Officer of the World Bank and is now 2005, he won an Emmy for the history and law-related topics. are Katherine Neville, best-selling novelist, and the CEO of the Rock Creek Group, a Discovery Channel’s “Decisions That Besides her most recent book, Karl Pribram, a neuroscience pioneer and dis- Washington, DC-based hedge fund and Shook the World,” of which he was she also has authored Thomas Jefferson tinguished professor at Georgetown University. investment firm. host. Besides his work with the National and Sally Hemings: An American As a treat for Karl’s 90th birthday, Katherine This fall, Michael and Afsaneh will Archives, Beschloss also serves as a Controversy; Vernon Can Read!: A arranged a tour of the National Archives serve as co-chairs of the Foundation trustee of the White House Historical Memoir, co-authored with Vernon Experience for their family members who were for the National Archives’ annual Gala, Association and is a former trustee Jordan; and Race on Trial: Law and in town for the weekend festivities! n honoring Michael’s fellow historian – of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Justice in American History. the 2009 Records of Achievement Award (Monticello). She lives in Manhattan with her Pictured: Neville/Pribram Family in the Boeing Learning recipient Annette Gordon-Reed. Besides her decades at the World husband, daughter, and son. n Center, February 2009 “We are both thrilled to lead the cel- Bank, Afsaneh has worked at J.P.