From over 100,000 films, discover the handful you'll love.
Free or premium access to the world's largest documentary library.
368 films(Page 1 of 8)
Doomsday planning for the U.S. government includes protocols for evacuating leaders and protecting historic artifacts from destruction.
Four women were murdered by Gordon Cummins, known as the Blackout Ripper, during the chaos of wartime London in 1942.
73% of African Americans have African ancestry, according to research discussed by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. during a presentation on genealogy.
More than 11,000 proposed amendments to the Constitution have been recorded, with some narrowly missing ratification, as discussed by a panel at the National Archives.
The 1950 census began on April 1, 1950, and its data release occurred 72 years later on April 1, 2022.
Nick Brokausen's reconnaissance company in Vietnam earned one of the highest records of valor awards in U.S. Army history during the war.
Robert M. Smith, a former New York Times correspondent, examines how editorial decisions affect the publication of significant stories like the Watergate scandal.
197,000 tons of bombs were dropped on France by Allied forces in the nine weeks leading up to D-Day, illustrating the scale of World War II air operations.
Four infamous murder cases from the Civil Rights Era are reopened, leading to prosecutions of individuals who evaded justice for decades.
Census records from 1790 to 1930 are available on microfilm and online, providing essential data for genealogical research at the National Archives.
Philip Mudd, former deputy director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center, reflects on the agency's secret detention program established after 9/11.
A fearless young Kentucky lawyer brought order to an unruly Congress, preventing the breakup of the nation during a time of intense political strife.
In 1848, most of modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona was free territory, influencing the migration of enslaved people to Mexico.
Four key figures-George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison-shaped the U.S. government between 1783 and 1789.
Robert Grenier, a 27-year veteran of the CIA, organized and directed special forces teams that drove the Taliban from southern Afghanistan in 2001.
General George Armstrong Custer is best remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, known as Custer's last stand.
A panel discussion features actress Gretchen Mol, who played Gillian Darmody, alongside other key contributors to the HBO series set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.
The word slavery does not appear in the United States Constitution passed in 1787, only in the 13th Amendment, which abolished the institution in 1865.
Over 9,100 people visited the National Archives over New Year's weekend to view the original Emancipation Proclamation and see Abraham Lincoln's signature.
Sidney Blumenthal's biography details the years 1856 to 1860, when Abraham Lincoln emerged as a national leader amid intense political competition.
In January 1968, General Westmoreland claimed the end of the Vietnam War was in sight, while the North Vietnamese prepared for a major offensive.
Tim Gunn moderates a discussion featuring Valerie Steele, Lisa Kathleen Graddy, and Tracy Reese on the fashion choices of American First Ladies.
Tim Gunn moderates a panel discussion featuring Lynda Johnson Robb and others on the history of holiday decorations at the White House.
George Washington's diary entry from February 18, 1786, lists 216 enslaved individuals, including Oney, who served the founding families of America.
More than 1,700 women applied to serve as telephone operators in World War I, but only 223 were sent to France to support the U.S. Army.
A discussion at the National Archives features Henry Louis Gates, Jr. addressing the ongoing impact of white supremacy on American society.
Franklin's son served as the royal governor of New Jersey, illustrating the deep divisions among families during the American Revolution.
Joseph Ellis discusses the American Revolution, a conflict that lasted from 1773 to 1783 and involved a struggle for independence marked by significant violence.
In November 1983, M19, the only American terrorist group organized and led by women, bombed the U.S. Capitol in a violent campaign against perceived injustices.
More than 95% of NSA documents held at the National Archives remain classified, reflecting the ongoing significance of cryptology in American history.
Over 46 minutes, archivist Jean Nudd discusses methods for using pre-1850 census records to trace family relationships in genealogical research.
Paul Jennings, a slave who served as James Madison's valet, bought his freedom with money loaned by Daniel Webster after Madison's death.
The War Department fire on November 8, 1800, destroyed many records, prompting a focus on what survived and how it reached the National Archives.
A reenactment features Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas debating slavery and equality during their 1858 Senate campaign in Illinois.
Over 5 million maps, charts, and architectural drawings are housed at the National Archives, which also contains letters from Civil War soldiers.
In January 1968, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces launched a coordinated series of attacks across South Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.
Nearly 170 stories from the African and African American tradition are discussed by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Maria Tatar at the National Archives.
A panel discussion commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Black Power Movement, featuring Congressman Bobby Rush and Alicia Garza of Black Lives Matter.
An indictment claiming Robert E. Lee was guilty of treason and war crimes went missing for 72 years before being rediscovered.
During the Golden Age of piracy, notorious figures like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd operated along the coastal waters of North America.
John Quincy Adams warned in the late 1830s that the North could use military necessity to justify the abolition of slavery during a conflict.
Cara Moore Labonic, a reference archives specialist, discusses the challenges of locating personnel records for women who served as cryptographers during World War II.
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, marking a significant turning point in American involvement in World War II.
Actor Richard Dreyfuss performs a dramatic reading of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, delivered on March 4, 1865.
Presidential historian Irwin F. Gellman discusses the partnership between Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon during a program at the National Archives.
2,403 Americans died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States entering World War II.
A panel of three judges discusses the relevance of the Bill of Rights during a program marking its 225th anniversary at the National Archives.
The National Archives holds 377 ratified Indian treaties, three of which were signed during George Washington's presidency.
