I AM NOT A SPY

I swear officer, I don't even know how I got into the CIA building

30 notes

todaysdocument:

“Whereas the depredations committed by the Algerine corsairs on the commerce of the United States, render it necessary that a naval force should be provided for its protection.”

The Continental Navy having been disbanded after the end of the Revolutionary War, the House of Representatives and the Senate were compelled to pass the “Act to provide a Naval Armament” to protect American shipping from Barbary Coast pirates.  It authorized the President to acquire six frigates, four of 44 guns each and two of 36 guns each, by purchase or otherwise. In addition, it specified how many crew members would be necessary and what their pay and daily rations would be.

Read more about the New U.S. Navy

Senate Draft of an “Act to provide a Naval Armament” March 18, 1794; Records of the U.S. Senate; Record Group 46

I really love stuff like this. I want to start a collection of my own when I’m fantastically rich. Guess I’ll have to buy the National Archives.

109 notes

mediumaevum: The Bastard Secretary Hand represents a variation of the Bastard hand, a reform of the court hand, developed in the early 14th century by the Scriptores Litere Curialis (writers of the court letter) in an attempt to reform the by-now deteriorated standard court hand. The Bastard Secretary variation was so called by 16th century writing masters, and was in use through the late 14th and 15th centuries in England. I’m going to become an English teacher and write like this. It’ll break the tradition of English teachers having terrible handwriting, but it’ll still be impossible to read.

mediumaevum:

The Bastard Secretary Hand represents a variation of the Bastard hand, a reform of the court hand, developed in the early 14th century by the Scriptores Litere Curialis (writers of the court letter) in an attempt to reform the by-now deteriorated standard court hand. The Bastard Secretary variation was so called by 16th century writing masters, and was in use through the late 14th and 15th centuries in England.

I’m going to become an English teacher and write like this. It’ll break the tradition of English teachers having terrible handwriting, but it’ll still be impossible to read.

51 notes

todaysdocument: Happy Evacuation Day! Following the arrival & emplacement of artillery liberated from Fort Ticonderoga, the Siege of Boston was lifted when occupying British forces evacuated the city on March 17, 1776. (Which just happens to coincide with another big event in Boston…) Sketch of British and American Lines and Fortifications in Boston Area by John Trumbull, 1775 More details via the National Archives at Boston on Facebook » This is the real holiday we should be celebrating. It doesn’t have the same ring to it though…

todaysdocument:

Happy Evacuation Day!

Following the arrival & emplacement of artillery liberated from Fort Ticonderoga, the Siege of Boston was lifted when occupying British forces evacuated the city on March 17, 1776. (Which just happens to coincide with another big event in Boston…)

Sketch of British and American Lines and Fortifications in Boston Area by John Trumbull, 1775

More details via the National Archives at Boston on Facebook »

This is the real holiday we should be celebrating. It doesn’t have the same ring to it though…

0 notes

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I want some Guinness. Too bad heavy beers make me puke…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I want some Guinness. Too bad heavy beers make me puke…

64 notes

todaysdocument: Dated March 15, 1946, this is the record of the appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt to the position of United States Representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was appointed by President Truman to the United States Delegation, a position she held until 1953. She was chairman of the Human Rights Commission during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948. Appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt as U.S. Representative to the United Nations, 03/15/1946

todaysdocument:

Dated March 15, 1946, this is the record of the appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt to the position of United States Representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was appointed by President Truman to the United States Delegation, a position she held until 1953. She was chairman of the Human Rights Commission during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

Appointment of Eleanor Roosevelt as U.S. Representative to the United Nations, 03/15/1946