nara75thanniversary

Is the young woman standing between the lady with the beehive and the lady with the hat Adrienne C. Thomas (Acting)
Archivist of the United States?

I don't think that's Adrienne. The caption says it's Bonnie Walter. I'll ask my mom, the second contestant from the right (Frances Brooks) if she knows if that really is Bonnie Walter. I think this photo was taken before Adrienne came to the agency.

Frances Brooks (my mom) confirmed that the woman who's fourth from the right is Bonnie Walter and that Adrienne Thomas began working at NARS (now NARA) after the contest.

It's funny you mention this being Adrienne Thomas because I happen to have a photo of her in a group of NARS employees ca. 1970.

Hi kwistalmd,

Thanks for helping us put a name to a face!

Deon (U.S. National Archives)

It would be great to bring a contest such as this back

General Wainwright had been a Prisoner Of War held by the Japanese - which accounts for his emaciation visible in this photograph.

Due to the privations he had suffered while a POW, he was accorded the honor (I think by General MacArthur) of being present at the surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 where he saw all the signatures affixed to the document he is unveiling here.

Unveiling this document is a further honor which was accorded to he and his wife.

Wow. Thanks for this background information about Gen. Wainwright. It really sheds light on why the photo is important. Thanks for sharing!

- Jill (U.S. National Archives)

There's more. And this is really good.

The U.S. National Archives later put out a pamphlet with another photograph of this scene with Gen. Wainwright giving his speech before the unveiling. It includes tells the journey of the documents and gives the complete text of Wainwright's speech as well as the speech of Solon J. Buck, Archivist of the United States.

National Archives Publication 46 - 6.

See it here:

reta.nmsu.edu/bataan/curriculum/resources/historical resources/surrender_docs.pdf

Gen. Wainwright refers in his speech to Gen MacArthur presenting him with the first pen he used to sign the document.

There is newsreel footage of that occasion available on YouTube (and in your Archives no doubt) see the even at 5:30 here,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcnH_kF1zXc

That is truly fascinating. Thank you for sharing such valuable insight!

- Meredith (U.S. National Archives)

Gen. Wainwright had just returned to the US and saw his wife for the first time in over 4 years before this photo and event. Here's a September 10th, 1945 newsreel of his return, greeted by a hundreds of thousands citizens across the nation, and of him receiving the Medal of Honor from Pres. Truman at the White House.

youtu.be/Od2bBAt4RSw

BTW, I'm tweeting this photo for its anniversary today @son_of_sandor, I'll copy @archivespres which I also follow.

Where was this to be built?

Hi, rockcreek, Thanks so much for the question! The initial design for the building placed it between 9th and 10th Streets along Pennsylvania Ave: www.archives.gov/about/history/building-an-archives/simon... However, the John Russell Pope design that was implemented moved the building between 7th and 8th Streets on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was always intended to be in the Federal Triangle area of DC: www.archives.gov/about/history/building-an-archives/build... Additional information about the building can be found here: www.archives.gov/about/history/building-an-archives/ - Meredith (U.S. National Archives)

Thanks, Meredith - given the date, I assumed it was a proposal for a separate building. Is 5/17/40 the accession date?

Hi, rockcreek, May 17, 1940 is the date the postcard was created, even though the drawing of the proposed building is from the 1930's. Thanks for the question! Meredith (U.S. National Archives)