FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 2010

NATIONAL ARCHIVES LAUNCHES NEW "INSIDE THE VAULTS" VIDEO SHORT
Video highlights groundbreaking Civil War exhibit, Part Two to open November 10

Washington, DC. . . How does the derogatory term “shoddy” relate to the Civil War? Were hot air balloons really used for espionage? Why were there two 13th Amendments? And how did they differ? Find out at http://tiny.cc/CivWar.

The National Archives today launched its eighth “Inside the Vaults” video short featuring the curators and designer of the groundbreaking “Discovering the Civil War” exhibition Part Two – Consequences, which opens Wednesday, November 10, and runs through April 17, 2011, in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.

In the National Archives'-produced 3:55 minute "Inside the Vaults" video short “Discover the Civil War”, the creators of this innovative exhibition share little-known facts and extraordinary discoveries found in the incomparable Civil War holdings at the National Archives. These stories are shared for the first time in this exhibition, the most extensive display ever assembled from these records. The video also features rarely-seen original footage from Civil War reunions in 1917 in Vicksburg, MS, and 1938 in Gettysburg, PA.

Exhibition curators highlight unique discoveries from the records, while also underscoring the human cost of this war. Will Sandoval describes daring espionage during the Civil War. Jennifer Johnson shares her sadness upon finding a roster from a Washington, DC, orphanage that lists children and notes under “location of parents” simply the word “lost.” “You never know what you’re going to find in the boxes of documents”, Bruce Bustard explains.

Background on “Inside the Vaults”
“Inside the Vaults” is part of the ongoing effort by the National Archives to make its collections, stories, and accomplishments more accessible to the public. “Inside the Vaults” gives voice to Archives staff and users, highlights new and exciting finds at the Archives, and reports on complicated and technical subjects in easily understandable presentations. Earlier topics include the conservation of the original Declaration of Independence, the new Grace Tully collection of documents at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, and the transfer to the National Archives of the Nuremberg Laws. The film series is free to view and distribute on our YouTube channel at http://tiny.cc/Vaults

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever.

Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you. Visit the National Archives