Top 10 of 2023 – Pieces of History

As we say hello to 2024, we’re taking a look at the most popular posts of 2023. Thank you to the National Archives staff who helped us share our love of history throughout the year!

10. As a big shout-out to our nurses who have had it especially hard these past few years, Jen Hivick’s post on Pandemic Nursing: The 1918 Influenza Outbreak comes in at number 10. 

9. In celebration of Women’s History Month, Callie Belback’s post On the Basis of Sex: Equal Credit Opportunities looks at the history of credit discrimination against women in the United States.

8. Fifty years ago a major fire in St. Louis destroyed millions of military personnel records. In eighth place is the first in a three-part series on the National Personnel Records Center Fire by Jen Hivick. 

7. Coming in seventh place is a post on Constitution Day: Remembering Our Responsibilities and Opportunities as Citizens, which looks at the history of the national celebration of Constitution Day.

6. For International Cat Day, Alyssa Moore’s post looks at the history of our favorite felines at the White House in Office of the First Cat, which comes in at number six. 

5. For the release of the motion picture Oppenheimer, Alyssa Moore’s post on The Calutron Girls in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II, comes in at number five.

4. The tradition of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony began in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit a 48-foot balsam fir from Vermont that was erected in the middle of the Ellipse. Our fourth most popular post marks the 100th anniversary of the National Christmas Tree lighting.

3. For baseball’s Opening Day in March, the post Ceremonial First Pitches, which highlights photos from our Presidential Libraries, comes in at number three. 

2. Coming in at number two is a celebration of the life of Dr. Charles Drew: A Pioneer in Blood Transfusions.

1. And in our top spot for 2023 is a post that traces the history of Thanksgiving as a Federal Holiday! 

We also must mention a post that was published just one year ago but is now one of our most viewed posts of all time. Thomas’s Richardson’s blog about the end of the National Defense Service medal continues to receive numerous views and comments. 

Happy New Year!