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Renée Carl

@easteuromutt.bsky.social

460 followers 500 following 200 posts

Professional Genealogist. Backyard gardener. Swimmer. Advocating for access to 20thC Immigration records at RecordsNotRevenue.com and occasionally blogging at EasternEuropeanMutt.com. most importantly: https://fundnara.com/

fundnara.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Feb 20

We are living in everything everywhere all at once, and finding space to understand the chaos is really hard. I took action yesterday, and I am certain it helped me sleep. One bite of the chaos at a time! Join me in demanding support for our National Archives - the bedrock of democracy. fundnara.com

fundNARA.com - Congress must fund the National Archives at the current level!

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides core government functions necessary to preserve, protect, and make accessible records from all three branches of the federal government...

fundnara.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 18h

Spread John's message. Use the tools at fundnara.com/take-action, and send a message today!

fundNARA.com - Congress must fund the National Archives at the current level!

fundnara.com

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 18h

"As for the National Archives, they should be getting funded to an operational level, so they can reduce that 100-year backlog and actually do the important job that they're supposed to do."

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 18h

When @lastweektonight.com nerds out on your favorite talking point:
youtu.be/dB1-lg-xZWc?...

Presidential Libraries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

youtu.be

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 1d

The future of historical research if we don't fight for funding, access and transparency at NARA 👇🏻

Waitman Wade Beorn, PhD, FRHistS @waitmanwbeorn.com · 1d

This is kind of like writing a monograph off the archive's finding aids.

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 1d

Since you can't possibly be tired of hearing me talk about NARA, sign up for today's webinar with @richvenezia.bsky.social, Claire Kluskens, and me.

The Organization of American Historians @oah.org · 2d

🗓️ October 7 | 3pm ET
The future of our National Archives—and access to America’s stories—is on the line.

Join the webinar to learn why NARA matters, what’s at risk, and how you can take action to defend history and democracy.

Register today!
🔗 https://ow.ly/P0tc50X5P8H

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 5d

What is the definition of essential when it comes to a shutdown? twelvekey.com/2025/10/02/c...

Closed for Now, But Absolutely Essential

Last week I had great pleasure doing several hours of research in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. My research took me into specialized War of 1812 and Civil War records that are n…

twelvekey.com

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 8d

Receipts FTW.

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 8d

File under good news: NARA added 218,028 A-Files to the catalog this month! These files were previously the custody of the USCIS Genealogy Program. Consult the NARA info page to learn more about A-Files and how to obtain copies www.archives.gov/research/imm...

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 9d

Shutdown or not, federal funding decisions being made in Congress will impact the USA's record keeping for decades to come. substack.com/home/post/p-...

With NARA funding cuts, access to America’s memory is on the chopping block

The White House and Congress are proposing to fund record-keeping like it’s still 1999.

substack.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 10d

Looking for a Sunday read? I have one for you: substack.com/inbox/post/1...

With NARA funding cuts, access to America’s memory is on the chopping block

The White House and Congress are proposing to fund record-keeping like it’s still 1999.

substack.com

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Reposted by Renée Carl

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 13d

For their first project, my Kids and Society students have to create an infographic clarifying a common misconception about "kids these days." I'd prefer that they not use AI to create their projects, so I made my own infographic explaining why : )

Infographic titled "AI Isn't a Ticket To an A," explaining how chatbots work, what the data show about the prevalence of these technologies and how they're used, what we know about the quality of their output, and what we know about the impact that frequent use of these technologies has on their users and on content creators, low-wage workers, and the environment.

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 19d

that is a really cool use of the WPA surveys! Have you written about it in more detail?

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 19d

Things happening outside of the spotlight are important, too. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Want government accountability? Start with the archives.

No nation can be democratic, transparent, or accountable without trustworthy and accessible records of its past.

substack.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · 28d

washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7703...

The Psychological Impact of Trump’s Military Occupation

Our new reality stokes our city’s inferiority complex.

washingtoncitypaper.com

Reposted by Renée Carl

William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · Sep 6

What is the city but the people?

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Reposted by Renée Carl

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Aug 24

This is not only a serious issue for historians and not only a serious issue for academics (although it is that). It's a development that's also deleterious for the GLAM sector, for example, and part of a much larger trend nationally and internationally to restrict and dismantle access to archives.

Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...

Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by Renée Carl

Geoff Green @geoffgreen.org · Aug 8

I've seen this on Bluesky and had to try it myself. The image below was the response to the prompt: "Show me a diagram of the US presidents since Herbert Hoover, with their names and years in office under their photos" Bravo, OpenAI, bravo.

A very mistaken list of the last 12 presidents of the United States and their years in office produced by the Ph.D level scholar known as ChatGPT-5. Includes John F. Katwady, president 1991-1968; George W. bush, president 220Z-1999), and Bill Christen, president 1999-2001

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Aug 1

Sometimes there is good news on Fridays. The DC Council restored full funding for the DC Archives Project at UDC in FY 2026 Budget. Thanks to all the organizations and individuals who spoke out and spoke up for the importance of access to DC records. dcarchivesadvocates.substack.com/p/you-saved-...

You Saved the DC Archives Building Project!

DC Council Provides Full Funding for DC Archives Project at UDC in FY 2026 Budget

dcarchivesadvocates.substack.com

Reposted by Renée Carl

Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · Jul 24

Erasing history by defunding #archives
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

60-year-old Black history archive faces uncertain future after federal cuts

The Amistad Research Center, one of largest repositories of Black history, cut half its staff after the Trump administration ended four federal grants.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Renée Carl

Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · Jul 23

Trump's Assault on the NPS is Not a Disagreement Over History. It is an Attack on History Itself. #NationalParks open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Trump's Assault on the NPS is Not a Disagreement Over History. It is an Attack on History Itself

We need to stop framing this ongoing “review,” ordered by the Trump administration of the National Park Service’s interpretive assets, as a disagreement over history.

open.substack.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Jul 22

It is, both majority and minority members need to hear the public doesn't support cuts to NARA. Tools and tips at fundNARA.com (being updated with more info this week)

fundNARA.com - Congress must fund the National Archives at the current level!

fundNARA.com

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Jul 22

A $4 million cut. The FY26 proposal was for $404m & the House subcommittee cut $4m out. They also redirected $10m of the remaining $400m away from other parts of the Operating Budget to be used specifically for electronic initiatives - in essence taking away $14m - when NARA needs $100s million more

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Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Jul 21

Err, $14 million...

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Jul 21

NARA needs millions more than this for electronic records (by comparison, electronic records received more than $45 million in 2007) and for all other parts of the Operating Budget. Speak out - tell Congress no cuts to NARA. Learn how at fundNARA.com

Renée Carl @easteuromutt.bsky.social · Jul 21

NARA's Operating Budget supports Legislative, Presidential and Museum Services, Citizen Services, Agency and Related Services, Facility Operations, and Electronic Archives.