Should you visited the Nationwide Archives Exhibition Corridor—now generally known as the Rotunda—between the years 1942 and 1955, you’ll have possible seen one of many Nationwide Archives’ most devoted and enthusiastic guards, George Bloomquist.
Bloomquist was standing guard within the Rotunda even earlier than the Declaration of Independence and Structure have been positioned on exhibit following their switch from the Library of Congress in 1952.
Bloomquist was born in 1892 in Minneapolis, MN. After serving in World Battle I, he labored on a timber farm in Minnesota earlier than transferring to Washington, DC, when he was nearly 50 years previous.
Along with guarding the nation’s most treasured paperwork, Bloomquist was briefly a film star. When filming for the movement image 13 Rue Madeleine occurred on the Nationwide Archives Constructing, Bloomquist was one of many few who made it into the ultimate reduce. You may see him standing on the entrance to the Exhibition Corridor within the opening scenes. Employees members Roscoe Hill and Josephine Kelley additionally made it into the ultimate model.
Upon Bloomquist’s retirement, Archivist of the USA wrote, “Since 1942 you may have been a well-known determine in our Exhibition Corridor, and you’ve got each proper to be happy with the position you may have performed in guarding our Nation’s most treasured paperwork which are on show there. Your concern for his or her safekeeping and the passion you may have proven in serving to us to deal with the numerous 1000’s of tourists who’ve come to see them since 1952 has been commendable.”
Study extra about Nationwide Archives’ employees members and their contributions in our Historic Employees Highlight sequence.
