Primary Documents:
Foundations of Public Service
Civic Architecture & Public Works
Records of the Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration was established in the Federal Works Agency (FWA) by Reorganization Plan No. I of 1939, effective July 1, 1939. The FWA administered a comprehensive public works program to promote and stabilize employment during the Great Depression.
Source: National Archives
Public Service as a Profession:
David Medlock: Oath of Office Taken By Trailblazing African American Legislator
The Bullock Museum site features the artifact “Oath of Office taken by David Medlock,” commemorating Medlock, a former enslaved person elected to the Texas legislature in 1870. The museum promotes public service by educating the public about civic participation, representation, and the ongoing pursuit of equality
Postal Service:
US Government Printing Office (2003) Code of Federal Regulations Chapter One: Title 39 Postal Service
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Title 39 - Postal Service is composed of one volume. The contents of this volume represent all current regulations codified under this title of the CFR as of July 1, 2003.
History of United States Postage Rates
This page on the History of United States Postage Rates outlines how U.S. postal fees have changed over time, from distance-based rates to standardized pricing, including the introduction of postage stamps, air mail, and modern adjustments for inflation and mail size.
Source: Wikipedia April 24, 2015
Serving the Public in Elected Office:
America Votes: Our Power and Responsibility
From the National Archives Teachers' Resources
Teaching with primary documents encourages a varied learning environment for teachers and students alike. Lectures, demonstrations, analysis of documents, independent research, and group work become a gateway for research with historical records in ways that sharpen students' skills and enthusiasm for history, social studies, and the humanities. A set of Analysis Worksheets are also included.
Historical View of the National Women’s Party
In early June 1916, the Congressional Union sponsored a convention in Chicago for women in the West who had achieved voting rights in their states. The National Woman’s Party (NWP)–also briefly known as the Woman’s Party of Western Voters or simply the Woman’s Party–emerged as a result of this conference.
Source: Library of Congress
Timelines of Public Service:
Legislative history of Social Security
The Social Security Administration’s history page provides access to the original 1935 Social Security Act and its amendments, including legislative drafts, hearings, and summaries of major provisions. It offers insight into the law’s evolution and its impact on public policy.
Historical View of the National Women’s Party
In early June 1916, the Congressional Union sponsored a convention in Chicago for women in the West who had achieved voting rights in their states. The National Woman’s Party (NWP)–also briefly known as the Woman’s Party of Western Voters or simply the Woman’s Party–emerged as a result of this conference.
Source: Library of Congress
A Guide to Conducting Research in FBI Records
The FBI, like other government agencies—creates or obtains records as it fulfills its duties. These records are generally organized into case files. Common records include investigative files, personnel files, and “rap sheets” (criminal identification records).
50 Years of Service: The Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory
"50 Years of Service: The Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory" by Jane Kapler Smith, Diane Smith, and Colin Hardy highlights the lab’s 50-year history of advancing wildland fire science, from studying fire behavior to supporting safer, more effective fire management practices.
Source: Fire Management Today. Volume 71 - No. 3 – 2011. U.S. Forest Service - Department of Agriculture
A Test of Adversity and Strength: Wildland Fire in the National Park System
"A Test of Adversity and Strength: Wildland Fire in the National Park System" by Hal K. Rothman is a comprehensive report published by the National Park Service in 2005. It examines the evolution of fire management strategies within U.S. national parks, highlighting the shift from strict fire suppression to a more nuanced approach that includes allowing natural fires to burn under certain conditions. The report discusses the challenges and successes of these strategies, emphasizing the importance of fire in maintaining healthy ecosystems while balancing public safety and resource protection.
Source: By Hal K. RothmanNational Park Services
Public Services Reform: timeline of local government developments
This research paper presents a timeline of the main developments in public services reform policy that have impacted Welsh local government in recent years.
Source: National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2013 - Research Service
The Role of Public Services in State and Nation-Building
Exploring Lessons from European History for Fragile States, July 2009 by Steven Van de Walle and Zoë Scott
Concerns about failed and fragile states have put states and nation building firmly on the academic and policy agenda. The crucial role of public services in this process has remained under-explored. The 1960s and 70s generated a substantial set of literature on state and nation building that is largely absent from current writings that focus on developing countries. This literature, mainly focusing on Western European countries, identified state penetration, standardization, and accommodation as key processes in the state and nation building sequence. In this paper we analyze these processes of state and nation building in Western Europe in the 17th & 19th centuries, and the role of public services therein, to explore how they may help us to understand the success and failure of state5 and nation building in developing countries and fragile states. We end with a number of key lessons and questions for international donors. Source: Government and Social Development Resource Center, International Development Department, University of Birmingham Copyright 2009