Lincoln issues the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (1862)

On September 22, 1862, after the Union’s victory at the Battle of Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation formally alerted the Confederacy of his intention to free all persons held as enslaved people within the rebellious states.

One hundred days later President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation needed to be followed by a constitutional amendment to guarantee the abolition of slavery. This resulted in the passage and ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, has all 27 amendments, including the 13th Amendment bearing Lincoln's original signature, on display until October 1, 2025. Plan your visit to see the full U.S. Constitution. 

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, page 1, September 22, 1862. NAID: 350916735

Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, January 31, 1865.

NAID: 1408764

Burma Launches America250 with Support from the National Archives

Burmese students interact with a 10-ft replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations, at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day, September 17, 2025.

On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Yangon hosted over 500 participants at the American Center Yangon (ACY) to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day and launch the year-long America250 campaign.

The event featured a 10-foot replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations. This event showcased the international celebration of America 250, and emphasizes the important role of the National Archives in making records available to the public. 

Public Interest Declassification Board Announces October 2025 Public Meeting

The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) is pleased to announce its fall public meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m ET. The PIDB public meeting will be held in the Senate Visitor Center, located within the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC.

Additional details about in-person and virtual attendance at the PIDB Public Meeting are available via PIDB’s Transforming Classification blog and by following the PIDB on X.

About the Public Interest Declassification Board: Established by Congress, the PIDB is an independent advisory board that advises the President and executive branch on the identification, review, and release of historically significant records, with a mission to advance transparency while safeguarding national security.