>> every weekend, we are marking the 100 50th anniversary of the civil war with our series of the people and vince that she the aero. saturday at 6:00 and 10:00 eastern here on american history tv on c-span three. archival films that help tell the story of the 20th century. the national archive was established by congress in 1934 to preserve and care for the united states government. to see how government records are preserved.

>> in washington, the archives building stands a living memorial to the patriots who made and preserved armed democracy. it contains the living records of their great work. two prime statues guard the approach. americans of the past might well have nodded their heads and solemn approval of these words in the living rock. eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. the largest bronzed doors in the world swing slowly. this magnificent entrance leads directly to the exhibition hall

were two great works by the american-year-old painter mark milestones -- the american mural painter mark milestones. a new america strikes its 1st united blow for freedom. the declaration of independence was a great plan on which this nation was founded. the constitution is a supporting pillar of our democracy. james madison offers the constitution to george washington. within the exhibition hall, schoolbook history comes to life as the visitors see documents which marks steps in the forward march of america. the first treaty which handed the war of 1812 and reaffirmed the nations right to live in peace and freedom. another represents a battle won.t in one -- fought and

this seemingly unimportant document is the knowledge meant by great britain that her colonies are now the united states of america. this treaty of paris bears the signature of john adams, benjamin franklin, and john j. this nerve center of the archive , documents are cross catalogued for easy access. is in direct control of the entire building and supervises a wide variety of activities of the 400 members of the archives staff. for years, the vital papers and documents were scattered throughout the city of washington in basements and dead files of various buildings. under this haphazard system, no one knew for certain where anything was.

finally congress stepped in and in 1934 passed legislation grading the national archives. the archives building became the consolidating force to bring order out of chaos. records shed the dust of their years and are preserved as a precious heritage. our bridal state papers take the first steps from obscurity -- are vital state papers take the first steps from obscurity. science making sure all organic life is destroyed. the documents are carefully removed from the fumigate in tanks, checked as to their condition, and passed on to the next step. experts remove every particle of dust and dirt which long years of neglect have deposited.

separating brittle sheets more delicately than human hands. when the archives building was first opened, these men had to wear gas masks to protect themselves from the dust. each table is equipped with special section fans -- suction fans. cleaned and sterilized, the manuscript and books go to the desks of binders. they're trained hands and tools, is highly's -- highly skilled men separate pages. the tender care with which these men handle the documents shows how extremely fragile many of

these old papers are. it is often necessary to employ human defying processes -- human defying processes. the papers are smoothed any is made more vivid and easier to read. this is known as the ironing process. it is important work of .econditioning state documents it goes on behind the scenes. everyone who uses the archives meticuloussults of care. papers are being bound in their individual jackets so that they may be examined and studied closely without fear of injury. it improve the legibility of the original. the acetate is completely transparent. on the specially designed presses.

under thousands of pounds of pressure and intense heat, the record, regardless of its former state, can be used without fear of further deterioration. size is copy in actual made on photographic paper. they may be studied and handled without fear of damage while the original rest safely in the vaults. for some larger exhibits, this is not practical. everyphotography, someday school child in the land will see a first-hand the state document which have heretofore been only draft quotations of texts. have undertaken to perpetuate the visual documents of progress for motion pictures.

in fireproof vaults, ventilated by controlled condition there, are stored thousands of feet of important films. technicians maintain this film laboratory, selecting and editing all films. these pictures are available to any responsible citizen. through the use of motion pictures, the archives is taking full advantage of science and keeping records of the social and cultural life of america as it progresses. the motion pictures, i mirror of our country's history in the making. ♪ department, the recorded utterances of our nations leaders are carefully preserved. tomorrow's younger generation love pictures of our president and they will hear him speak. swear that inly will safely execute the office of president of the united

states and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the united states. so help me god. >> with its great storage vaults, exhibition halls, manuscripts, documents, and papers, you archives building is a time capsule of americana from the earliest beginnings of our democracy to present day. it houses highlights of the country's history. ♪ this paper, the ratification of our consultation, is a reminder of the dramatic moment in history where the voices of 13 original states were raised at once claim into the world our independence. -- claiming to the world our independence. abraham lincoln speaks out from these pages. this is a proclamation which granted freedom to the slaves.

the bill of rights of the constitution ensuring the right to free speech, free assembly, free religion come another reminder of the basic principles on which our america has grown strong. here are the truths that give force to the words life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. ♪ >> each week, american history