The National Archives and Records Administration is the guardian of some of the nation’s most precious documents, like the parchment Declaration of Independence displayed under glass in its main building in Washington.

But in recent weeks, its real breakout star has been a patriotic squirrel from a 1953 newsreel, which has been viewed more than three million times since it was posted online as part of a collection of GIFs made from the archives’ holdings.

That cache, available at the website Giphy, includes some well-known curiosities, like an animated version of the 1970 Oval Office handshake between Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon. But we asked Darren Cole, the digital engagement specialist who created the GIFs, about the back stories to some of the quirkier items in the 164-item (and growing) collection.

I love the patriotic squirrel gif! Great find!

I bet the Nazis had a squirrel like this, too. 

Nationalist squirrels could make a fun Pixar movie.