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| insigniasize = 120
| insigniasize = 120
| insigniacaption = Seal of the National Archives
| insigniacaption = Seal of the National Archives
| image = Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States.jpg
| image =
| incumbent =
| incumbent = [[Colleen Joy Shogan]]
| incumbentsince =
| incumbentsince = May 17, 2023
| department = [[National Archives and Records Administration]]
| department = [[National Archives and Records Administration]]
| style = Mr. Archivist
| style = Madam Archivist
| status = [[Chief administrative officer|Chief administrator]]
| status = [[Chief administrative officer|Chief administrator]]
| seat = [[National Archives Building]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
| seat = [[National Archives Building]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
Line 22: Line 22:
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|44|2103}}
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|44|2103}}
| first = [[R.D.W. Connor]]
| first = [[Robert Digges Wimberly Connor]]
| formation = June 19, 1934
| formation = June 19, 1934
| deputy = Deputy Archivist of the United States
| deputy = Deputy Archivist of the United States
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, level III]]
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, level III]]
| website = {{url|https://www.archives.gov/about/organization/senior-staff|www.archives.gov}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.archives.gov/about/organization/senior-staff|archives.gov}}
| termlength = Indefinite
| termlength = No fixed term
}}
}}
The '''Archivist of the United States''' is the head and [[Chief administrative officer|chief administrator]] of the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] (NARA) of the [[United States]]. The Archivist is responsible for the supervision and direction of the National Archives.<ref>{{USC|44|2102}}</ref>
The '''Archivist of the United States''' is the head and [[Chief administrative officer|chief administrator]] of the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] (NARA) of the [[United States]]. The Archivist is responsible for the supervision and direction of the National Archives.<ref>{{USC|44|2102}}</ref>


The first Archivist, [[R.D.W. Connor]], began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an [[United States independent agencies|independent federal agency]] by [[United States Congress|Congress]]. The Archivists served as subordinate officials of the [[General Services Administration]] from 1949 until the National Archives and Records Administration became an independent agency again on April 1, 1985. The position is held by [[David Ferriero]], who was named to the office in 2009.
The first Archivist, [[Robert Digges Wimberly Connor|R. D. W. Connor]], began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an [[United States independent agencies|independent federal agency]] by [[United States Congress|Congress]]. The Archivists served as subordinate officials of the [[General Services Administration]] from 1949 until the National Archives and Records Administration became an independent agency again on April 1, 1985.


President [[Joe Biden]] nominated [[Colleen Joy Shogan]] for the position on August 3, 2022, with her being confirmed and sworn in by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in May 2023. She is the first woman to hold the position permanently.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2457 | title=PN2457 - Nomination of Colleen Joy Shogan for National Archives and Records Administration, 117th Congress (2021-2022) | date=August 3, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2023/nr23-31 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2023/nr23-33 |title=Shogan Assumes Office as 11th Archivist of the United States |date=2023-05-17 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=2023-05-18}}</ref>
⚫
== Background ==

⚫
== Background and role ==
The Archivist is appointed by the [[President of the United States|President]] with the [[advice and consent]] of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] and is responsible for safeguarding and making available for study all the permanently valuable records of the federal government, including the original [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] and [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]], which are displayed in the Archives' main building in [[Washington, D.C.]]
The Archivist is appointed by the [[President of the United States|President]] with the [[advice and consent]] of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] and is responsible for safeguarding and making available for study all the permanently valuable records of the federal government, including the original [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] and [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]], which are displayed in the Archives' main building in [[Washington, D.C.]]


Under Public Law No. 98-497, the Archivist also must maintain custody of [[State legislature (United States)|state]] ratifications of [[Constitutional amendment#United States|amendments]] to the Constitution and it is the Archivist's duty to issue a certificate [[Promulgation|proclaiming]] a particular amendment duly ratified and part of the Constitution if the legislatures of at least three-quarters of the states approve the proposed amendment.<ref>{{USPL|98|497}}</ref> The Amendment and its certificate of ratification are then published in the [[Federal Register]] and the amendment is included in the [[United States Statutes at Large]]. Before the enactment of that statute in 1984, that duty was vested in the [[General Services Administration]], and, before the establishment of that Agency in 1949, it formed part of the duties of the United States Secretary of State.
Under Public Law No. 98-497, the Archivist also must maintain custody of [[State legislature (United States)|state]] ratifications of [[Constitutional amendment#United States|amendments]] to the Constitution. It is the Archivist's duty to issue a certificate [[Promulgation|proclaiming]] a particular amendment duly ratified and part of the Constitution if the legislatures of at least three-quarters of the states approve the proposed amendment.<ref>{{USPL|98|497}}</ref> The Amendment and its certificate of ratification are then published in the ''[[Federal Register]]'' and the amendment is included in the [[United States Statutes at Large]]. Before the enactment of that statute in 1984, that duty was vested in the [[General Services Administration]], and, before the establishment of that agency in 1949, it formed part of the duties of the United States Secretary of State.


In accordance with Title 1, Chapter 2 §106a of the [[United States Code]], the Archivist of the United States also receives the original version of all statutes of the United States, once enacted.<ref>{{USC|1|106a}}</ref> Joint Resolutions and Acts of Congress signed into law by the president are delivered by the office of the President to the National Archives. The same happens if a bill becomes law because the president fails to approve or veto it within the constitutionally mandated period of time (ten days, excluding Sundays, and only counted when Congress is in session). If the President vetoes a bill but the presidential veto is overridden, the new law is transmitted to the National Archives not by the office of the President, but by Congress: in this case, the presiding officer of the last House to consider the bill certifies that the presidential objection was overridden, and sends the new law to the Archivist of the United States. In all cases, the office of the Archivist (the National Archives) maintains custody of the original document and (by means of the [[Office of the Federal Register]], a division of the National Archives), assigns the new Act of Congress a public law number, provides for its publication as a slip law and for the inclusion of the new statute in the United States Statutes at Large. The actual printing and circulation of the slip law and of the volumes of the [[United States Statutes at Large]] is the responsibility of the [[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Publishing Office]], headed by the [[Director of the Government Publishing Office]].
In accordance with Title 1, Chapter 2 §106a of the [[United States Code]], the Archivist of the United States also receives the original version of all statutes of the United States, once enacted.<ref>{{USC|1|106a}}</ref> [[Joint resolution]]s and [[acts of Congress]] signed into law by the president are delivered by the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Office of the President]] to the National Archives. The same happens if a bill becomes law because the president fails to approve or [[Veto power in the United States|veto]] it. If the president vetoes a bill but the presidential veto is overridden, the new law is transmitted to the National Archives not by the office of the president, but by Congress: in this case, the presiding officer of the last house to consider the bill certifies that the presidential objection was overridden, and sends the new law to the Archivist. In all cases, the National Archives maintains custody of the original document and (by means of the [[Office of the Federal Register]], a division of the National Archives), assigns the new Act of Congress a public law number, provides for its publication as a slip law and for the inclusion of the new statute in the ''United States Statutes at Large''. The actual printing and circulation of the slip law and of the volumes of the ''[[United States Statutes at Large]]'' is the responsibility of the [[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Publishing Office]], headed by the [[Director of the Government Publishing Office]].


By means of the Office of the Federal Register, the National Archives also publishes documents of the Executive Branch, such as presidential proclamations and executive orders, retaining custody of the original signed documents. NARA also has many duties regarding the preservation of presidential papers and materials.
By means of the Office of the Federal Register, the National Archives also publishes documents of the Executive Branch, such as presidential proclamations and executive orders, retaining custody of the original signed documents. The National Archives also has many duties regarding the preservation of presidential papers and materials.


In all United States presidential elections, the Archivist of the United States also has duties concerning the custody of [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] documents, such as certificates of ascertainment declaring the names of the presidential electors chosen in each state, and of the certificates of vote produced by the electors of each state.<ref>{{usc|3|6|13}}</ref> In practice, these administrative responsibilities are delegated to the Director of the Federal Register.<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/roles.html#ofr U. S. Electoral College: Roles and Responsibilities]</ref>
In all United States presidential elections, the Archivist also has duties concerning the custody of [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] documents, such as [[certificates of ascertainment]] declaring the names of the presidential electors chosen in each state, and of the certificates of vote produced by the electors of each state.<ref>{{usc|3|6|13}}</ref> In practice, these administrative responsibilities are delegated to the Director of the Federal Register.<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/roles.html#ofr U. S. Electoral College: Roles and Responsibilities]</ref>


==Archivists of the United States==
==Archivists of the United States==
⚫
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="clear:right; text-align:center"
The following is a list of Archivists of the United States<ref>{{cite web | title=Archivists of the United States: 1934–Present |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/ | access-date= March 12, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225001957/http://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/| archive-date= February 25, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref>
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}{{efn|A dash denotes Acting Archivist of the United States}}
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes [[acting (law)|acting]] archivist|border=black}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Portrait
⚫
{| class="wikitable" style="clear:right; text-align:center"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Archivist
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Term
! Picture
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Appointed by
! Archivist
! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | {{Reference heading}}
! Start of Term
|-
! End of Term
! scope="col" data-sort-type="date" | Start
! [[President of the United States|President(s)]]
! scope="col" data-sort-type="date" | End
|-
|-
|1
|1
| [[File:Robert-connor-l.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Robert-connor-l.jpg|90px]]
| [[Robert Digges Wimberly Connor]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Robert Digges Wimberly|Connor}}
| October 10, 1934
| October 10, 1934
| September 15, 1941
| September 15, 1941
| [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Robert D.W. Connor, First Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1934–1941) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/connor.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|2
|2
| [[File:Solon J. Buck, Second Archivist of the United States - DPLA - f3dfb033bc2305b19dfce1f19716b5ee.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Solon J. Buck, Second Archivist of the United States - DPLA - f3dfb033bc2305b19dfce1f19716b5ee.jpg|90px]]
| [[Solon J. Buck]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Solon J.|Buck}}
| September 18, 1941
| September 18, 1941
| May 31, 1948
| May 31, 1948
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Solon Justus Buck, Second Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1941–1948) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/buck.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]<br>[[Harry S. Truman]]
|-
|-
|3
|3
| [[File:Wayne-grover-l.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Portrait of Wayne C. Grover, Third Archivist of the United States, ca. 1948 (12238610943).jpg|90px]]
| [[Wayne C. Grover]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Wayne C.|Grover}}
| June 2, 1948
| June 2, 1948
| November 6, 1965
| November 6, 1965
| {{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}
| [[Harry S. Truman]]<br>[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]<br>[[John F. Kennedy]]<br>[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Wayne Grover, Third Archivist of the United States (1948–1965) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/grover.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|4
|4
| [[File:Robert-bahmer-l.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Portrait of Robert Bahmer, Fourth Archivist of the United States, ca. 1965 (12238837864).jpg|90px]]
| [[Robert H. Bahmer]]*
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Robert H.|Bahmer}}
⚫
| November 7, 1965{{efn|Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from November 7, 1965, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on January 16, 1966.}}
| November 7, 1965
| March 9, 1968
| March 9, 1968
| [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Robert H. Bahmer, Fourth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1965–1968) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/bahmer.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|5
|5
| [[File:Portrait of James B. Rhoads, Fifth Archivist of the United States, ca. 1968 (12238838874).jpg|90px]]
| [[File:James-rhoads-bio-m.jpeg|90px]]
| [[James B. Rhoads]]**
! scope="row" | {{sortname|James B.|Rhoads}}
⚫
| March 10, 1968{{efn|Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from March 10, 1968, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on May 2, 1968.}}
| March 10, 1968
| August 31, 1979
| August 31, 1979
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Robert H. Bahmer, Fourth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1965–1968) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/rhoads.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]<br>[[Richard Nixon]]<br>[[Gerald Ford]]<br>[[Jimmy Carter]]
|-
|-bgcolor=#E6E6AA
| –
| –
| [[File:James O'Neill Official Portrait.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:James O'Neill Official Portrait.jpg|90px]]
| [[James E. O'Neill]]
! scope="row" | [[James E. O'Neill]]
| September 1, 1979
| September 1, 1979
| July 23, 1980
| July 23, 1980
| [[Jimmy Carter]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=James E. O'Neill, Acting Archivist of the United States (1979-1980) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/oneill.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|6
|6
| [[File:Warner-robert.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Warner-robert.jpg|90px]]
| [[Robert M. Warner]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Robert M.|Warner}}
| July 24, 1980
| July 24, 1980
| April 15, 1985
| April 15, 1985
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Robert M. Warner, Sixth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1980-1985) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/warner |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[Jimmy Carter]]<br>[[Ronald Reagan]]
|-
|-bgcolor=#E6E6AA
| –
| –
| [[File:Frank Burke cropped.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Frank Burke cropped.jpg|100px]]
| [[Frank G. Burke]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Frank G.|Burke}}
| April 16, 1985
| April 16, 1985
| December 4, 1987
| December 4, 1987
| [[Ronald Reagan]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Frank G. Burke, Acting Archivist of the United States (1985-1987) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/burke.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|7
|7
| [[File:Don Wilson cropped oath.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Don Wilson cropped oath.jpg|90px]]
| [[Don W. Wilson]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Don W.|Wilson}}
| December 4, 1987
| December 4, 1987
| March 24, 1993
| March 24, 1993
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Don W. Wilson, Seventh Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1987–1993) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/wilson |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[Ronald Reagan]]<br>[[George H. W. Bush]]<br>[[Bill Clinton]]
|-
|-bgcolor=#E6E6AA
| –
| –
| [[File:Photograph of Trudy Peterson, Taken March, 9th 1988.png|90px]]
| [[File:Trudy Peterson (cropped).png|90px]]
| [[Trudy Huskamp Peterson]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Trudy Huskamp|Peterson}}
| March 25, 1993
| March 25, 1993
| May 29, 1995
| May 29, 1995
| [[Bill Clinton]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Trudy Huskamp Peterson, Acting Archivist of the United States (1993-1995) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/peterson.html |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|-
|8
|8
| [[File:John Carlin.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:John Carlin.jpg|90px]]
| [[John W. Carlin]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|John W.|Carlin}}
| May 30, 1995
| May 30, 1995
| February 15, 2005
| February 15, 2005
| <ref>{{cite web |title=John Carlin, Eighth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1995-2005) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/carlin |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[Bill Clinton]]<br>[[George W. Bush]]
|-
|-
|9
|9
| [[File:Allen Weinstein portrait.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Allen Weinstein portrait.jpg|90px]]
| [[Allen Weinstein]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Allen|Weinstein}}
| February 16, 2005
| February 16, 2005
| December 19, 2008
| December 19, 2008
| [[George W. Bush]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|George W.|Bush}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Allen Weinstein, Ninth Archivist of the United States (2005-2008) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/weinstein |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-bgcolor=#E6E6AA
|-
| –
| –
| [[File:Adrienne-thomas.jpg|90px]]
| [[File:Adrienne Thomas official photo.jpg|90px]]
| [[Adrienne Thomas (archivist)|Adrienne Thomas]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Adrienne|Thomas|dab=archivist}}
| December 19, 2008
| December 19, 2008
| November 5, 2009
| November 5, 2009
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Adrienne Thomas, Acting Archivist of the United States (2008-2009) |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/thomas |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| [[George W. Bush]]<br>[[Barack Obama]]
|-
|-
|10
|10
| [[File:David Ferriero official photo (cropped).jpg|90px]]
| [[File:David Ferriero official photo (cropped).jpg|90px]]
| [[David Ferriero]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|David|Ferriero}}
| November 6, 2009
| November 6, 2009
| April 30, 2022
| April 30, 2022
| [[Barack Obama]]<br>[[Donald Trump]]<br>[[Joe Biden]]
| {{sortname|Barack|Obama}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=David S. Ferriero, Tenth Archivist of the United States |website=National Archives |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/ferriero |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-bgcolor=#E6E6AA
|-
| –
| –
| [[File:Seal of the United States National Archives and Records Administration.svg|90px]]
| [[File:Debra Steidel Wall official photo.jpg|90px]]
| [[Debra Steidel Wall]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Debra Steidel|Wall}}
| May 1, 2022
| May 1, 2022
| May 17, 2023
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Joe|Biden}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Acting Archivist of the United States |website=National Archives |date=March 4, 2022 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/organization/senior-staff/acting-archivist |access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|11
| [[File:Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States.jpg|90px|]]
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Colleen Joy|Shogan}}
| May 17, 2023
| ''Incumbent''
| ''Incumbent''
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States |website=National Archives |date=May 10, 2023 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2023/nr23-31 |access-date=2023-05-10}}</ref>
| [[Joe Biden]]
|}
|}


==Notes==
⚫
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from November 7, 1965, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on January 16, 1966.
{{notelist}}

⚫
<nowiki>**</nowiki>Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from March 10, 1968, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on May 2, 1968.


==References==
==References==
Line 177: Line 195:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archivist Of The United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archivist Of The United States}}
[[Category:Heads of United States federal agencies]]
[[Category:Heads of United States federal agencies]]
[[Category:American archivists]]
[[Category:American archivists|*]]
[[Category:National Archives and Records Administration]]
[[Category:National Archives and Records Administration]]
[[Category:Constitutional history of the United States]]
[[Category:Constitutional history of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 17:28, 10 August 2024

Archivist of the United States
Seal of the National Archives
since May 17, 2023
National Archives and Records Administration
StyleMadam Archivist
StatusChief administrator
SeatNational Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument44 U.S.C. § 2103
FormationJune 19, 1934
First holderRobert Digges Wimberly Connor
DeputyDeputy Archivist of the United States
SalaryExecutive Schedule, level III
Websitearchives.gov

The Archivist of the United States is the head and chief administrator of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of the United States. The Archivist is responsible for the supervision and direction of the National Archives.[1]

The first Archivist, R. D. W. Connor, began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an independent federal agency by Congress. The Archivists served as subordinate officials of the General Services Administration from 1949 until the National Archives and Records Administration became an independent agency again on April 1, 1985.

President Joe Biden nominated Colleen Joy Shogan for the position on August 3, 2022, with her being confirmed and sworn in by the Senate in May 2023. She is the first woman to hold the position permanently.[2][3][4]

Background and role

[edit]

The Archivist is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and is responsible for safeguarding and making available for study all the permanently valuable records of the federal government, including the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, which are displayed in the Archives' main building in Washington, D.C.

Under Public Law No. 98-497, the Archivist also must maintain custody of state ratifications of amendments to the Constitution. It is the Archivist's duty to issue a certificate proclaiming a particular amendment duly ratified and part of the Constitution if the legislatures of at least three-quarters of the states approve the proposed amendment.[5] The Amendment and its certificate of ratification are then published in the Federal Register and the amendment is included in the United States Statutes at Large. Before the enactment of that statute in 1984, that duty was vested in the General Services Administration, and, before the establishment of that agency in 1949, it formed part of the duties of the United States Secretary of State.

In accordance with Title 1, Chapter 2 §106a of the United States Code, the Archivist of the United States also receives the original version of all statutes of the United States, once enacted.[6] Joint resolutions and acts of Congress signed into law by the president are delivered by the Office of the President to the National Archives. The same happens if a bill becomes law because the president fails to approve or veto it. If the president vetoes a bill but the presidential veto is overridden, the new law is transmitted to the National Archives not by the office of the president, but by Congress: in this case, the presiding officer of the last house to consider the bill certifies that the presidential objection was overridden, and sends the new law to the Archivist. In all cases, the National Archives maintains custody of the original document and (by means of the Office of the Federal Register, a division of the National Archives), assigns the new Act of Congress a public law number, provides for its publication as a slip law and for the inclusion of the new statute in the United States Statutes at Large. The actual printing and circulation of the slip law and of the volumes of the United States Statutes at Large is the responsibility of the Government Publishing Office, headed by the Director of the Government Publishing Office.

By means of the Office of the Federal Register, the National Archives also publishes documents of the Executive Branch, such as presidential proclamations and executive orders, retaining custody of the original signed documents. The National Archives also has many duties regarding the preservation of presidential papers and materials.

In all United States presidential elections, the Archivist also has duties concerning the custody of Electoral College documents, such as certificates of ascertainment declaring the names of the presidential electors chosen in each state, and of the certificates of vote produced by the electors of each state.[7] In practice, these administrative responsibilities are delegated to the Director of the Federal Register.[8]

Archivists of the United States

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No.[a] Portrait Archivist Term Appointed by Ref.
Start End
1 Robert Digges Wimberly Connor October 10, 1934 September 15, 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt [9]
2 Solon J. Buck September 18, 1941 May 31, 1948 [10]
3 Wayne C. Grover June 2, 1948 November 6, 1965 Harry S. Truman [11]
4 Robert H. Bahmer November 7, 1965[b] March 9, 1968 Lyndon B. Johnson [12]
5 James B. Rhoads March 10, 1968[c] August 31, 1979 [13]
– James E. O'Neill September 1, 1979 July 23, 1980 Jimmy Carter [14]
6 Robert M. Warner July 24, 1980 April 15, 1985 [15]
– Frank G. Burke April 16, 1985 December 4, 1987 Ronald Reagan [16]
7 Don W. Wilson December 4, 1987 March 24, 1993 [17]
– Trudy Huskamp Peterson March 25, 1993 May 29, 1995 Bill Clinton [18]
8 John W. Carlin May 30, 1995 February 15, 2005 [19]
9 Allen Weinstein February 16, 2005 December 19, 2008 George W. Bush [20]
– Adrienne Thomas December 19, 2008 November 5, 2009 [21]
10 David Ferriero November 6, 2009 April 30, 2022 Barack Obama [22]
– Debra Steidel Wall May 1, 2022 May 17, 2023 Joe Biden [23]
11 Colleen Joy Shogan May 17, 2023 Incumbent [24]

Notes

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  1. ^ A dash denotes Acting Archivist of the United States
  2. ^ Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from November 7, 1965, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on January 16, 1966.
  3. ^ Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from March 10, 1968, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on May 2, 1968.

References

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  1. ^ 44 U.S.C. § 2102
  2. ^ "PN2457 - Nomination of Colleen Joy Shogan for National Archives and Records Administration, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". August 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States". National Archives. May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Shogan Assumes Office as 11th Archivist of the United States". National Archives and Records Administration. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Pub. L. 98–497
  6. ^ 1 U.S.C. § 106a
  7. ^ 3 U.S.C. §§ 6–13
  8. ^ U. S. Electoral College: Roles and Responsibilities
  9. ^ "Robert D.W. Connor, First Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1934–1941)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Solon Justus Buck, Second Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1941–1948)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Wayne Grover, Third Archivist of the United States (1948–1965)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Robert H. Bahmer, Fourth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1965–1968)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Robert H. Bahmer, Fourth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1965–1968)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "James E. O'Neill, Acting Archivist of the United States (1979-1980)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "Robert M. Warner, Sixth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1980-1985)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "Frank G. Burke, Acting Archivist of the United States (1985-1987)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Don W. Wilson, Seventh Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1987–1993)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Trudy Huskamp Peterson, Acting Archivist of the United States (1993-1995)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "John Carlin, Eighth Archivist of the United States (Archivist: 1995-2005)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Allen Weinstein, Ninth Archivist of the United States (2005-2008)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Adrienne Thomas, Acting Archivist of the United States (2008-2009)". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  22. ^ "David S. Ferriero, Tenth Archivist of the United States". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  23. ^ "Acting Archivist of the United States". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. March 4, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States". National Archives. National Archives and Records Administration. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
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