An Open Letter to the President-Elect

Dear President-elect Obama:

In one week's time, you will take your oath of office on the steps of the United States Capitol. I, along with millions of Americans, will be there to witness this great event. You have been entrusted with the greatest office and we are counting on you to bring us the change we need. We are with you. I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election and second, to let you know of one appointment that is of great concern to me and many of my colleagues at the National Archives and Records Administration.

As you know, the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, announced his resignation, and left the agency on December 19. While I completely understand that you have a lot on your plate right now and that leadership of the National Archives may not be centered on your radar screen, I urge you to act on nominating a replacement as soon as possible.

Since the establishment of the National Archives in 1934, there have been nine Archivists of the United States.

• Robert D. W. Connor - October 10, 1934-September 15, 1941
• Solon J. Buck - September 18, 1941-May 31, 1948
• Wayne C. Grover - June 2, 1948-November 6, 1965
• Robert H. Bahmer - November 7, 1965-March 9, 1968
• James B. Rhoads - March 10, 1968-1979
• Robert M. Warner - July 1980-April 15, 1985
• Don W. Wilson - December 4, 1987-March 24, 1993
• John W. Carlin - May 30, 1995-February 15, 2005
• Allen Weinstein - February 16, 2005-December 19, 2008

Mr. Bahmer served as Acting Archivist from November 7, 1965 until his appointment, January 16, 1966. Mr. Rhoads served as Acting Archivist from March 10, 1968 until his appointment, May 2, 1968. Between the tenure of Archivists Rhoads and Warner, James O'Neill served as Acting Archivist for approximately six months. Prior to the appointment of Archivist Wilson, Frank Burke served as Acting Archivist for more than two years as did Trudy Huskamp Peterson between the tenures of Archivists Wilson and Carlin. With Dr. Weinstein's departure, Deputy Archivist Adrienne Thomas now serves as Acting Archivist.

Dr. Weinstein and his two predecessors have had controversial tenures. When President Clinton nominated John Carlin, a former Governor of Kansas, there was concern in the archival community about his qualifications for the position. In fact, one of the first pieces of professional correspondence I wrote upon becoming an archivist was to President Clinton regarding the nomination. When Dr.Weinstein was nominated by the current president, there was concern over Dr. Weinstein's publishing record, but he was a genuine historian and his service to the National Archives has benefited the professional community immensely.

With Governor Carlin's appointment, the National Archives and Records Administration was in need of an administrator that could help with the management of the archives. It was Governor Carlin who secured the initial funding for the Electronic Records Archive and partnered with Lockheed Martin Corporation to get ERA off the ground. Dr.Weinstein's tenure has raised the reputation of the institution and, in what will surely be one of Dr. Weinstein's greatest legacies, made ERA a viable entity, which will revolutionize the way records are transferred to the National Archives.

What the National Archives needs now is someone with enormous technology knowledge. The National Archives needs to be the leader in the archival community and nominating someone who can fully embrace technology and help move the archives forward is crucial to the success of the institution. ERA, though it has many critics and significant issues, must not be left to wither.

I respectfully also suggest that you look to the archival community for candidates as well. I can think of several right off that would do amazing things for the National Archives, individuals who are technologically savvy and also of a keen archival mind. The blogosphere and many of us in the archival community have been abuzz with suggestions on who should be the next Archivist of the United States. I know that members of your transition team met today with representatives of the Society of American Archivists to listen to suggestions and concerns about what qualifications are needed in the next Archivist of the United States.

The individual that you select must be able to navigate the intricacies of the federal agency and assist in developing a policy that echoes one of the promises you championed in your campaign, that of openness and transparency. Declassification efforts currently underway at NARA must continue to move forward.

Finally, the new Archivist of the United States should be an individual who can reclaim some of the prestige that should be afforded the National Archives and Records Administration. I will note that four of the nine individuals who have served as Archivist of the United States have also served as President of the Society of American Archivists.

One of your predecessors, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who established the National Archives in 1934, offers some more advice in a letter he wrote to former Archivist of the United States R. D. W. Connor, who was serving as President of the Society of American Archivists: "I need not tell you of my lifetime interest in the building up of archives throughout the nation." President Roosevelt concluded with an understanding of the work that lay ahead, speaking for the work of the Society, but could easily be translated to the necessary work that lay ahead for the National Archives, "This involves, of course, a vast amount of work because of this volume of federal, state, and local archives of all kinds - but I think that a broad plan would meet with hearty public support if it could be properly publicized."

Again, congratulations on your election. I am honored to be a part of your historic inauguration. Now let's get to work!

Regards,
Brave Astronaut

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This letter represents my own personal opinion and in no way reflects the opinion of the National Archives, nor do I speak in any official capacity for the National Archives.