An Open Letter to the Society of American Archivists

Members of the Society of American Archivists,

I am writing today to address the recent Wall Street Journal article that contained inaccurate and misleading information about exhibits at the National Archives. I understand that the article's mischaracterizations may have caused confusion and concern among some in the archival community. Let me be very clear, the article does not accurately depict our work at the National Archives.

The National Archives is a nonpartisan institution dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the records of the United States government. As the Archivist of the United States, that is my top priority. I am deeply committed to the principles of transparency, accuracy, and historical integrity that drive our mission, and I have made it a goal to expand the reach of the National Archives to a wider audience. I have also been very direct with NARA employees and stakeholders about the challenges we face as an agency, and the importance of ensuring all Americans feel welcomed to our spaces and find their experiences represented in our programming and exhibits. That direction is clearly articulated in our new Strategic Framework, as well.

As federal employees, we are not here to promote or share our personal interpretation of the records. That is for others to do. It is our job to make sure the records are available and accessible. We take this responsibility seriously, and we are committed to providing access to records for research and selecting records for our exhibits in a fair and balanced manner without ideology. Our exhibits and educational programs—whether in Washington, DC, or at our Presidential Libraries and NARA facilities around the country—must be aligned with that mission. They are intended to help the public learn more about our history, and how many stories intersect at the National Archives.  

The article in question suggested that our exhibits are biased and politically motivated. This is simply not true. Our policy on exhibits and public programs is clear. We are building a new exhibit that incorporates state-of-the-art interactive learning and engaging experiences with a diversity of perspectives to encourage critical thinking and dialogue, and to help provide every visitor in Washington, DC, with a more complete understanding of our shared history.

Of course, the new exhibit is not intended to stand alone. It is being designed specifically to complement the well-known National Archives Charters of Freedom display, which is being expanded to include the Emancipation Proclamation and the 19th Amendment, and our very popular Records of Rights exhibit, which documents some of the hardest moments in our collective growth toward a more perfect Union. You can find more information about the new exhibit here.

Our Presidential Libraries around the country also do an excellent job connecting visitors to the National Archives and presenting our nation’s history, including many difficult episodes, in a meaningful way. Millions of visitors tour the exhibits at our Presidential Libraries each year, which honestly chronicle successes and challenges alike.

I understand that people may hold differing opinions about how historical events and figures should be interpreted. However, I believe that it is essential that everyone engages in these discussions in a respectful and informed manner. We welcome such productive dialogue at the National Archives and are glad to see so many interested in American democracy and its history.

I am proud of the work that we do at the National Archives, and I am confident that our exhibits are a valuable resource for the American people. I encourage you to visit our museums and to see for yourself the high quality of our work.

Thank you for your continued support of the National Archives.

Sincerely,

Dr. Colleen J. Shogan
Archivist of the United States