National Archives Act

National Archives Act. The National Archives Act was a landmark legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 19, 1934, with the aim of preserving and making accessible the nation's historical records, including those from the American Revolution, World War I, and the Great Depression. This act established the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as an independent agency responsible for the preservation and maintenance of federal records, including those from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. The act also provided for the appointment of the Archivist of the United States, who would oversee the administration of the National Archives, in consultation with the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the Society of American Archivists.

Introduction

The National Archives Act was introduced in response to the growing need for a centralized repository for federal records, which were previously scattered across various government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of War, and the Department of the Navy. The act was championed by J. Franklin Jameson, a prominent historian and archivist, who had long advocated for the creation of a national archives, inspired by the examples of the British Museum and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The act's passage was also influenced by the work of the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, and the Society for History in the Federal Government. The National Archives Act has been recognized as a major milestone in the development of archival science, alongside the work of pioneers like Sir Hilary Jenkinson and T.R. Schellenberg.

History

The history of the National Archives Act dates back to the early 20th century, when concerns about the preservation of federal records began to grow, particularly in the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and the Great Fire of 1922 in New York City. In 1906, the American Historical Association established a committee to investigate the condition of federal records, which led to the creation of the Public Records Commission in 1912, with the support of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. The commission's report, published in 1915, highlighted the need for a centralized archives and led to the introduction of the first National Archives bill in Congress in 1917, sponsored by Robert M. La Follette and George Norris. Although the bill did not pass, it laid the groundwork for future efforts, including the establishment of the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress.

Provisions

The National Archives Act established the National Archives as an independent agency responsible for the preservation and maintenance of federal records, including those from the Executive Office of the President, the Supreme Court of the United States, and Congress. The act also provided for the appointment of the Archivist of the United States, who would oversee the administration of the National Archives, in consultation with the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the Society of American Archivists. The act mandated that federal agencies transfer their records to the National Archives, where they would be preserved and made available for research, including records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. The act also established the National Archives Trust Fund Board, which would oversee the management of the National Archives' budget, with the support of the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget.

Implementation

The implementation of the National Archives Act was overseen by the first Archivist of the United States, R.D.W. Connor, who was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934, with the advice of Harold L. Ickes and Frances Perkins. Connor played a crucial role in establishing the National Archives and developing its programs, including the creation of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., which was designed by John Russell Pope and built with the support of the Public Works Administration. The National Archives began to receive records from federal agencies, including the Department of State, Department of War, and the Department of the Navy, and made them available for research, with the assistance of the Library of Congress and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The National Archives also established a program for the preservation of historical records, including the creation of the National Archives Conservation Laboratory, with the support of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art.

Amendments

The National Archives Act has undergone several amendments since its passage in 1934, including the Federal Records Act of 1950, which expanded the definition of federal records and mandated the transfer of records to the National Archives, with the support of Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 also amended the National Archives Act, providing for greater public access to federal records, including those from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 further amended the act, establishing the principle that presidential records are the property of the United States government, rather than the personal property of the President of the United States, with the support of Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. These amendments have helped to ensure that the National Archives remains a vital institution for the preservation and accessibility of federal records, with the support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the Society of American Archivists. Category:United States federal archives