National Archives and Records Administration

National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, responsible for maintaining and preserving the nation's most valuable historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The agency was established in 1934, with the signing of the National Archives Act by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with additional facilities in College Park, Maryland, and other locations across the country, including Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri, New York City, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington. The agency is also responsible for overseeing the Presidential Library system, which includes libraries dedicated to the papers and legacy of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

● History

The history of the agency dates back to the early 20th century, when Historian J. Franklin Jameson and Archivist Waldo Gifford Leland advocated for the creation of a national archives to preserve the country's historical records, including those related to the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. The agency was established in 1934, with the signing of the National Archives Act by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was initially housed in the Department of State building, before moving to its current location in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Library of Congress. The agency has played a significant role in preserving the nation's historical records, including those related to the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement, and has worked closely with other agencies, such as the National Park Service, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Smithsonian Institution, to promote the preservation of historic sites and artifacts, including the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

● Organization

The agency is headed by the Archivist of the United States, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, and is responsible for overseeing the agency's operations, including the preservation of historical records, the management of the Presidential Library system, and the provision of public access to historical documents, including those related to the Watergate scandal, the Iran-Contra affair, and the September 11 attacks. The agency is organized into several divisions, including the Office of the Archivist, the Office of Administrative Services, and the Office of Strategic Planning, and works closely with other agencies, such as the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Central Intelligence Agency, to ensure the preservation of sensitive and classified information, including documents related to the Manhattan Project, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the Gulf War. The agency also collaborates with international organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Council on Archives, and the European Union, to promote the preservation of historical records and the development of archival standards, including the ISO 15489 standard for records management.

● Holdings

The agency's holdings include a vast array of historical documents, photographs, and other materials, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as records related to the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. The agency also preserves records related to the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement, including documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency, as well as records from the Presidential Library system, including the libraries of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The agency's holdings also include documents related to significant events, such as the Watergate scandal, the Iran-Contra affair, and the September 11 attacks, as well as records from the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

● Facilities

The agency operates several facilities across the country, including the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., the National Archives at College Park in College Park, Maryland, and regional facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri, New York City, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington. The agency's facilities provide public access to historical documents, as well as research and educational programs, including the National Archives and Records Administration's Annual Conference, the Society of American Archivists conference, and the American Historical Association conference. The agency also partners with other institutions, such as the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Park Service, to promote the preservation of historical records and the development of archival standards, including the ISO 15489 standard for records management.

● Preservation

The agency is responsible for preserving the nation's historical records, including documents, photographs, and other materials, using a variety of techniques, including conservation, digitization, and microfilming. The agency works closely with other organizations, such as the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Library of Congress, to develop and implement preservation standards, including the ISO 15489 standard for records management, and to promote the use of preservation technologies, such as digital preservation and cloud storage. The agency also collaborates with international organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Council on Archives, and the European Union, to promote the preservation of historical records and the development of archival standards, including the ISO 14721 standard for digital preservation.

● Public Access

The agency provides public access to historical documents, including those related to significant events, such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War, as well as records from the Presidential Library system, including the libraries of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The agency's public access programs include online databases, such as the National Archives and Records Administration's Online Catalog, as well as research and educational programs, including the National Archives and Records Administration's Annual Conference, the Society of American Archivists conference, and the American Historical Association conference. The agency also partners with other institutions, such as the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Park Service, to promote the preservation of historical records and the development of archival standards, including the ISO 15489 standard for records management. Category:United States government agencies