As the Archivist of the United States, my top priority is access for all Americans to the important records of our nation that we hold in trust at the National Archives. I am deeply committed to civic education and public engagement, and I have made it a priority to expand the reach of the National Archives to a wider audience. The Wall Street Journal has published an article based on anonymous complaints about that work and my leadership of the agency.
I strongly disagree with the misinformed perspective presented in the article.
I cannot state this strongly enough: I am proud of the work we are doing at the National Archives, and I am unwavering in my commitment to leading NARA without partisanship or ideology.
Our mission is too important, and the stakes are too high, for anything less.
As federal employees, we are not here to promote or share our personal interpretation of the records. That is for others to do. We are here to preserve, protect, and share the records with all Americans.
Our exhibits and educational programs must be aligned with that mission.
That does not mean we shy away from difficult topics; but it does mean that we need to be thoughtful in how we engage with our past and focused on fostering understanding and dialogue.
Over the last 18 months, I have 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.
We made that position clear in our statement to the Journal, which I am sharing in full here:
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The National Archives is the nation’s record keeper. We are an independent government agency responsible for preserving, protecting, and sharing the records of the United States without partisanship or ideology. To be successful, it is imperative that the National Archives welcomes—and feels welcoming to—all Americans.

