On Monday, September 9, 2024, Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen J. Shogan welcomed the members of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee to the first meeting of the 2024–2026 term. Later, Dr. Shogan shared, “It was my honor to help kick off the sixth term of the FOIA Advisory Committee yesterday. As Sen. Taft said in 1974, ‘freedom of information is the hallmark of a democratic society.’ I hope @FOIA_Ombuds and the Committee have a productive term.”
Later that morning, Dr. Shogan met with the millionth visitor to the National Archives at the Visitors’ Orientation Plaza. The Buxton family—parents Marc and Jessi, and their children Nicole, Levi, and Reese—were visiting from Florence, South Carolina.
On Tuesday evening, Dr. Shogan spoke with author Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky about her book Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic in the Archivist’s Reception Room.
On September 11, Dr. Shogan reflected on the anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks, saying, “When President Bush threw out the ceremonial pitch at @yankeestadium following 9/11, the moment was a strong symbol of American strength and unity. We are all bound together as one in the records of our national life.” Photo: “911: President George W. Bush at World Series,” 2001. National Archives Identifier: 5997397.
That afternoon, Dr. Shogan hosted international archival leaders Marie-Louise Ayres, Director-General of the National Library of Australia; Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada; Simon Froude, Director-General of National Archives of Australia; Anahera Morehu, Poumanaaki Chief Archivist at Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand; and Rachel Esson, National Librarian Te Pouhuaki of New Zealand. Dr. Shogan moderated a roundtable discussion with Froude, Morehu, and Weir, in which the leaders shared insights on the role of archival institutions to preserve and provide access to the stories of their people.
On September 12, following the international archivists’ visit to the National Archives at College Park, Dr. Shogan shared on X that “It was my honor to welcome my peers from @LibraryArchives Canada, @ArchivesNZ, @NLNZ, @nlagovau, and @naagovau to @USNatArchives this week. We had several great conversations and showed off our national treasures.”
On September 13, Dr. Shogan invited the public to kick off the new school year by participating in a “Civics for All of US,” student webinar. You can get more information on the National Archives website.
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