Edit Organization: National Archives and Records Administration

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{{Short description|United States government agency}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = National Archives and Records Administration | nativename = NARA | logo = NARA Logo created 2010.svg | logo_width = 140 | logo_caption = National Archives logo, a stone eagle inspired by the architecture of the [[National Archives Building]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web|website=National Archives and Records Administration|url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2010/nr10-114.html|title=Celebrate July 4 with New Logo and 1st Ever Parade Float!|date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> | seal = US-NARA-Seal.svg | seal_width = 140 | seal_caption = Official seal | formed = {{start date and age|1934|6|19}}<br/>(Independent Agency April 1, 1985)<ref name="milestones">{{cite web| title=Archival Milestones| publisher=National Archives and Records Administration| url=https://www.archives.gov/about/history/milestones.html| access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> | motto = {{lang|la|[[List of Latin phrases|Littera scripta manet]]}}<br>{{small|([[Latin]] for "the written word remains")}} | preceding1 = National Archives and Records Service (GSA) | agency_type = [[Independent agencies of the United States government|Independent]] | jurisdiction = [[U.S. Federal Government]] | headquarters = [[National Archives Building]]<br />700 [[Pennsylvania Avenue]] NW, [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|38|53|33.6|N|77|01|22.6|W|region:US-DC_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | employees = 2,848 (FY 2021)<ref name="Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request"/> | budget = $397 million (FY 2021)<ref name="Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request"/> | chief1_name = [[Colleen Joy Shogan]] | chief1_position = [[Archivist of the United States]] | chief2_name = William Bosanko | chief2_position = Deputy Archivist | chief3_name = | chief3_position = | chief4_name = | chief4_position = | chief5_name = | chief5_position = | chief6_name = | chief6_position = | chief7_name = | chief7_position = | chief8_name = | chief8_position = | chief9_name = | chief9_position = | parent_department = | child1_agency = [[Office of the Federal Register]] | website = {{official URL}} }} The '''National Archives and Records Administration''' ('''NARA''') is an [[independent agency of the United States government]] within the executive branch,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephanie |date=2013-04-18 |title=What's the difference between the National Archives and the Library of Congress? |url=https://education.blogs.archives.gov/2013/04/18/difference-library-of-congress-and-national-archives/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Education Updates |language=en-US}}</ref> charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also tasked with increasing public access to those documents that make up the National Archives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archivists.org/publications/proceedings/accesstoarchives/07_David_MENGEL.pdf|title=Access to United States Government Records at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration|last=Mengel|first=David|date=May 2007|publisher=Society of American Archivists|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=July 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713151634/http://www.archivists.org/publications/proceedings/accesstoarchives/07_David_MENGEL.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> NARA is officially responsible for maintaining and publishing the legally authentic and authoritative copies of [[acts of Congress]], [[presidential directives]], and federal regulations. NARA also transmits votes of the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] to Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2017/fall/historian-electoral-college|title=Elections and the Electoral College|date=2017-03-15|website=National Archives|language=en|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> It also examines Electoral College and [[Article Five of the United States Constitution#Ratification of amendments|constitutional amendment]] ratification documents for prima facie legal sufficiency and an authenticating signature.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitutional Amendment Process|url=https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/|website=Archives.gov|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref> The National Archives, and its publicly exhibited [[Charters of Freedom]], which include the original [[United States Declaration of Independence]], [[United States Constitution]], [[United States Bill of Rights]], [[Emancipation Proclamation]] (starting in 2026),<ref>{{Cite web |last=More • • |first=Maggie |date=2024-06-20 |title=Emancipation Proclamation to go on permanent display at National Archives in 2026 |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/emancipation-proclamation-to-go-on-permanent-display-at-national-archives-in-2026/3645725/?amp=1 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}}</ref> and many other historical documents, is headquartered in the [[National Archives Building]] in Washington, D.C. ==Organization== {{Main|Organization of the National Archives and Records Administration}} The mission of the National Archives is: {{Blockquote |text=We drive openness, cultivate public participation, and strengthen our nation's democracy through equitable public access to high-value government records.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-15 |title=Mission, Vision and Values |url=https://www.archives.gov/about/info/mission |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref>}} The work of the National Archives is dedicated to two main functions: public engagement and federal records and information management. The National Archives administers 15 [[Presidential library system|Presidential Libraries and Museums]], a museum in Washington, D.C., that displays the Charters of Freedom, and 15 research facilities across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Locations |url=https://www.archives.gov/locations |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref> The agency's online catalog makes available over 160 million records ranging from before the start of the republic to the modern government. However, the digitized records represent only a small fraction of the over 13 billion pages in the holdings of the National Archives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Record Group Explorer |url=https://www.archives.gov/findingaid/record-group-explorer |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref> [[File:ArchivesRotunda.jpg|thumb|275px|The National Archives' [[Charters of Freedom|Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom]] where, in-between two [[Barry Faulkner]] murals, the original [[United States Declaration of Independence]], [[United States Constitution]], and other American founding documents are publicly exhibited.]] The National Archives governs federal records and information policy for the executive branch and preserves and makes available the records of the judicial and legislative branches. Agencies in the executive branch are required by the [[Federal Records Act]] to follow approved records schedules. All records maintained by the executive branch must be properly identified by NARA and authorized for eventual destruction or appraised to be of permanent historical or legal value to be preserved and made available to the public. Only two to three percent of records created by the federal government are deemed to be of permanent value. The [[Presidential Records Act]] mandates that all records created by the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Executive Office of the President]] are to be preserved and transferred to the National Archives at the end of a president's administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-15 |title=National Archives Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.archives.gov/faqs |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request">{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2021 |title=FY 2022 Congressional Justification |url=https://www.archives.gov/files/about/plans-reports/performance-budget/2022performance-budget.pdf|access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=National Archives and Records Administration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-15 |title=Presidential Records Act (PRA) of 1978 |url=https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/laws/1978-act.html |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref> The [[Archivist of the United States]] is the chief official overseeing the operation of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Archivist not only maintains the official documentation of the passage of [[Constitutional amendment#United States|amendments]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] by state legislatures, but has the authority to declare when the constitutional threshold for passage has been reached, and therefore when an act has become an amendment. The [[Office of the Federal Register]] publishes the ''[[Federal Register]]'', ''[[Code of Federal Regulations]]'', and ''[[United States Statutes at Large]]'', among others. It also administers the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]]. The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)—the agency's grant-making arm—awards funds to state and local governments, public and private archives, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations to preserve and publish historical records. Since 1964, the NHPRC has awarded some 4,500 grants. The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) is a [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] (FOIA) resource for the public and the government. Congress has charged NARA with reviewing FOIA policies, procedures, and compliance of federal agencies and to recommend changes to FOIA. NARA's mission also includes resolving FOIA disputes between federal agencies and requesters. ==History== Originally, each branch and agency of the U.S. government was responsible for maintaining its own documents, which often resulted in the loss and destruction of records. [[United States Congress|Congress]] created the National Archives Establishment in 1934 to centralize federal record-keeping, with the [[Archivist of the United States]] serving as chief administrator. [[Robert Digges Wimberly Connor|R. D. W. Connor]] was chosen to be the first leader of the organization.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Quigley|first=Sarah|date=2007|title=Cultural Record Keepers|doi=10.1353/lac.2007.0017|journal=Libraries & the Cultural Record|volume=42|pages=81|s2cid=161988764}}</ref> After a recommendation by the first [[Hoover Commission]] in 1949, the National Archives was placed within the newly formed [[General Services Administration]] (GSA). NARA was officially given its independence from the GSA with the passing of the Records Administration Act of 1984, thus giving birth to the institution that exists today.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bradsher|first=G|date=2015|title=National Archives Independence 30 Years Ago|journal=Federalist (Society for History in the Federal Government)|volume=45|pages=4–5|via=EBSCOHost}}</ref> In December 1978, millions of feet of newsreels were destroyed in a [[1978 Suitland National Archives Film Vault Fire|fire at an offsite location]] in [[Suitland, Maryland]].<ref name="Daley-2018">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/forty-years-ago-126-million-feet-history-went-smoke-180970977/|title=Forty Years Ago, 12.6 Million Feet of History Went Up in Smoke|last=Daley|first=Jason|website=Smithsonian|language=en|access-date=2019-05-03}}</ref> The reels, made of exceptionally flammable nitrate material, had been donated previously by Universal Pictures and were stored in special vaults intended to protect against fires. In total over 12.6 million feet of film was destroyed.<ref name="Daley-2018" /> In March 2006, it was revealed by the Archivist of the United States in a public hearing that a memorandum of understanding between NARA and various government agencies existed to "reclassify", i.e., withdraw from public access, certain documents in the name of national security, and to do so in a manner such that researchers would not be likely to discover the process (the [[U.S. reclassification program]]).<ref name="secret">{{cite web| title=Secret Agreement Reveals Covert Program to Hide Reclassification from Public| date=April 11, 2006| url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20060411/index.htm| publisher=National Security Archive| access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> An audit indicated that more than one third withdrawn since 1999 did not contain sensitive information.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/washington/27archives.html?ref=nationalarchivesandrecordsadministration| title=National Archives Says Records Were Wrongly Classified | author= Scott Shane| newspaper=The New York Times | date= April 27, 2006 }}</ref> The program was originally scheduled to end in 2007. In 2008 the NARA announced that they would not be archiving government websites during [[United States presidential transition|transition]], after carrying out such crawls in 2000 and 2004. The [[End of Term Web Archive]] was established in response to this.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Webster|first=Peter|date=2017|editor1-last=Brügger|editor1-first=Niels|title=Users, technologies, organisations: Towards a cultural history of world web archiving|url=https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:26187/|journal=Web 25. Histories from 25 Years of the World Wide Web|language=en-US|volume=|pages=179–190|doi=10.3726/b11492|isbn=9781433140655|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021215748/https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:26187/|archive-date=2020-10-21|via=|hdl=2318/1770557|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=National Archives|url=https://webharvest.gov/|url-status=live|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170918235110/https://www.webharvest.gov/|archive-date=September 18, 2017|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Congressional & Federal Government Web Harvests|language=en}}</ref> In 2010, [[Executive Order 13526]] created the National Declassification Center<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/declassification/ |title=National Archives and Declassification |publisher=Archives.gov |date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> to coordinate [[declassification]] practices across agencies, provide secure document services to other agencies, and review records in NARA custody for declassification. A 2022 report by the [[National Security Archive]] revealed that the National Archives budget (when adjusted for inflation) has not increased since 1991 despite the exponential growth of electronic records created by the federal government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. National Archives' (NARA) Budget: The 30-Year Flatline {{!}} National Security Archive |url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/foia-audit/foia/2022-03-11/us-national-archives-nara-budget-30-year-flatline |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=nsarchive.gwu.edu}}</ref> ==List of Archivists== {{main|Archivist of the United States}} ==Records== NARA's holdings are classed into "record groups" reflecting the governmental department or agency from which they originated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-15|title=Record Group Concept|url=https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/index-numeric/concept.html|access-date=2020-09-16|website=National Archives|language=en}}</ref> Records include paper documents, [[Microform|microfilm]], still pictures, motion pictures, and electronic media. Archival descriptions of the permanent holdings of the federal government in the custody of NARA are stored in the National Archives Catalog.<ref>{{cite web|last=NARA|title=The National Archives Catalog|url=https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog/|access-date=May 6, 2016}}</ref> The archival descriptions include information on traditional paper holdings, electronic records, and artifacts.<ref>{{cite web|last=NARA|title=Open Government at the National Archives|url=https://www.archives.gov/open/dataset-arc.html|access-date=December 13, 2012}}</ref> {{As of|December 2012|post=,}} the catalog consisted of about 10 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] logical data records describing 527,000 artifacts and encompassing 81% of NARA's records.<ref name=ARC/> There are also 922,000 digital copies of already digitized materials.<ref name=ARC>{{cite web|last=NARA|title=About Archival Research Catalog (ARC)|url=https://www.archives.gov/research/arc/about-arc.html|access-date=December 13, 2012}}</ref> Most records at NARA are in the [[public domain]], as works of the federal government are excluded from [[copyright]] protection. However, records from other sources may still be protected by copyright or donor agreements.<ref name="copyright">{{cite web| title=Copyright, Permissions and Restrictions Notice| url=https://www.archives.gov/global-pages/privacy.html| publisher=archives.gov| access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> [[Executive Order 13526]] directs originating agencies to declassify documents if possible before shipment to NARA for long-term storage,<ref>Section 3.2 (d)</ref> but NARA also stores some [[classified document]]s until they can be [[declassified]]. Its [[Information Security Oversight Office]] monitors and sets policy for the U.S. government's security classification system. === Genealogical requests === [[File:1930_Census_Record_at_Naval_Station_Great_Lakes.jpg|alt=|thumb|1930 Census Record from [[Naval Station Great Lakes]], Lake County, Illinois]] Most people who access records at NARA are [[Genealogy|genealogists]] or family historians.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-19|title=Why Visit the National Archives?|url=https://www.archives.gov/locations/why-visit|access-date=2020-09-25|website=National Archives|language=en}}</ref> While many records are available online through the [https://catalog.archives.gov/ National Archives Catalog], individuals can also request paper copies and microfilm scans. When applicable, the catalog will indicate a document's physical location in a [[National Archives facilities|National Archives facility]]. [[Census]] records are among the most frequently requested at NARA, with the oldest entries from 1790.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy|publisher=Ancestry Publishing|year=2006|isbn=1593312776|editor-last=Dennis Szucs|editor-first=Loretto|pages=756|editor-last2=Hargreaves Luebking|editor-first2=Sandra}}</ref> These records often contain information such as addresses and names of family members. However, all pieces of [[personal data]] are restricted for 72 years after collection; prior to then, [[List of federal agencies in the United States|federal agencies]] can only access statistical data.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Heimlich|first=Russell|date=2012-04-09|title=The '72-Year Rule' Governs Release of Census Records|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2012/04/09/the-72-year-rule-governs-release-of-census-records/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Pew Research Center}}</ref> The newest unrestricted census is from 1950 and was released to the general public in April 2022. The subsequent census from 1960 will be released in April 2032. NARA has also collaborated with [[Ancestry.com]], [[Fold3.com]], and [[Familysearch.org]] to scan microfilms and documents of genealogical interest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Melissa|date=2016-02-01|title=A Primer on United States Naturalization Records|url=https://ngsmonthly.ngsgenealogy.org/a-primer-on-united-states-naturalization-records/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=NGS Monthly: National Genealogical Society}}</ref> These digitization partners have expanded the number of genealogical sources on their respective websites, such as ship passenger lists and military records. NARA will eventually offer free access to all digitized sources through the National Archives Catalog.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-15|title=Microfilm Publications and Original Records Digitized by Our Digitization Partners|url=https://www.archives.gov/digitization/digitized-by-partners|access-date=2020-09-25|website=National Archives|language=en}}</ref> However, many file collections are not available for public viewing either through NARA or affiliate websites. This includes [[naturalization]] records and [[vital record]]s that reveal extensive personal data. Depending on a requestor's verifiable relation to a subject of interest, restricted files may be obtainable under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] (FOIA).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Trent|first=Sydney|date=2019-12-09|title=The genealogy boom has hit a roadblock. The Trump administration plans huge fee hikes for immigration records.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/05/genealogy-boom-has-hit-roadblock-trump-administration-plans-huge-fee-hikes-immigration-records/|access-date=2020-09-25}}</ref> Since 2005, NARA has held annual Genealogy Fairs with guest speakers and research workshops.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-19|title=National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair|url=https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-fair|access-date=2020-09-25|website=National Archives|language=en}}</ref> These events are free of charge and are designed for interested individuals of any skill level. Materials from past Genealogy Fairs are available on the National Archives website. === Founders Online === In 2010, the Archives, in a cooperative agreement with the [[University of Virginia Press]], created [[Founders Online]], a website for providing free public access to the papers and letters of seven of the nation's most influential founders: [[John Adams]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John Jay]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], and [[George Washington]].<ref name=Archivists>{{cite web|url=https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/FoundersOnline.pdf|title=Founders Online Review|last=Eckert|first=Ellen|date=February 10, 2015|website=archivists.org|publisher=Society of American Archivists|access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://founders.archives.gov/about/news#n2020-09-15|title=Founders Online News: Papers of John Jay added to Founders Online|date=September 15, 2020|website=archives.gov|publisher=Founders Online, National Archives and Records Administration|access-date=March 8, 2022}}</ref> Launched three years later, in 2013, the website currently provides access to a database of 185,000 digitized documents that have been annotated through founding fathers papers projects at five university presses over the past 50 years.<ref name=WhiteHouse>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/06/13/papers-founding-fathers-are-now-online|title=The Papers of the Founding Fathers Are Now Online|last=Donohue|first=Keith|date=June 13, 2013|website=obamawhitehouse.archives.gov|publisher=White House|access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> In addition to the University of Virginia's, the presses include those at [[Columbia University Press|Columbia]], [[Harvard University Press|Harvard]], [[Princeton University Press|Princeton]], and [[Yale University Press|Yale]].<ref name=UVA>{{cite web|url=https://open.upress.virginia.edu/projects/founders-online|title=Founders Online|website=upress.virginia.edu|publisher=[[University of Virginia Press]]|access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> === Archival Recovery Team === In 2006, the NARA's Office of the Inspector General created the [[Archival Recovery Team]] to investigate thefts and recover records stolen from the archive's collections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-aug-08-la-na-treasure-hunters-nu-20100809-story.html|title=Guardians of the nation's attic|author=Faye Fiore|date=August 8, 2010|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Responsibility for non-law enforcement recovery activities has since been transferred to the NARA Office of the Chief Operating Officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/research/recover/about.html|title=About the Archival Recovery Program|date=2016-11-10|website=National Archives|language=en|access-date=2019-04-29}}</ref> ===National Archives and Records Administration UAP Collection=== {{main|Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act}} In 2023, the [[118th United States Congress]] and [[President of the United States]] [[Joe Biden]] passed into law the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024]], which included provisions of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]].<ref name="Schumer Rounds UAPDA announcement 2023-07-14">{{Cite web|date=2023-07-11|title=Schumer, Rounds Introduce New Legislation To Declassify Government Records Related To Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena & UFOs – Modeled After JFK Assassination Records Collection Act – As An Amendment To NDAA|url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-rounds-introduce-new-legislation-to-declassify-government-records-related-to-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-and-ufos_modeled-after-jfk-assassination-records-collection-act--as-an-amendment-to-ndaa|access-date=2024-09-13|url-status=live|website=[[Senate Democratic Caucus]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801061151/https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-rounds-introduce-new-legislation-to-declassify-government-records-related-to-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-and-ufos_modeled-after-jfk-assassination-records-collection-act--as-an-amendment-to-ndaa|archive-date=2023-08-01}}</ref><ref name="Mizokami Popular Mechanics UAPDA 2023-12-14">{{Cite web|date=2023-12-14|title=A New Law Forces the U.S. Government to Collect UFO Sightings—But Not Release Them to the Public|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a46105999/uap-disclosure-act|last1=Mizokami|first1=Kyle|access-date=2024-09-13|url-status=live|website=[[Popular Mechanics]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226035458/https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a46105999/uap-disclosure-act/|archive-date=2023-12-26}}</ref> With enactment of the 2023 NDAA, NARA had been given a legal deadline of 60 days, for the Archivist to "commence establishment of a collection of unidentified anomalous phenomena."<ref name="Harper UADPA Defense Scoop 2023-12-07">{{Cite web|date=2023-12-07|title=Government UAP records repository on the verge of becoming law, opened to public viewing|url=https://www.defensescoop.com/2023/12/07/government-uap-records-repository-on-the-verge-of-becoming-law-opened-to-public-viewing|last1=Harper|first1=Jon|access-date=2024-09-13|url-status=live|website=Defense Scoop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209053624/https://defensescoop.com/2023/12/07/government-uap-records-repository-on-the-verge-of-becoming-law-opened-to-public-viewing/|archive-date=2023-12-09}}</ref> According to NARA, the "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Records Collection will consist of 'copies of all Government, Government-provided, or Government-funded records relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, and non-human intelligence (or equivalent subjects by any other name with the specific and sole exclusion of temporarily non-attributed objects).'"<ref name="NARA UAPDA Agency Guidelines 2024-05-24">{{Cite web|date=2024-05-24|title=Guidance to Federal Agencies on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection - National Archives and Records Administration|url=https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/uap-guidance|access-date=2024-09-13|url-status=live|website=[[National Archives and Records Administration]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521164022/https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/uap-guidance|archive-date=2024-05-21}}</ref> NARA specified that the only allowed reasons for non-compliance by any party in the Federal government was per section 1843 of the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024]] or [[Executive Order 13526]], signed by President [[Barack Obama]] in 2009.<ref name="NARA UAPDA Agency Guidelines 2024-05-24" /> The law continued in its mandate for the Archivist and NARA, of the detailed records and materials of non-human intelligence origins, "which shall be transmitted to the National Archives in accordance with section 2107 of title 44, United States Code."<ref name="Harper UADPA Defense Scoop 2023-12-07" /> ==Facilities and exhibition spaces== {{main|National Archives facilities}} [[File:National Archives DC 2007s.jpg|thumb|The [[National Archives Building]] from [[Constitution Avenue]]]] The most well-known facility of the National Archives and Records Administration is the [[National Archives Building]] (informally known as "Archives I"), located north of the [[National Mall]] on [[Constitution Avenue]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] A sister facility, known as the [[National Archives at College Park]] ("Archives II") was opened in 1994 near the [[University of Maryland, College Park]]. The [[Washington National Records Center]] (WNRC), also located in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, is a large warehouse facility where federal records that are still under the control of the creating agency are stored. Federal government agencies pay a yearly fee for storage at the facility. In accordance with federal records schedules, documents at WNRC are transferred to the legal custody of the National Archives after a certain time; this usually involves a relocation of the records to College Park. Temporary records at WNRC are either retained for a fee or destroyed after retention times have elapsed. WNRC also offers research services and maintains a small research room. Across the United States, the National Archives maintains both research facilities and additional federal records centers (FRCs). In many cases, the research rooms of regional archives are located at the same site as the federal records center, which is inaccessible to the public. In April 2019 an unknown person set fire to an exterior wall of the archives building using a homemade incendiary device before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/authorities-are-looking-suspect-who-started-fire-national-archives-180972056/|title=Authorities Are Looking for the Suspect Who Started a Fire at the National Archives|last=Katz|first=Brigit|website=Smithsonian|language=en|access-date=2019-05-03}}</ref> ===Public–private partnerships=== In an effort to make its holdings more widely available and more easily accessible, the National Archives began entering into public–private partnerships in 2006. A joint venture with [[Google]] will digitize and offer NARA video online. When announcing the agreement, Archivist Allen Weinstein said that this pilot program is {{Blockquote | style=font-size: 100%; | text=...&nbsp;an important step for the National Archives to achieve its goal of becoming an archive without walls. Our new strategic plan emphasizes the importance of providing access to records anytime, anywhere. This is one of many initiatives that we are launching to make our goal a reality. For the first time, the public will be able to view this collection of rare and unusual films on the Internet.<ref name="google">{{cite press release |title=National Archives and Google Launch Pilot Project to Digitize and Offer Historic Films Online |date=24 February 2006 |publisher=archives.gov |access-date=March 31, 2011 |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521223840/http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-64.html|archive-date=21 May 2011}}</ref> }} On January 10, 2007, the National Archives and Fold3.com (formerly Footnote)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footnote.com |title=footnote.com |publisher=footnote.com |access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> launched a pilot project to digitize historic documents from the National Archives holdings. Allen Weinstein explained that this partnership would "allow much greater access to approximately 4.5&nbsp;million pages of important documents that are currently available only in their original format or on microfilm" and "would also enhance NARA's efforts to preserve its original records."<ref name="footnote">{{cite press release |title=National Archives and Footnote Launch Project to Digitize Historic Documents |url=http://archives.gov/press/press-releases/2007/nr07-41.html |publisher=archives.gov |date=January 10, 2007 |access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> In July 2007, the National Archives announced it would make copies of its collection of [[Universal Newsreel]]s from 1929 to 1967 available for purchase through [[CreateSpace]], an [[Amazon (company)|Amazon.com]] subsidiary. During the announcement, Weinstein noted that the agreement would "...&nbsp;reap major benefits for the public-at-large and for the National Archives." Adding, "While the public can come to our College Park, Maryland, research room to view films and even copy them at no charge, this new program will make our holdings much more accessible to millions of people who cannot travel to the Washington, D.C. area." The agreement also calls for CreateSpace partnership to provide the National Archives with digital reference and preservation copies of the films as part of NARA's preservation program.<ref name="create">{{cite press release |title=Thousands of National Archives Films to Be Made Available Through CustomFlix Labs |date=July 27, 2007 |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2007/nr07-122.html |access-date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=archives.gov}}</ref> ===Social media=== The National Archives currently utilizes [[social media]] and [[Web 2.0]] technologies in an attempt to communicate better with the public.<ref name="social">{{cite web| title=Social Media and Web 2.0 at the National Archives| url=https://www.archives.gov/social-media/| access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> On June 18, 2009, the National Archives announced the launching of a YouTube channel "to showcase popular archived films, inform the public about upcoming events around the country, and bring National Archives exhibits to the people."<ref name="youtube">{{cite press release| title=National Archives Launches YouTube Channel| url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2009/nr09-95.html| date=June 18, 2009| access-date=March 31, 2011| publisher=archives.gov}}</ref> Also in 2009, the National Archives launched a Flickr photostream to share portions of its photographic holdings with the general public.<ref name="flickr">{{cite web| title=National Archives Photos on Flickr: FAQs| url=https://www.archives.gov/social-media/flickr-faqs.html| access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> A new teaching-with-documents Web site premiered in 2010 and was developed by the education team. The site<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.docsteach.org|title=DocsTeach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201132411/https://www.docsteach.org/ |archive-date= Dec 1, 2023 }}</ref> features 3,000 documents, images, and recordings from the holdings of the Archives. It also features lesson plans and tools for creating new classroom activities and lessons. In 2011, the National Archives initiated a WikiProject on the English Wikipedia to expand collaboration in making its holdings widely available through Wikimedia. == Controversies == In December 2019, the National Archives approved record schedules for federal records created by [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)]] which documented detainee sexual abuse and assault, death review files, detention monitoring reports, detainee escape reports, detainee segregation files, and Detention Information Reporting Line records. The schedules permitted ICE to destroy the records when they were no longer needed for business use.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Perrett|first=Connor|title=The National Archives can't allow ICE to destroy records about sexual assault and detainee deaths, a federal judge ruled|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ice-nara-cant-destroy-sexual-assault-death-records-2021-3 |date=Mar 13, 2021 |access-date=2021-04-11|website=Business Insider}}</ref> The schedules were approved without changes despite public outcry when they were first proposed in the ''[[Federal Register]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Peet|first=Lisa|title=NARA Responds to Controversial ICE Records Destruction Request|url=http://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=180910-NARA-Responds-ICE-Records-Destruction-Request |date=Sep 9, 2018 |access-date=2019-04-19|website=The Library Journal}}</ref> A lawsuit was brought against the National Archives by several plaintiffs, [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]], the [[American Historical Association]], and the [[Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations]]. In March 2021, a federal judge for the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|District Court for the District of Columbia]] ruled against the National Archives that the records must be preserved stating, "NARA's approval of the schedule was arbitrary and capricious on the grounds that NARA failed to evaluate the research value of the ICE records and that NARA failed to address significant and relevant public comments."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-12|title=Judge Blocks ICE, Records Administration from Destroying Records of Sex Abuse, Detainee Deaths|url=https://lawandcrime.com/immigration/judge-blocks-ice-records-administration-from-destroying-records-of-sex-abuse-detainee-deaths/ |first1=Aaron |last1=Keller |access-date=2021-04-11|website=Law & Crime|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=''Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics v. Nat'l Archives & Records Admin.'', Case No. 20-cv-00739 (APM)|url=https://casetext.com/case/citizens-for-responsibility-ethics-v-natl-archives-records-admin|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Casetext }}</ref> In January 2020, a ''Washington Post'' reporter noticed blurred protest signs in an image of the [[2017 Women's March]] at the Archives' public exhibit. Some of the edited signs contained potentially offensive language, and some mentioned president [[Donald Trump]]. Besides censoring language, the changes altered the meaning of some protest signs. The agency defended the edits and said they were made "so as not to engage in current political controversy", but admitted it "made a mistake{{nbsp}}... we were wrong to alter the image."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Acevedo |first=Nicole |date=2020-01-18 |title=Blurring 'Trump,' other words in Women's March photo was mistake, National Archives says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/blurring-trump-other-words-women-s-march-photo-was-mistake-n1118426 |access-date=2020-01-21 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-19 |title=The National Archives used to stand for independence; that mission has been compromised |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/The-National-Archives-used-to-stand-for-14987990.php |access-date=2020-01-21 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |last1=Kennicott |first1=Philip }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-21 |title=National Archives Doctored Photos of 2017 Women's March to Blur Messages Critical of Trump |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2020/1/21/national_archives_womens_march_doctored_photo |access-date=2020-01-21 |website=Democracy Now! |language=en}}</ref> == Notable thefts == * In 1963, Robert Bradford Murphy and his wife, Elizabeth Irene Murphy were arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison for stealing documents from several federal depositories, including the National Archives.<ref>[http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/413/1129/36529/ ''United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Robert Bradford Murphy, A/k/a Samuel George Matz, and Elizabeth Irene Murphy, aka Elizabeth Irene Matz, Defendants and Appellants'', 413 F.2d 1129 (6th Cir. 1969)]</ref> * In 1987, [[Charles Mount#Controversy|Charles Merrill Mount]] was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for stealing 400 documents from the National Archives.<ref>Churchville, V., & Saperstein, S. (1987, August 16). "The fall from grace of an artist, author". ''The Washington Post''.</ref> * In 2002, Shawn Aubitz pleaded guilty to stealing dozens of documents and photographs from the National Archives during the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-14-mn-32822-story.html|title=Man Admits Theft From U.S. Archives|date=2002-03-14|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-04-19|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> * In 2005, [[Sandy Berger#Unauthorized removal and destruction of classified material|Sandy Berger]] was charged with an unauthorized removal of documents from the National Archives; sentenced to 100 hours of community service and fined $50,000. * In 2005, Howard Harner was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $10,000 after stealing 100 documents from the National Archives.<ref>Carol D. Leonnig. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/26/AR2005052601725.html Archives Thief Gets Two Years], ''The Washington Post'', May 27, 2005.</ref> * In 2006, Denning McTague was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined $3,000 after stealing 164 documents from the National Archives.<ref>Eve Conant. [http://www.newsweek.com/catch-thief-national-archives-97741 "To Catch a Thief at the National Archives"], ''Newsweek'', May 4, 2007.</ref> * In 2011, Leslie Waffen was sentenced to 18 months in prison after stealing 955 recordings from the National Archives.<ref>Erica W. Morrison. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/leslie-waffen-ex-archives-worker-sentenced-for-stealing-selling-recordings/2012/05/03/gIQAX0f7zT_story.html "Leslie Waffen, ex-Archives worker, sentenced for stealing, selling recordings"], ''The Washington Post'', May 3, 2012</ref> * In 2011, [[Thomas P. Lowry|Thomas Lowry]] was permanently banned from the National Archives after he confessed to altering the date on a presidential pardon signed by Abraham Lincoln.<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2011/nr11-57.html "National Archives Discovers Date Change on Lincoln Record"], NARA Press Release</ref> * In 2011, [[Barry Landau]] and Jason Savedoff were arrested and sentenced to {{frac|7|1|2}} years in prison for stealing ten thousand documents from the National Archives.<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2012/nr12-133.html Barry Landau Sentenced to 7 Years for Thefts From National Archives, Other Institutions], ''NARA Press Release''</ref><ref>[https://www.archives.gov/research/recover/notable-thefts.html "Notable Thefts From The National Archives"], The National Archives Official Website ([https://web.archive.org/web/20170131005323/https://www.archives.gov/research/recover/notable-thefts.html Archived])</ref> * In 2018, Antonin DeHays was arrested for multiple thefts of military artifacts and records from the National Archives during the mid to late 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/01/12/historian-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-dog-tags-military-records-from-national-archives/|title=Historian pleads guilty to stealing dog tags, military records from National Archives|last=Panzino|first=Charlsy|date=2018-01-12|website=Army Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-19}}</ref><ref>Nina Strochlic. [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/national-archives-detective On the Hunt for National Treasures With America's Archive Detective], ''Atlas Obscura'', August 16, 2019.</ref> == See also == * [[National Personnel Records Center fire|1973 National Archives Fire]] * [[Digital preservation]] * [[Electronic Records Archives]] * [[Founders Online]] * [[Library of Congress]] * [[List of national archives]] * [[List of U.S. state libraries and archives]] * [[National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program]] * [[National Digital Library Program]] (NDLP) * [[National Security Archive]] * [[U.S. Constitution]] * [[White House Millennium Council]] (time capsule) ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{NARA}} ==Notes== {{NoteFoot}} {{notelist}} ==Further reading== {{Library resources box}} * {{cite journal|title=Sixty-Ton Statue Is Carved from a Single Slab of Stone|date=August 1935|page=256|journal=[[Popular Mechanics]]|volume=64|issue=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tt4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA256}} The statue ''Gladiator'' commissioned for the main national archive building in Washington, D.C. in 1935. * {{cite journal|title=Ten-Ton Door Made of Bronze is Thirty Five Feet High|date=October 1934|page=519|journal=[[Popular Mechanics]]|volume=62|issue=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xd8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA519}} * {{cite book |last=Beschloss |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Beschloss |title=Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqDA6OGvhmUC |year=2006 |location=New York |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-530959-1 |access-date=July 18, 2014}} ==External links== {{commons category|DOCUMERICA photographs by photographer}} {{commons category multi|National Archives and Records Administration|NARA images by state}} * {{Official website|https://www.archives.gov/|Official NARA − National Archives and Records Administration website}} * [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-archives-and-records-administration Federal Register.gov] — National Archives and Records Administration * [https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog/ The National Archives Catalog] — of the National Archives and Records Administration * [https://webharvest.gov/ WebHarvest.gov] — Congressional & Federal Government Web Harvests * [https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/uap-guidance National Archives and Records Administration formal UAPDA compliance page] for government agencies and offices. * [https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps Records Related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs)] at the National Archives. '''Sites not .GOV''' * [http://www.dcmemorials.com/Groups_Archives.htm Outdoor sculptures at the National Archives Building] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521051428/http://www.dcmemorials.com/Groups_Archives.htm |date=May 21, 2020 }} * [http://footnote.com/nara.php Footnote.com: NARA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705193711/http://footnote.com/nara.php |date=July 5, 2008 }} * [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/National_Archives_and_Records_Administration FamilySearch.org: NARA−National Archives and Records Administration]—research Wiki for genealogists * [http://www.ourarchives.wikispaces.net/ National Archives and Records Administration's Our Archives wiki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211085630/https://www.ourarchives.wikispaces.net/ |date=December 11, 2019 }}—information about NARA + its archived records * [http://roaminghistorian.com/2015/06/05/things-to-do-in-dc-national-archives/ "Things to Do in D.C.—National Archives and Library of Congress"]—Roaminghistorian.com on visiting the National Archives {{US National Libraries}} {{US archival agencies}} {{US presidential libraries}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:National Archives And Records Administration}} [[Category:National Archives and Records Administration| ]] [[Category:1985 establishments in the United States]] [[Category:Archives in the United States]] [[Category:Government agencies established in 1985]] [[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]] [[Category:Library of Congress]] [[Category:National archives|United States]] [[Category:Records management]] [[Category:Research libraries in the United States]] [[Category:State archives]] [[Category:University of Maryland, College Park]] [[Category:World Digital Library partners]]