**As of February 20, 2025, this letter is no longer receiving additional signatures.**
On February 20, 2025, the Society of American Archivists released a statement entitled "SAA Condemns Widespread Firing of Archivists and Cultural Heritage Workers."
On February 13, 2025 (shortly after the publication of this open letter) the Society of American Archivists released a statement entitled "SAA Response to AOTUS Removal Urges Advocacy."
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February 13, 2025
To the General Public and Concerned Citizens:
We write today to express our profound concern regarding the unprecedented dismissal of the Archivist of the United States. This action presents a direct challenge to the fundamental principles that govern our nation's governmental accountability, documentary heritage, and historical memory.
The position of Archivist of the United States, established by Congress as the head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 1934, was designed to be insulated from political pressures to ensure that the people can hold their government accountable through the independent and professional management of our nation's records. This independence is essential to maintaining the integrity, authenticity, and accessibility of our national documentary heritage.
The Core Values of Archivists, as articulated by the Society of American Archivists, emphasize several principles that are jeopardized by this dismissal:
Access and Use: The Archivist of the United States plays a crucial role in ensuring democratic access to records, enabling citizens to hold their government accountable and understand their history.
Accountability: The position requires unwavering commitment to transparency and proper records management, serving as a cornerstone of democratic governance. Government archives ensure that the people can hold elected officials and government administrators accountable through access to their records.
History and Memory: The Archivist safeguards the documentary evidence that shapes our national narrative and collective memory.
Professionalism: The position demands adherence to professional standards and ethics above political considerations.
The dismissal of the Archivist threatens these core values and sets a dangerous precedent that compromises the independence and professional integrity of NARA. This action risks politicizing an institution that must remain steadfastly nonpartisan to fulfill its crucial role in our democracy.
Furthermore, this dismissal undermines the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act, which rely on an independent and professional National Archives to ensure proper preservation and access to government records, upon which governmental accountability depends. The politicization of this role has far-reaching consequences for government transparency, accountability, and public trust in our institutions.
We call upon all concerned citizens, professional organizations, and public officials to:
Demand transparency regarding the circumstances of this dismissal
Advocate for the reinstatement of proper professional oversight of NARA
Support legislation to strengthen the independence of the Archivist position
Remain vigilant in defending the professional integrity of our national archives
The preservation and accessibility of our documentary heritage must transcend political interests. We must act now to protect the independence and professional integrity of NARA for current and future generations.
Sincerely,
Distinguished Fellows of the Society of American Archivists