National Coalition for History

On December 8, the White House issued an Open Government Directive requiring federal agencies to take immediate, specific steps to open their operations up to the public. In addition to the directive, the Administration released the Open Government Progress Report to the American People – an analysis of the steps already taken to increase transparency and plans for future initiatives. Read the full article »

On November 13, David Ferriero, the former Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries, was sworn in as the tenth Archivist of the United States at a small ceremony at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Mr. Ferriero will move to Washington and assume his duties full-time in the very near future. Read the full article »

On November 6, the United States Senate voted unanimously to confirm David Ferriero as the 10th Archivist of the United States. Mr. Ferriero was the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries. Mr. Ferriero, who was nominated by President Obama on July 28, 2009, will succeed Professor Allen Weinstein who resigned as Archivist in December 2008 for health reasons. Read the full article »

On October 30, President Obama signed into law the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies fiscal year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) (H. Rept. 111-316). The bill includes a second continuing resolution (CR) that provides funding to keep the federal government running until December 18. Read the full article »

On October 28, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, by voice vote, approved the nomination of David S. Ferriero to be the next Archivist of the United States. Ferriero’s nomination is considered non-controversial and confirmation by the Senate is expected shortly. Read the full article »

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has proposed an amendment (No. 2631) to eliminate the National Science Foundation’s political science program. It is an amendment to the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill (H.R. 2847), which is on the Senate floor today. NCH urges anyone who values political science research to contact your Senator’s office TODAY to ask them to vote against Coburn’s amendment. Read the full article »

On October 1, President Obama signed into law the Legislative Branch fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill which includes language providing one month of stopgap funding for the federal government. Despite the generally tight budget parameters for discretionary non-defense programs this year, federal programs of interest to the historical and archival communities would fare well under the FY 2010 budgets passed by the House and Senate. Read the full article »

On July 28, President Obama announced his intent to nominate David S. Ferriero to the position of Archivist of the United States. Mr. Ferriero currently serves as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries (NYPL). Mr. Ferriero succeeds Professor Allen Weinstein who resigned as Archivist last December. Read the full article »

The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded 123 grants under the FY 2009 Teaching American History (TAH) program competition. To view the list of 2009 grantees, click here. This year’s awards come at a time when it appears congressional support for the program may be waning. Read the full article »

On May 27, 2009, President Obama signed a Memorandum ordering the review of Executive Order 12958, as amended, “Classified National Security Information.” On June 2, 2009, the National Security Advisor asked the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) to assist in the review by soliciting public input for revisions to the Order. The Declassification Policy Forum opened on June 29, 2009, and can be accessed on the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) Blog. The public comment period has been extended until July 19th. Read the full article »