According to an article published on the website Salon.com, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has refused a request by historical researchers to expedite the release of CIA records relating to its involvement in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Read the full article »
The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, has appointed Robert Dizard Jr. as the Deputy Librarian of Congress. Dizard most recently served as the Library’s Chief of Staff. His appointment was effective June 17. Read the full article »
The Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State recently announced the release of its third set of public beta Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series e-books at http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/ebooks. The 151 year-old FRUS series presents the official documentary historical record of major foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity of the U.S. Government. Read the full article »
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced 32 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) grants totaling $10,356,498. Recipients are matching these awards with $6,650,021in non-federal funds. IMLS received 106 LB21 applications this year, requesting a total of $37,815,498. Read the full article »
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently announced a new contest to encourage middle and high school students to use Chronicling America, the NEH and Library of Congress-supported digital archive of historic newspapers, in their projects for National History Day. Read the full article »
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero recently awarded 31 grants totaling $2.9 million for historical records projects in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The National Archives grants program is carried out through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Read the full article »
The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) recently released its Report to the President for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. The Report is online at [www.archives.gov/isoo/reports]. The Report profiles data on the Government-wide security classification program during Fiscal Year 2011. Read the full article »
National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis recently announced the award of more than $3.8 million in grants to help with land acquisition at six Civil War battlefields. Read the full article »
The National Archives at San Francisco recently opened to the public over 40,000 case files on immigrants to the United States, and dedicated its research room to the late U.S. Representative Tom Lantos who was a leading force in having these files re-designated as records of permanent historical value. Read the full article »
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will award the 2012 John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity to Fernando Henrique Cardoso, one of the leading scholars and practitioners of political economy in recent Latin American history. Read the full article »
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting nominations for the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for exemplary service by these institutions. Museums and libraries that would like to be considered for the National Medal should complete the nomination form by October 15, 2012. Read the full article »
The Salzburg Global Seminar and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced the publication of Libraries and Museums in an Era of Participatory Culture. The report details the events of the October, 2011 convening of fifty-eight library, museum, and cultural heritage leaders from thirty-one countries. Read the full article »
John Gray, founding president of the Autry National Center of the American West, a consolidation of three cultural organizations in Los Angeles and Denver, has been appointed the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, effective July 23, 2012. Read the full article »
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently released its 2011 Records Management Self-Assessment Report. NARA’s findings are similar to last year’s. The responses indicated that a large majority of Federal agencies that responded remain at high to moderate risk of compromising the integrity, authenticity, and reliability of their records. Read the full article »
Archivist of the United State David S. Ferriero recently announced the appointment of William A. Mayer as Executive for Research Services for the National Archives and Records Administration, effective June 18, 2012. Read the full article »
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is seeking public comments on the draft guidelines for the FY 2013 Museums for America and National Leadership Grants for Museums programs. The guidelines for these programs have been revised to align with the IMLS Strategic Plan. Read the full article »
American Historical Association Executive Director James Grossman recently testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Speaking on behalf of the AHA and the National Humanities Alliance, Grossman urged the subcommittee to provide no less than $154.3 million to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for fiscal year 2013. This represents a small increase over the 2012 appropriation, and was the same amount requested by the Obama administration. Read the full article »
The National Park Service (NPS) has “imperiled” its own work in history with insufficient support to its history workforce, isolation of this workforce from the rest of the agency, underfunding, “narrow and static conceptions of history’s scope,” and “timid interpretation,” according to a report undertaken at the invitation of the National Park Service and published by the Organization of American Historians. The report urged the NPS, among other things, to “recommit to history.” Read the full article »
Core elements of the U.S. Navy’s historical program are “at risk” according to a recently declassified report by the U.S. Navy’s Inspector General’s Office. The IG’s report on the inspection of the Navy’s History and Heritage Command dramatically reinforces concerns that scholars have had in recent years about the state of the navy’s history program. Read the full article »
Wendell E. Berry, noted poet, essayist, novelist, farmer, and conservationist, recently delivered the 2012 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Read the full article »
