Woodrow Wilson House Speaker Series

Washington, DC - Join the Woodrow Wilson House for our second speaker in a series of conversations about military occupations. In this series, notable historians, curators, and leaders delve into varying aspects of the social movements of the early 20th Century and their relevance today.

July 12, 2023

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[NCH] ISOO Issues Notice Regarding Classified Records Found Outside Government Control

ISOO Issues Notice Regarding Classified Records Found Outside Government Control

By Bryan Oklin, Wednesday, June 21, 2023 8:15 AM

Issued this week, Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) Notice 2023-01 provides guidance to organizations and individuals outside of government control who come across potentially classified records in their holdings or possession. The Notice provides guidance on identifying, protecting, and transmitting classified records, as well as the assistance that ISOO can provide. The Notice’s guidance stems … Continue reading ISOO Issues Notice Regarding Classified Records Found Outside Government Control

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SHAFR Conference Prize Announcements, 2023

SHAFR Conference Prize Announcements, 2023 

At this year’s awards presentation at the SHAFR Conference, we recognized some of the best scholarship of the previous year, determined by some of SHAFR’s hardest working volunteers on our prize committees. 

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NARA Research Rooms Fully Open

NARA Research Rooms Fully Open

Required research appointments ensure enough space and an improved research experience.

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There's less a month left to submit nominations for the 2023 SHAFR election!

There's less a month left to submit nominations for the 2023 SHAFR election!

The upcoming election will fill the following positions:

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Shogan Assumes Office as 11th Archivist of the United States

National Archives Press Release

Washington, DC, May 17, 2023 – Dr. Colleen Shogan assumed the role of Archivist of the United States today and, immediately after taking the oath of office, began her work as the head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 

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White House declassification review delayed

By way of Lee White at the National Coalition for History:

POLITICO- White House declassification review delayed

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NCH-Classification Reform Act of 2023

May 10 2023

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) today announced bipartisan legislation to reform the security classification system in order to reduce overclassification, prevent mishandling of classified information, promote better use of intelligence, and enhance public trust.

“The government systematically overclassifies too much information, at a dangerous cost to both the nation’s security and the public trust.  At the same time, we too often fail to protect the nation’s most important secrets.  As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I think it is clear that our security classification system is badly in need of change,” said Sen. Warner. “Given the explosion in digital records, the status quo is no longer tenable.  We’ve got too many people with access to a system that is devoid of accountability and has grown increasingly byzantine, bureaucratic, and outmoded. We need to protect our national security secrets, and then declassify those secrets when protections are no longer necessary.  It’s time for Congress to take action and establish accountability.”

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Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States

National Archives Press Release

Shogan Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 11th Archivist of the United States

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A Celebration of Life Honoring Professor George C. Herring

June 3, 2023 from 2-5:30 PM at the Gatton Student Center Grant Ballroom, University of Kentucky

Celebration of Life Invitation

SAA-Fact Checking Donald Trump's Claims About The Presidential Records Act

Posted 4 days ago

On Tuesday, April 4, Donald Trump made incorrect claims about the Presidential Records Act. These claims are patently false and do not reflect the law or the practices of the National Archives and Records Administration. During a speech on April 4, Mr. Trump said, "Just so everyone knows, I come under what's known as the Presidential Records Act, which was designed and approved by Congress long ago just for this reason. Under the act, I'm supposed to negotiate with NARA, the National Archives and Records Administration."

As Section 2202 of the Presidential Records Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22) states, "The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records." And Section 2203 (g)(1) makes it clear, "Upon the conclusion of a President's term of office, or if a President serves consecutive terms upon the conclusion of the last term, the Archivist of the United States shall assume responsibility for the custody, control, and preservation of, and access to, the Presidential records of that President."

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CFP- The New International Economic Order. Lessons and Legacies 50 Years Late

Conference: The New International Economic Order. Lessons and Legacies 50 Years Late 

May 10-11, 2024. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy

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SHAFR 2023 Annual Meeting and NARA

SHAFR and NARA: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides several resources for SHAFR members and other researchers who have questions about NARA  or who want to prepare for a research visit. NARA's External Affairs Liaison, Meg Phillips, organizes regular meetings between NARA leaders and history associations like SHAFR. You can contact SHAFR leadership with a question or concern that you'd like them to discuss with NARA at these meetings. If you have questions about NARA as an organization, if you need help finding the right NARA office or person, or if you need information about NARA policies, you can also contact Meg directly at [email protected]. She is happy to help.

To prepare for a research trip, check out NARA's "Getting Started" and "FAQ"pages. You should complete the researcher orientation slides and online researcher application that are required before getting a researcher card.

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ASIL 117th Annual Meeting Invitation

ASIL 117th Annual Meeting Invitation [PDF]

Annual Meeting 2023 Flyer [PDF]

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Yale ISS Predocs

Deadline for both is March 20:

[CFP] MOSEC Conference, 18-20 May 2023

Call for Papers

MOSEC Conference, 18-20 May 2023

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Press Statement on Public Release of NARA Records Concerning Obama-Era Presidential Records Received by NARA from President Biden

Press Statement on Public Release of NARA Records Concerning Obama-Era Presidential Records Received by NARA from President Biden


WASHINGTON, February 10, 2022 – Today, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is making its first Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release of documents related to the transfer of Obama-era Presidential records from President Biden to NARA, beginning in November 2022. 

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Is the U.S. government designating too many documents as 'classified'?

The mishandling of classified documents continues to make headlines, first with the FBI's Aug. 2022 raid of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home and, more recently, with the revelation that classified documents had been found at President Biden's private office and also in his home. Historian Matthew Connelly says one reason we see problems like this is that far too many government records are being categorized as "classified."

On average, Connelly says, records are marked as classified three times every second, generating so many secret documents that it's practically impossible to preserve them all.

SHAFR Statement on What Congress Can Do to Address the Mismanagement of Public Records

SHAFR Statement on What Congress Can Do to Address the Mismanagement of Public Records

Safeguarding classified material is a national challenge that must be confronted by Congress and the Executive branch, both to protect national security and ensure democratic accountability. Long before the current controversy, it was clear that neither the Presidential Records Act nor the Federal Records Act were preventing the concealment, removal, and mutilation of public records.

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CFP- Peace & Protest, Past & Present Peace History Society Conference October 26-28, 2023

Call for Proposals:
Peace & Protest, Past & Present
Peace History Society Conference
October 26-28, 2023 

Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania



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