SOCIETY FOR HISTORIANS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
1301 E. Main Street, Box 23
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Email: [email protected]

Cate Dillon
White House Liaison
U.S. Department of State
[email protected]

Dear Ms. Dillon:

As president of the Society for Historians of American Relations (SHAFR), I write to express my alarm as well as surprise over the abrupt termination without explanation of Sarah Snyder and the other statutory and at-large members of the State Department’s the Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation (commonly known as the Historical Advisory Committee, or HAC).

SHAFR is a scholarly organization of historians from the United States and the rest of the world. Founded in 1967, it represents individuals deeply invested in the history of diplomacy, war, economics, and international politics and culture. Our academic journal, Diplomatic History, is the leader in the field, and our membership of 1500 includes students, scholars, and policymakers who analyze, write, and advise on issues of the US role in the world.

As you and the White House are surely aware, Congress established the HAC through the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1991. That legislation stipulates that the HAC would comprise representatives selected by six scholarly organizations—the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the American Political Science Association, the American Society of Legal History, and the Society of American Archivists—and three at-large members. The six organizations are charged with critically important oversight responsibilities over the production of the legislatively mandated Foreign Relations of the United States series. They advance the public interest in government transparency through nominating representatives to the HAC. During President Trump’s first term, by arrangement with Michelle Giuda, then the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, the HAC adopted the guideline that members would serve for a three-year term with the possibility of a one-time renewal, with the exception of the committee’s chair.

SHAFR selected Dr. Snyder following a rigorous process. Her expertise and qualifications to serve as
our representative are indisputable, and she has done an outstanding job in the role.

Still, you peremptorily terminated her service, leaving SHAFR without a representative on a committee vital to our membership. We therefore request that you immediately reinstate Dr. Snyder and her colleagues for the duration of their terms and provide a detailed explanation for their terminations.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Melani McAlister President
Society for Historians of America Foreign Relations