In September, the President’s nominee for Archivist of the United States (AOTUS), Dr. Colleen Shogan, appeared before the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs (HSGAC) in accordance with the Senate’s advice and consent capacity for presidential appointments.
One week later, the Committee, which is evenly divided 7-7 reflecting the Senate’s 50-50 split, voted on Dr. Shogan’s nomination and deadlocked along party lines. This has complicated the Archivist appointment process. HSGAC Chair Gary Peters has said that he will work with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move the nomination forward for a vote in the full Senate.
The Society of American Archivists (SAA) is seeking support for Shogan’s nomination. The Council of State Archivists has partnered with EveryLibrary to create a simple template for archivists, cultural heritage workers, and the public at large to encourage US Senators to confirm Shogan as the next AOTUS. With this template, you can easily identify your Senators and customize the text of the e-mail to personalize your message. You can find the template here.
As the leader of the National Archives and Records Administration, the AOTUS is the principal agenda-setter for the country’s largest public records and archives operation. In February 2022, the Society of American Archivists endorsed a set of characteristics for the next Archivist of the United States.
Photo: The National Archives building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC (courtesy National Archives).
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