FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 11, 2005)
Contact: Vicki Walch, Council of State Historical Records Coordinators
Phone: (319) 338-0248
Email: vwalch@coshrc.org
Iowa City, IA - The Council of State Historical Records
Coordinators endorsed and now welcomes the confirmation of Dr. Allen
Weinstein as the new Archivist of the United States. This confirmation
takes place as the President's budget poses significant threats to the
preservation of the nation's heritage through cuts proposed to portions
of the budget of the National Archives.
"We are confident Dr. Weinstein will provide
the strong and visionary leadership needed at this critical time for
the National Archives,"
COSHRC President Kathleen D. Roe said today. "Our nation's documentary
heritage is a vital resource that must be made available to all the
citizens of this country. We are heartened by the potential for collaboration
and new directions articulated by Dr. Weinstein and will strive to work
with him toward this shared vision."
Dr. Weinstein has articulated positive directions
for the National Archives including increased collaboration between
federal and state archives and improved cooperation by the National
Archives with professional archives and records associations to promote
public awareness of archives and records as essential evidence of government
and as a significant cultural heritage resource. He has also stressed
the need for appropriate and adequate resources for national, state
and local historical records programs to ensure the essential evidence
of government and culture are available.
Weinstein is the President and CEO of The Center for Democracy in Washington
DC and a former professor of history at Boston University, Georgetown
University, and Smith College. He is the author of several books, including
The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America-The Stalin Era (1999)
and Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (1997) which was nominated for the
American Book Award.
COSHRC is a professional association representing the directors of the
state and territorial archives in the United States. The mission of
COSHRC is to ensure that our nation's historical records are valued,
preserved, and widely used.
