SAA/CoSA Attendees Visit National Archives
Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan makes remarks during a an open house event for the Society of American Archivists and the Council of State Archivists at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. July 26, 2023. National Archives photo by Susana Raab
By Victoria Macchi | National Archives News
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2023 — The National Archives and Records Administration welcomed hundreds of visitors from the joint annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) this week.
The National Archives Museum opened its doors to attendees on July 26 to view a special display and converse with National Archives staff about programs and collections.
Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan welcomed participants at the open house.
“This building and this agency, and to a certain extent the position of Archivist of the United States, are symbols of the importance of all archives, of history, and of the public’s right of access to the evidence of the past. Because of that, many of you have been powerful advocates for NARA over the years, and I honor you for that,” Shogan said at the Wednesday event.
The National Archives also offered tours this week to smaller groups of conference attendees at its Conservation Lab and Heritage Science Lab in College Park, MD, led by Allison Olson, Preservation Program Director, and of the National Archives Museum and Education Programs at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, with Nicholas Coddington, head of Education and Public Programs, and Alice Kamps, curator in the Museum Programs Division.
“This week was an amazing opportunity to share with our archivist peers from around the country, and to welcome them into our space and our work,” said External Affairs Liaison Meg Phillips. “The open house allowed everyone from the conference to enjoy the Rotunda and hear from the Archivist of the United States, while the specialized office tours let attendees really connect with staff and see how our agency works.”