American Archives Month Employee Spotlights - Adam Shoop
Name: Adam Shoop
Job Title: Archivist at the Barack Obama Presidential Library
How long have you worked at the National Archives?
10 years.
What made you interested in being an archivist? Why did you want to work at your Presidential Library in particular?
I've always had an interest in American history and the inner workings of the federal government. The Barack Obama Presidential Library provided an opportunity to join a library from the beginning. I knew this meant that there would be plenty of possibilities to offer input on establishing procedures and learn how a Presidential Library is formed from the ground up.
Give us an overview of your job. What are some of your responsibilities?
Being an archivist here since the beginning, I've had opportunities to work in many areas of the Obama Presidential Library. Currently, one of my roles is the classified records point of contact. I coordinate with various groups in the National Archives to search and process FOIA requests that may contain classified records. Most of my days are spent reviewing records that are responsive to FOIA requests sent to our library.
What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you in this line of work? What’s the best?
The strangest thing that's happened to me is opening a box of records and finding all of the weird things that the administration's staff decided needed to be saved. I think most of the time they just dumped their desk drawers in a box and sent it to us. The best thing that's happened to me is when I had an opportunity to work on the Lincoln Assassination Papers.
What’s your favorite fact about the President for your particular library?
That he was the first African American President of the United States.
You’re having dinner with the President of your library. What restaurant would you take him to or what would you cook? What artifact would you ask him about? Why?
I would take him to a restaurant that served Hawaiian cuisine. Maybe even join him at a Luau! The artifact I'm most interested in talking to him about would be his statement announcing the death of Osama bin Laden. What were his feelings on that day? What did he think it would mean to the American people?
If you were making a movie about your President, what would the tagline be and who would you cast? Why?
"Change we can believe in" would be a great tagline. This was his campaign slogan in 2008. I think Denzel Washington would be a great pick to play Obama in a movie.
What's your favorite document, and why?
My favorite document at the Obama Library is a letter I found that President Obama sent to a constituent who disagreed with him. This person had sent a letter to the White House with complaints about specific policies of the President, and he actually wrote back with a thought-out response. Early in his administration, President Obama decided to read and respond to 10 letters a day. Not all of them were positive, and he took the time to understand and respond to the issues that concerned everyday citizens.
What advice would you have for someone interested in a career in archival work, or how would you convince someone to consider a career in archival work?
With our intimate knowledge of the records, archivists provide researchers with the maps they need to find lost treasure. We help researchers solve mysteries and tell important stories of the past. Historians and other researchers know that they wouldn't be able to do their work without our help.
Lastly (and most important), why should people visit or learn more about your Presidential Library?
The best reason to visit our Presidential Library is that you don't even have to leave your house. The Barack Obama Presidential Library is the first fully digital Presidential Library. Visitors can view Presidential records online and will soon be able to view images of the artifacts held in our library.