Statement on the Passing of Allen Weinstein, Ninth Archivist of the United States
Press Release · Friday, June 19, 2015

Washington, DC

David S. Ferriero
Archivist of the United States
Washington, DC
June 19, 2015

It is with great sadness that I share the passing of Dr. Allen Weinstein, Ninth Archivist of the United States, who died yesterday.

Professor Weinstein was sworn in as Archivist on February 16, 2005. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) saw many major accomplishments under Weinstein’s leadership, including:

• An increase in the annual appropriated budget for the National Archives from $318.7 million for fiscal year 2005 to $411.1 million for fiscal year 2008;
  
  
• Restoration of public trust through the declassification and release of interagency agreements, an audit of purported reclassification activity, the return of previously withdrawn materials to public access, and the implementation of stringent new procedures to stem withdrawal of previously declassified and released records;
  
  
• Establishment of the National Declassification Initiative to begin to address the very serious challenges regarding the policies, procedures, structure, and resources needed to create a more responsive and reliable executive branch-wide declassification program, particularly with respect to referrals of classified equities between executive branch agencies;
  
  
• Inclusion of the once-private Nixon library into the National Archives system of Presidential libraries;
  
  
• Expanding greatly public outreach of the National Archives, in partnership with the Foundation for the National Archives, through the creation of the Digital Vaults and the Boeing Learning Center;
  
  
• Creating, in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the “First Preservers” program which offers support and guidance to state archives and local records repositories to preserve vital records;
  
  
• Continued growth of the Federal Records Center program.

Citing health reasons, Weinstein announced his resignation as Archivist in December 2008. Among numerous awards and fellowships, Weinstein has held two Senior Fulbright Lectureships; served as a Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the American Council of Learned Societies; and was a Commonwealth Fund Lecturer at the University of London. In 1987, he delivered the Bicentennial Fourth of July Oration at Boston's Faneuil Hall. Recognition for his international contributions include the United Nations Peace Medal in 1986; The Council of Europe's Silver Medal in 1990 and 1996; and awards from the Presidents of Nicaragua and Romania for his efforts on behalf of democratization in those countries.

We offer condolences to Professor Weinstein’s family and will forever remember with gratitude his dedication to the mission and employees of the National Archives.

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