Happy International Archives Day!

International Archives Day 2010 poster courtesy of the Archivo Histórico Nacional, Spain.

Today is the third International Archives Day. This celebration hasn't gotten much traction in the United States, most likely because of the established nature of American Archives Month, but repositories and archives professional associations throughout the world are using this day to highlight the importance of archives to collective memory and governmental accountability and transparency.

Something very important to American archivists nonetheless happened today: the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives heard testimony from the Archivist of the United States and lots of other people concerning the importance of funding the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and passing legislation creating the Partnership for the American Historical Record (PAHR). I didn't get the chance to watch the hearings and have yet to learn how they went, but I have my fingers crossed. I really want to see PAHR pass this year! (Update, 10 June 2010: colleagues told me earlier today that the hearings, which continued today, focused solely on the NHPRC. PAHR will likely get hearings of its own.)

Here's a sampling of the repositories doing cool stuff for International Archives Day. Enjoy!

• Archivo Histórico Eclesiástico de Bizkaia/Bizkaiko Elizaren Histori Arkibua (Basque Country, Spain)
  
• Archivo Histórico Nacional (Madrid, Spain)
• Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art
• British Postal Museum and Archive
• Brunei Darussalam Archives
• Escaldes-Engordany Historic Archive (Andorra)
  
• National Archives of Andorra
  
• National Archives of Gozo (Malta)
  
• National Archives of Japan
  
• State Records New South Wales

Attention: U.S. archivists (New Yorkers and Utahns excepted)

On April 19, S.3227, the Preserving the American Historical Record (PAHR) bill, was introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Carl Levin (D-MI). This is a huge step forward: although PAHR legislation has twice been introduced in the House of Representatives, is the first time that the Senate has taken action on PAHR, which, if passed, will create a formula-based grants program supporting archival programs in every state in the Union.

At present, only five other Senators have signed on as co-sponsors:

• Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)
• Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY)
• John F. Kerry (D-MA)
• Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

More co-sponsors are needed! If you live or work in any state other than New York or Utah, please take a moment to re-acquaint yourself with PAHR and write letters (sample text here) asking each of your Senators to support this important legislation. Better yet, call each Senator's Washington office, ask to speak with the Legislative Director, explain how PAHR will benefit your state and your repository (handy talking points here), and ask that each Senator become a PAHR co-sponsor. (FYI, you'll find your Senators' contact information here.)

When writing or calling, be sure to specify that your Senator should contact the following people in order to sign on:

• In Senator Hatch’s office: Bryan Hickman, 202-224-5251, Bryan_Hickman[at]judiciary-rep.senate.gov
  
• In Senator Levin’s office: Harold Chase, 202-224-6221, Harold_Chase[at]levin.senate.gov

We archivists know that records are essential to documenting the rights of citizens, keeping government honest and transparent, promoting wise use of resources, and safeguarding our history and culture, and we now have the chance to ensure that essential records get better care and are made more widely accessible. C'mon, people, let's make PAHR happen this year!

One last thing: if you are a New Yorker or a Utahn, don't rest on your laurels. Is your Representative a PAHR co-sponsor? If not (click here and scroll down for list), a letter or a phone call is definitely in order. And if your Representative has indeed signed on, consider writing your Representative -- and your Senators -- brief but heartfelt letters of thanks.