The Society of American Archivists, The Association of Research Libararies, and others are expressing concern about the nomination of Allen Weinstein to the post of Archivist of the United States:
We are concerned about the sudden announcement on April 8, 2004, that the White House has nominated Allen Weinstein to become the next Archivist of the United States. Prior to the announcement, there was no consultation with professional organizations of archivists or historians. This is the first time since the National Archives and Records Administration was established as an independent agency that the process of nominating an Archivist of the United States has not been open for public discussion and input. We believe that Professor Weinstein must—through appropriate and public discussions and hearings—demonstrate his ability to meet the criteria that will qualify him to serve as Archivist of the United States.
Redux of 1995….
The outgoing Archivist is John W. Carlin. He was appointed by President Clinton in 1995 and unanimously approved by the Senate.
Carlin’s nomination was vigorously opposed by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). Here is an excerpt from a May 26, 1995 Washington Times article about the nomination of Carlin:
Mr. Carlin had been harshly criticized by some professional historians and archivists who said he lacked the necessary professional background to run the agency charged with safeguarding the nation’s most important documents.
They also charged Mr. Carlin would be vulnerable to political pressures from friends like Mr. Clinton, since he directed the 1992 Clinton campaign in Kansas.
Here is a letter to the LA Times from May 19, 1995 critical of the Carlin nomination. It was written by a librarian:
President Clinton has nominated John W. Carlin, former governor of Kansas and a close political ally, to be archivist of the United States. Carlin has many fine personal qualities and friendships, including that of Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), but his nomination violates both the spirit and the intention of the legislation establishing the Office of Archivist of the United States.
The appointment should be made without regard to political affiliation. Carlin lacks the high professional qualifications for this appointment. California’s senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and The Times should join the members of the American Historical Assn., the Organization of American Historians, the American Library Assn. and the Society of American Archivists in opposing Carlin’s appointment.
There are many state archivists, government, college and public librarians who are more qualified and who would better satisfy the spirit and intention of the law regarding this distinguished office. In this instance the President’s men have neither served him nor the public well.
Sounds like the current SAA is dusting off those old form letters in opposing the new guy. Same old same old. It seems as if this is a long-running controversey concerning the politicization/de-politicization of the appointment process.
Here is another Washington Times article dated May 24, 1995 concerning the Carlin nomination:
Three groups in particular – the Society of American Archivists, the Organization of American Historians and the American Historical Association – have attacked Mr. Carlin’s lack of professional qualifications.
They say the 1984 legislation creating the Archives as a separate agency requires an individual with a background in history or archival work. They also argue the archivist should have no political ties that would taint any decisions about presidential records.
But former Rep. Jack Brooks (D-Texas), who wrote the legislation, has dismissed such concerns. In a letter to Mr. Clinton early in the search process, Mr. Brooks wrote: “To limit the president’s choice of candidates to archivists or historians would be short-sighted and foolish.”
Here is another article from the Austin American-Statesman dated May 6, 1995:
”His nomination violates both the spirit and the letter of the legislation passed by Congress in 1984,” said John Coatsworth, a Harvard history professor and president of the American Historical Association.
That’s why we should hate *policies*, not men
This research on Clinton’s appointment of Carlin is well taken. It was wrong to appoint someone less than qualified back in 1995, and it’s wrong now. That’s why “Clinton Hate” or “Bush Hate” by itself is unhelpful. We must look at WHAT the person is doing.
If what I’ve been reading is true, there’s more to the opposition of the current appoint than politics. According to an article at The Nation, Prof. Weinstein has a disturbing history of blocking access to records other scholars need to analyze his work. Two examples they provide are:
“His 1999 book The Haunted Wood has been criticized for its flawed handling of archival materials. His publisher paid for exclusive access to Soviet archives, and no one else has been allowed to see the documents he quotes”
AND
“His earlier book, about Alger Hiss, has been criticized for politically motivated withholding of documents: Weinstein has refused to make his interviews on the Hiss case available to historians who disagree with him, which violates the Standards of the American Historical Association”
If these assertions are true, it bodes ill for someone who is supposed to be the guardian of our nation’s records. HOWEVER, my conclusion is provisional because 1) I have not seen these claims corraborated in another source and 2) The tone of the Nation article, as one might expect, is searingly partisan. However, I think any Senate hearing should explore these claims.
Censorship. Society of American Archivists.
The Society of American Archivists has censored the listserver forum at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
Hypocritial attitudes persist among many archivists as among many self styled intellectual freedom librarians and many records managers.
See also/
http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.WebLogs.com
Collaborative WebLog/
A guide to problematical library use
http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.WebLogs.com
Censorship. Society of American Archivists.
The Society of American Archivists has censored the listserver forum at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
Hypocritial attitudes persist among many archivists as among many self styled intellectual freedom librarians and many records managers.
See also
http://www.openthegovernment.org