Archivist of the United States
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The Archivist of the United States is the chief official overseeing the operation of the National Archives and Records Administration. The first Archivist, R.D.W. Connor, began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an independent Federal agency by Congress. The Archivists served as subordinate officials of the General Services Administration from 1949 until the National Archives and Records Administration became an independent agency again on April 1, 1985. Adrienne Thomas is now serving as the acting Archivist of the United States, after Allen Weinstein's resignation for health reasons.
The Archivist is appointed by the President and is responsible for safeguarding and making available for study all the permanently valuable records of the Federal Government, including the actual Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which are displayed in the Archives' main building in Washington, D.C.. Under Public Law No. 98-497, the Archivist also must maintain custody of state legislative ratifications of amendments to the United States Constitution and proclaim a particular amendment duly ratified and part of the Constitution if the legislatures of at least three-quarters of the states approve the proposed amendment.
[edit] Archivists of the United States
The following is a list of Archivists of the United States[1] Denotes acting Archivist
*Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from Nov. 7, 1965, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on January 16, 1966.
**Served first as Acting Archivist of the United States from March 10, 1968, until his appointment as Archivist of the United States on May 2, 1968.
[edit] References
- ^ ""Archivists of the United States: 1934 - Present"". http://www.archives.gov/about/history/archivists/. Retrieved on March 12 2009.


