Reopen the Archives
You're used to reading stories about the brave men and women I've researched - many of them your own family members. Today I am writing to you about a topic that is of critical important to all of us.
If you have ever tried to find records of the military service of your own family members, you are probably at least somewhat familiar with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). NARA stores and manages millions of historical records that are essential for:
- Understanding the wartime contributions of our military relatives and veterans
- Locating and identifying the remains of US veterans lost or killed in action
- Verifying eligibility for veterans' benefits claims
- Conducting important research needed by veterans' advocates, museums, librarians and archivists, authors, historians, filmmakers, genealogists, journalists, lawyers and litigators, educational and archival researchers (like myself) and the American public
NARA's budget has been drastically cut in recent years, resulting in a shortfall of $100 million compared to 2010 funding levels, while their holdings, responsibilities, and public interest in records have continually grown.
As an independent researcher, I receive about 360 requests a month for help in locating veterans' records. At just one of their locations, the National Archives receives 5,000 requests per day.
To compound matters, the National Archives research rooms have been closed due to COVID since March. Their plans for reopening are complicated and constantly changing - and inadequate funding makes it nearly impossible to reopen safely. Imagine the backlog of requests - and how that is impacting people's lives to need those records.
We all have a stake in the records
at the National Archives.
Most, if not all, of my readers know first-hand the impact on your own lives of having access to your family's military service records. I have written about many of your family's WW2 legacies on my blog, like the stories of Lt. Peter Pokrifcsak, Pfc. Max Poster, and TEC4 Parker Fondren. My research for Donna King about Parker Fondren reunited a family and resulted in a Memorial Day ceremony that drew a thousand people to honor this fallen soldier and others like him.
None of it would be possible without access to the records at the National Archives.
I have recently joined the board of a new non-profit organization called the Archival Researchers Association (ARA). The ARA is committed to advocating for those who require access to government records held in state and federal archives and record centers.
We are asking lawmakers to authorize $30 million in additional funding for research services at the National Archives. The added funding would allow NARA to provide adequate staffing and hours of operation to meet public demand for access to records. Updated equipment, expanded space, and increased staffing will all of the archives to safely reopen and provide critical access for veterans, their families, and the public.
Reopening the archives is critical for my work and that of other researchers in my field to help families like yours understand and connect with their military services legacies.
There are several ways you can help. Here's how:
- Sign the petition asking Congress to Fund and Reopen the Archives: http://chng.it/wJsHHrhh
- Make a tax-deductible donation of any amount to the Archival Researchers Association (ARA) https://archivalresearchers.org/
- Call or write to your representatives in Congress asking them to support $30 million in additional funding for public research services at NARA. Include why it's important to you. You can submit your letter directly to your House and Senate Representatives and also send a copy to the Archival Researchers Association at president@archivalresearchers.org.
However you choose to make your voice heard, it will make a difference. After you sign the petition, please forward this newsletter to anyone else you know who is a veteran, has a relative who served in the military, or who is interested in preserving our nation's history.
You can respond directly to this email and tell me why access to the National Archives is important to you.
With deepest thanks and to honor their sacrifice,
Bill
|
