Join U.S. National Archivist Dr. Colleen Shogan on Thursday, Oct. 26 for a Conversation at Seattle's Central Library
release date: October 25, 2023
On Thursday, Seattle-area residents have a rare chance to hear from the person responsible for overseeing the billions of records contained in the National Archives, including the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and the 19th Amendment.
Join The Seattle Public Library and Microsoft for a conversation with the United States’ new National Archivist, Dr. Colleen Shogan, on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at the Central Library’s Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested, but not required. Register here.
Dr. Shogan will be in conversation with Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith, discussing topics such as the importance and priorities of the National Archives and her vision for its future.
Dr. Shogan was nominated for the role by President Biden in August of 2022, was confirmed by the Senate and took office in May 2023, and was sworn in on Sept. 11, 2023. She is the 11th National Archivist, and the first woman appointed to the role.
The National Archives is the nation’s record keeper, and contains the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, among its more than 15 billion documents, photographs, maps, military records, patents, audio recordings, films, emails and tweets. Its mission is to drive openness, cultivate public participation and strengthen our nation’s democracy through equitable public access to valuable government records.
This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation and The Microsoft Corporation.
MORE INFORMATION
Prior to joining the agency, Dr. Shogan served as Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association. She previously worked in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. You can read her biography on Archives.gov and watch an interview in which she discusses plans for leading the National Archives.
Dr. Shogan is also an author of crime fiction, and has published eight murder mystery novels.
MORE INFORMATION
The Library believes that the power of knowledge improves people's lives. We promote literacy and a love of reading as we bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community.
Contact the Library’s Ask Us service by phone at 206-386-4636 or by email or chat at www.spl.org/Ask. Staff are ready to answer questions and direct you to helpful resources and information.