On April 16, 1934, with the National Archives building under construction, the House passed legislation establishing a National Archives of the United States. Introduced by Representative Sol Bloom of New York, the legislation stipulated that the archivist be appointed by the president with Senate confirmation. The archivist, charged with the care of all government records, reports annually to Congress.
Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives and Records Administration
H.R. 8910, A Bill to establish a National Archives of the United States Government, April 16, 1934
Creation of the National Archives
Congress created the National Archives in 1934 to preserve and maintain the records of the federal government, which previously were stashed in various storage spaces without adequate security, organization, or climate control. Archivists surveyed the records of Congress and other federal institutions and in 1936 began transferring them to a new National Archives building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Today the National Archives comprises more than 40 facilities nationwide, including regional archives, records centers, and presidential libraries.
This building holds in trust the records of our national life and symbolizes our faith in the permanency of our national institutions.
Inscription, National Archives Building
On April 16, 1934, with the National Archives building under construction, the House passed legislation establishing a National Archives of the United States. Introduced by Representative Sol Bloom of New York, the legislation stipulated that the archivist be appointed by the president with Senate confirmation. The archivist, charged with the care of all government records, reports annually to Congress.
Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives and Records Administration
