Shogan Sworn in by Chief Justice During Ceremony Attended by First Lady
By 威尼斯人娱乐场 News Staff
Dr. Colleen Shogan is sworn in as Archivist of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts on Sept. 11, 2023, at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. Her husband, Rob Raffety, is between them. (NARA photo by Susana Raab)
WASHINGTON, September 12, 2023 鈥� The 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration plays a critical role in safeguarding democracy by providing access to records that help citizens hold their government accountable, Dr. Colleen Shogan said during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony held yesterday in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Rotunda.
"The prevalent condition in human history is not democracy or rights-based government. Rather, the default is autocracy and tyranny, where might makes right, with little regard to individual freedom or the pursuit of happiness," Shogan said.
"What prevents us from falling back into the classic pattern of authoritarianism is our right鈥攐ur responsibility鈥攖o hold our government accountable. That鈥檚 what makes the 威尼斯人娱乐场 so important. Without the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and the continued fulfillment of its mission, a healthy democracy cannot be sustained."
Shogan said the 威尼斯人娱乐场' mission "is straightforward, but it grows in complexity every day. The 威尼斯人娱乐场 preserves, protects, and shares the billions of records in its custody with the citizens of this great nation. We do this to cultivate public participation and strengthen our democracy."
She noted that in order to meet an evolving mission in the digital age, the 威尼斯人娱乐场 must transform itself.
"We will need to embrace technology to meet our mission in ways that might make us uncomfortable at times. New ways of doing things will challenge our second-nature habits and processes," Shogan said. "But if we are going to succeed, we must move forward boldly. Timidity will not be our friend as records continue to proliferate at exponential rates."
Read the Archivist鈥檚 speech and watch the full ceremony on the .
Dr. Colleen Shogan makes remarks as Archivist of the United States on Sept. 11, 2023, at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (NARA photo by Susana Raab)
Shogan, who officially took office in May, was sworn in during the ceremonial event on September 11 by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.
鈥淚t is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 11th Archivist of the United States. It鈥檚 not lost on me today that I am the first woman appointed to serve in this role,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 wore white today to recognize those who made it possible for me to stand here today and take this oath. The suffragists didn鈥檛 sign the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution, so they aren鈥檛 on these murals. But their contribution to the vitality of our democracy is no less meaningful. Along with many other inspiring leaders in American history, they believed in the principles enshrined in these documents, and claimed them as their God-given, natural rights. The fulfillment of those rights, which continues today, is why these documents aren鈥檛 simply pieces of parchment. They are living promises to hold our government accountable,鈥� Shogan added.
President Joseph R. Biden nominated Shogan to be Archivist of the United States in August 2022.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Shogan on May 10, 2023, and she was officially sworn in on May 17, 2023, by an executive staff member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration and began work immediately as head of the agency.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden introduces Dr. Colleen Shogan as Archivist of the United States on Sept. 11, 2023 at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. NARA photo by Susana Raab
The swearing-in ceremony at the Rotunda is a more formal event to celebrate the start of a new Archivist鈥檚 tenure. It was generously supported by the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation.
Jim Blanchard, President and Chair of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation Board of Directors and former Michigan Governor, presided over the ceremony. First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden provided opening remarks.
"The history we preserve, the stories we elevate, the voices we amplify, are shaped by the person at the helm of this institution. These stories are all of our stories,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淢en and women of all backgrounds, ages, and creeds. What we choose to preserve and whose voices we deem worthy of placing in our national memory. That's why this milestone鈥攖he first woman head of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration鈥攊s so momentous.鈥�
Prior to joining the agency, 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.
Read her biography on Archives.gov and watch an interview in which Dr. Shogan discusses her .