News for
Immediate Release
Nov. 3,
2014
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Historical and
Museum Commission (PHMC) today announced the appointment of David Carmichael as
State Archivist. Carmichael has also been named Director of the Pennsylvania
State Archive, a bureau within the commission that is charged with the
safekeeping of Pennsylvania’s most important and irreplaceable documents.
“David is a
nationally recognized leader in the archival profession and we are extremely
fortunate to now have his knowledge and experience working for Pennsylvania,”
said Jim Vaughan, executive director of the PHMC. “David will provide the
experienced leadership we need as the State Archives and State Records Center
grapple with the complex challenges of preserving digital as well as
traditional paper records.”
Before
coming to the PHMC, Carmichael directed the Georgia Division of Archives and
History from 2000 to 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw the design and
construction of the award-winning Georgia Archives building, introduced the
Virtual Vault to provide online access to more than 1.5 million archival
documents, and helped lead national efforts in emergency management,
particularly for the protection of essential government records.
In
addition, he served on the Advisory Committee on the Electronic Records
Archives at the National Archives and participated in the National Digital
Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program at the Library of Congress.
In 2009, he was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Society of American
Archivists.
Before
becoming State Archivist of Georgia, Mr. Carmichael was director of records and
archives for Westchester County, New York, for more than sixteen years.
In 2012, he
left the Georgia Archives to establish a Department of Records and Information
Management for the Atlanta Housing Authority, which focused on document
automation, the automation of business processes, and comprehensive content
management across the agency.
Carmichael
holds a Master of Arts degree in History and Archives from Western Michigan.
The
Pennsylvania State Archives is an important resource for scholars, historians,
genealogists and the public. The primary function of the Pennsylvania State
Archives, part of the PHMC, is to acquire, preserve and make available for
study the permanently-valuable public records of the Commonwealth, with
particular attention given to the records of state government.
In
fulfilling its general responsibility for the preservation of historic
documents, the State Archives also collects private papers relevant to
Pennsylvania history.
The
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the official history agency of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit the commission online at www.phmc.state.pa.us.
Media
Contact: Howard
Pollman, 717-705-8639
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