National Archives Director Presents Documents To FQCP

By Carol Greve

Mr. John Constance, Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the National Archives and Records Administration, proved to be a charming and entertaining presenter at our Board Orientation in January and left us with some very impressive copies of 200-year-old documents. Mr. Constance began work at the Archives as an intern out of college in 1971 and has been there for 32 years. Over the years he has held many positions with the Archives and is currently responsible for liaison activities with the media and the Congress. Mr. Constance explains that the biggest challenge facing the Archives today is preserving electronic records in such a way as to be available and retrievable into the future. Who knows how data recorded on today's computers will be retrieved by computers two hundred years from now? He said that the Archives is very confident that they know how to preserve paper records, but e-mails on hard drives?

Mr. Constance brought copies of documents which he felt would illustrate his presentation on preservation. The copies look extremely authentic, with rough and tattered edges, and could actually be mistaken for original documents.

Among the copies he presented to FQCP was the Proclamation by William C. C. Claiborne, the Governor of the Mississippi Territory and Intendant of the Province of Louisiana. Dated December 20, 1803, the Proclamation announced the establishment of the United State's authority over Louisiana and the cessation of authority of Spain and France. The document assures the citizens that their "just rights" will be under the guardianship of the United States and will be "maintained from all force or violence from without or within." This proclamation was posted throughout the city.

Other document copies received by FQCP include a handwritten letter by President Thomas Jefferson (February 19, 1806) to Congress regarding the discoveries of the Lewis and Clark expedition and a handwritten letter from Andrew Jackson (February 12, 1803) in Tennessee, petitioning for relief of the Whiskey Tax, as it seems that one of Mr. Jackson*s stills was damaged and could not produce the expected amount of whiskey. His request was denied!

The most unusual document from Mr. Constance was a black and white glossy photograph of President Richard Nixon shaking hands with Elvis Presley. Mr. Constance states that this photograph is one of the most popular in the entire National Archives.