The National Archives of the United States was thrust into the spotlight last year after the FBI raided the home of former President Donald Trump, who was accused of being in possession of classified documents. But the legacy of the independent federal agency is far from controversial. Created by Congress in 1934, it serves as a repository of the country’s heritage, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Overseeing the National Archives from 2009 until his retirement in April 2022 was Northeastern University graduate David S. Ferriero.
The 10th archivist of the United States, he was appointed by President Barack Obama. Ferriero previously served for five years as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries. Prior to that he served in leadership positions at two of the nation’s major academic libraries, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Duke University. And it all began 60 years ago when he first matriculated to Northeastern. After serving as a Navy hospital corpsman during the Vietnam War, Ferriero earned his bachelor’s degree in 1972 and his master’s in 1976.
