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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