The Concept of a National Records Program and Its Continued Relevance for a New Century

Using a twelve-point statement of National Records Program Elements, this article examines the concept of a national records program as it was endorsed and has been adapted by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission from 1988 to the present. It provides the background and context for the Commission's endorsement of this statement and lists the elements adopted. In each of the areas defined, the article reviews and assesses NHPRC-supported efforts and reflects selectively on the progress made by the archival profession in the United States. Finally, noting the NHPRC's role as a collaborative mechanism, the article concludes that the concept of a national records program has continued relevance, if the archival profession and its partners can define and work together on three or four focused goals.