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1901

Alabama State Archives founded. (RJ)

1902

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is created by State Sentate Bill No. 26, Chapter 52, Laws of 1902; Dunbar Rowland serves as the first director. (DD)

1903

The Division of Public Records in the State Library of Pennsylvania (now the Pennsylvania State Archives) is created by Act 135, approved on April 14, 1903; Luther R. Kelker, Custodian of Public Records is first state archivist of Pennsylvania. (LJS)

The State Library of Western Australia is authorised to accept official records. (AW)

Harry Schellenberg born on February 24th in Harvey County, Kansas.

1903

Archives of Ontario founded (TM)

1904

Pennsylvania State College Librarian Erwin Runkle creates "Statiana Alcove" as home in the library for archival and manuscript materials, college publications, historical photographs and memorabilia. Forerunner of Penn State University Archives. (LJS)

1905

Delaware Public Archives founded (LRJM)

1909

Dec. 15 - Rep. Samuel McCall introduces H.R. 15428, a bill to create a Commission on National Historic Publications. (GM)

1910

The Mitchell Library, based on the collection of the bibliophile Sir David Mitchell, established in New South Wales (NSW) as the state's first archival institution. (AW)

23 March The Hocken Library (now known as the Hocken Collections) opened in Dunedin, New Zealand. The collections of archives, manuscripts, books, publications, photographs and art relating to the history of NZ and the Pacific were gifted by Dr Thomas Morland Hocken in 1907. (ARB)

1911

The British Royal Archives was established in Windsor castle, England. (RJ)

Sen. Elihu Root introduces S. 1773 calling for a national historic publications commission of five appointed by the President for four-year terms; otherwise bill same as McCall's. (GM)

1920

In South Australia, an Archives Department is established, subject to the State Library Board but separate from the State Library. (AW)

1921

The American Telephone and Telegraph Company establishes its historical library (later renamed the AT&T Corporate Archives) in New York City. (SHH)

1922

Sir Hilary Jenkinson's book A Manual of Archive Administration published. (RJ)

Destruction of the Public Record Office Ireland during the Civil War (KM)

1923

Commonwealth (Australia) National Library created within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library. (AW)

1925

South Australia passes an act to regulate the disposal of government records. (AW)

1927

Concordia Historical Institute, the Department of Archives and History of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, incorporated in Saint Louis, Missouri. (MH)

First Archives Bill proposed by the Parliamentary Library Committee (Australia). The Bill reaches Cabinet but is never sent to Parliament. (AW)

1934

June 19 - National Archives of the United States established. (GM)

1935

Emmett Leahy joins the National Archives - USA (AAA)

April 15 - Roerich Pact was signed. It was one of the earliest international agreements addressing cultural heritage. It affirmed that monuments, museums, and scientific, artistic, educational, and cultural institutions and their personnel were to be considered neutral in times of war and accorded respect and protection in peacetime.

1935-1942

National Archives of the United States undertakes the Historical Records Survey (HRS) as part of the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) "Federal Writer's Project," to document U. S. history resources. (GM)

1936

Society of American Archivists founded. A. R. Newsome serves as first president.(RJ)

1939

SAA appoints Theodore C. Pease as the first editor of its association journal, The American Archivist. (RJ)

The South Australian Archives Department becomes subordinate to the new Library Board under the terms of the Libraries and Institutes Act. (AW)

1940

Arthur H. Leavitt translates the Dutch manual into English. (AL)

1941-5

Emmett Leahy, Robert Shiff, and Richard Paget, working in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, create records management processes for operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. (AAA)

1942

Australian War Archives Committee (later the Commonwealth Archives Committee) founded under the chairmanship of CEW Bean. (AW)

1943

In Australia, the Queensland Libraries Act, which included provisions for dealing with State Government records, was passed. However, the relevant sections were not proclaimed until 1958. (AW)

1944

Ian Maclean, Australia's first government archivist, appointed to the Archives Division of the Commonwealth National Library. (AW)

1945

An Archives Department was established within the the Western Australia State Library. (AW)

May 4 - as the American army advanced on Prague, the retreating German commander ordered his forces to destroy the Czechoslovakian National Archives.

1946

Sep 25 - President Harry Truman orders all federal agencies to begin records management practices by signing Executive Order 9784. (RJ)

1947

Oregon State Archives is established. (BKJ)

Emmett Leahy manages the Hoover Paperwork Commission - USA. (AAA)

1948

National Records Management Council - USA - founded by Emmett Leahy. (AAA)

National Archives of Japan founded. (RJ)

International Council on Archives (ICA) founded. (RJ)

First archivist for the State of Victoria (Australia) appointed within the State Library. (AW)

Commonwealth Archives Division establishes regional repositories in Melbourne and Sydney. (AW)

1949

Congress establishes General Services Administration and transfers both the National Archives and the National Historical Publications Commission under it. (GM)

First Archives Officer appointed to the State Library of Tasmania (Australia). (AW)

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