Dr. Allen Weinstein Joins the American Heritage Board of Directors

Rockville, MD—American Heritage Publishing today announced that Dr. Allen Weinstein, the former head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), has been elected to its Board of Directors. “Allen is a great addition to our Board,” said Chairman Robert Breeden. “He brings great depth to our Board, not only as a noted author and educator of American history, but also as an advisor to many national and international government, educational, and civic bodies.” “American Heritage is a national treasure,” said Dr. Weinstein. “We must keep it lively and vigorous and as widely read as we have always known it. I will help Edwin Grosvenor and his team in any way I can.” Dr. Weinstein was sworn in as the 9th Archivist of the United States in 2005, supervising the 3,000 employees of the National Archives and Records Administration and its affiliated organization until his retirement December 31, 2008. In that capacity, he also supervised 13 Presidential libraries that form part of the National Archive system ranging from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. “Allen is unusual in being both a noted historian and a respected leader of organizations,” commented Edwin S. Grosvenor, President of American Heritage. “We greatly value his advice and support for our efforts.” Before serving at NARA, Weinstein was president of The Center of Democracy, a foundation he created in 1985 to encourage the democratic process. Previously, he was a professor at Boston University, Georgetown University, and Smith College. In 1986, Weinstein was the recipient of the United Nations Peace Medal for “efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and free elections in several critical parts of the world.” [MORE] Dr. Weinstein’s books include: The Story of America (DK Publishers, 2002), The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America—The Stalin Era (Random House, 1999; Modern Library paperback, 2000); Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (Knopf: Vintage paperback; Hutchinsons Ltd.; revised ed., Random House paperback, 1997), which received several citations including an American Book Award nomination; Freedom and Crisis: An American History (Random House, 3 eds.); Between the Wars: American Foreign Policy from Versailles to Pearl Harbor (Berkley paperback); Prelude to Populism (Yale University Press); and among edited collections, Conflict in America (Voice of America); American Negro Slavery (4th ed., Oxford University Press); American Themes: Essays in Historiography (Oxford); and Truman and the American Commitment to Israel (Hebrew University/Magnes Press). Dr. Weinstein’s articles and essays have appeared in The American Scholar, The American Historical Review, The Business History Review, Commentary, Encounter, Esquire, The Journal of American History, The Journal of American Studies, The New Republic, New York, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. His television credits include that of historical consultant on two History Channel programs on Soviet espionage (1998-1999), the 1988-89 PBS series Face-to Face: Conversations on the U.S.-Soviet Summitry (Co-Host, Editor, and Writer), The Salvadoran Debate (Moderator and Producer, 1984), and Inside Washington (Host and Creator), and a 1981 PBS public affairs series. He has been a frequent commentator on CNN, C-SPAN, and other networks. About American Heritage: American Heritage magazine was founded in 1949. Under the leadership of Editor Bruce Catton, who won a Pulitzer Prize for A Stillness at Appomattox, the founders believed that the American story was one of great value and endless fascination, and sought to apply the techniques of journalism to the discipline of history. In 1985 Forbes Inc. bought the company, and under its stewardship the circulation rose to 340,000. American Heritage founded a sister publication, Invention & Technology, which continues to flourish. Over the years American Heritage has won many honors, including the National Magazine Award. Today it is the largest and best-known history magazine in the world, carrying forward the mission the founders spelled out more than 50 years ago: “We believe in good storytelling; that interesting writers can interpret history and restore it to the place it once occupied as the noblest branch of literature.”