Press Release
Press Release · Thursday, June 28, 2001

College Park, MD. . . Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin announced today the appointment of Michael Devine as the new director of the Harry Truman Library in Independence, MO, effective September 2001.

In making the appointment, Mr. Carlin said, "I am extremely pleased that Michael Devine has agreed to become the new director of the Truman library. Dr. Devine combines academic qualifications and cultural leadership skills that will make the Truman library an important destination in the 21st century. We welcome Dr. Devine into the Presidential library system."

Willard Boyd, President of the Truman Institute, said "Michael Devine will be an enormous asset to the public-private partnership as the Library completes its major renovation. His expertise in building bridges between institutions and the private sector is of critical importance as the Truman Library creates its new identity."

Dr. Devine is currently Professor of History at the University of Wyoming. Since 1991, he has taught courses in U.S. history and 18th and 19th century diplomatic history. During the Fall of 2000, he was a Senior Fulbright lecturer in Korea and in 1998 he served as Houghton Freeman Professor of American History at the Johns Hopkins University ---Nanjing University Graduate Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China.

Serving as the Director of the American Heritage Center from 1991-2000, Dr. Devine oversaw the construction of a new $20 million, 135,000 square foot facility on the University of Wyoming campus. He also organized a private-sector group to support the Center's activities. The public/private partnership that he created has resulted in raising nearly $9 million for the Center. Among his initiatives at the Center was the development of a wide range of scholarly and popular programs to integrate the American Heritage Center into the academic life of the University of Wyoming.

Prior to coming to the University of Wyoming, from 1985-1991 Dr. Devine was the Director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency/Illinois State Historical Society and Illinois State Historian. In that position he supervised a staff of 260 and managed a budget of $13 million. He was responsible for the Illinois State Historical Library and 50 historical sites throughout the state. He also served at the State Historical Preservation Officer.

Dr. Devine earned a B.A. from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Dr. Devine has published widely on subjects ranging from American foreign policy to the history of the West.

The Harry Truman Presidential library is one of ten Presidential libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. Located in Independence, Missouri, it houses the official records of the Truman Presidency, including more than 15 million pages of materials, 106,000 photographs, and 26,000 gifts given to President and Mrs. Truman. The 134,293 square foot facility is both a major research institution and a museum, showcasing the collections and hosting travelling exhibitions. The Library is currently undergoing a $22.5 million renovation and expansion of its public programs and exhibitions. The renovation will include two new permanent exhibitions, "Harry S. Truman: The Presidential Years" and The Life and Times of Harry S. Truman. This fall, the Library will also open a White House Decision Center that is an experiential learning program designed for school groups to learn about decision-making by focusing on major policy issues that faced Truman during his Presidency.

For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or by e-mail.

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