Archivist Allen Weinstein Honors Roosevelt Library Curator Herman Eberhardt
Press Release · Friday, December 2, 2005

Press Release
December 2, 2005

U.S. Archivist Allen Weinstein Honors Roosevelt Presidential Library Curator Herman Eberhardt

Washington, DC…At the National Archives annual State of the Archives Address and Awards Ceremony yesterday, Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein recognized curator Herman Eberhardt for his outstanding contribution to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.

In his remarks, Professor Weinstein addressed NARA employees saying, "Your professionalism, your commitment to the work at hand, your response to NARA customers and partners, your sense of mission, have all been exemplary. I thank each and every NARA employee who has contributed to my understanding of the agency. Our customers recognize, as I do, the high quality of work performed at NARA."

Professor Weinstein presented Herman Eberhardt with the "Outstanding Individual in Customer Service to External NARA Customers" award for his creation of two exceptional exhibits for the Roosevelt Library’s Special Gallery for changing exhibits.

The first, titled "This Great Nation Will Endure: Photographs of the Great Depression," explored the dramatic and often poignant photographs taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration to document the living conditions in rural America during the years of depression and drought. The exhibition was a tremendous success in presenting the magnitude of both the lost hope and the dogged will to survive that characterized those who lived through the Great Depression.

Through the second exhibit, titled "Freedom From Fear: FDR Commander in Chief," Mr. Eberhardt explored in unprecedented depth the wartime leadership of President Roosevelt. The exhibit is an extraordinarily effective combination of documents, artifacts, film, still photographs, sound recordings and words that capture the tenor of that time period and illustrate the critical leadership role played by FDR. David Eisenhower, in remarks following a tour of the exhibit, noted that the exhibition "pulled no punches," dealing with many different historical questions and controversies surrounding the war and FDR’s wartime leadership in an honest and insightful way.

Because of these two exhibits, visitors can explore two of America’s greatest challenges and the extraordinary man who led the nation during those dark and frightening times.

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-501-5526.

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