---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not only the Archivist alone but all who…"
description: "\"Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America's national memory.\" — Allen Weinstein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg"
---

#  Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are…

![“Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America's national memory.” quote by Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg)

> “Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America's national memory.”

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

All NARA staff are guardians of the nation's collective memory.

**In simple terms:** NARA workers protect America's history.

Key Takeaway

Preserve history responsibly.

Themes

history stewardship memory

Mood

respectful reflective

Type

informational inspirational

When to use this quote

- museum curation
- government records
- education

Key Concepts

archival science public trust

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we improve public access to archives?
- What responsibilities do we have to future generations?

A Different Perspective

Resources for preservation are finite.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [For the Archivist, this role is a result of his obligation to preserve and assure timely and maximum access to our governmental records in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/for-the-archivist-this-role-is-a-result-of-his-obligation-to-preserve/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [The Archivist of the United States essentially works for the American people across partisan lines and not, regardless of which Administration nominates the person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/the-archivist-of-the-united-states-essentially-works-for-the-american/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [This is a day not of celebration but of national memory. It's a day when we learn, and learn again, of the horror of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-carr/this-is-a-day-not-of-celebration-but-of-national-memory-it-s-a-day/)

Bob Carr

> [“the Polish Institute of National Memory estimates that there were some 5.5 million wartime deaths in the country, of which about 3 million were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/the-polish-institute-of-national-memory-estimates-that-there-were/)

[Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/)

> [“What spares us is memory,” he said. “It’s what makes us worth saving. However low we sink, whatever promise we no longer fulfill, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-weisel/what-spares-us-is-memory-he-said-it-s-what-makes-us-worth-saving/)

[Frederick Weisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-weisel/)

> [Archiving is extremely expensive and time consuming. I'm sure an archivist would tell me I'm doing it wrong. It's an industry that's built upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/archiving-is-extremely-expensive-and-time-consuming-i-m-sure-an/)

[Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/)

> [“Would I be an Archivist then?” I asked. “No,” she said. “You’d be a trader.” For a moment, I thought she said traitor, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/would-i-be-an-archivist-then-i-asked-no-she-said-you-d-be-a-trader/)

[Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/)

> [I love photography and first editions. I have that in my genes. My father was an archivist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-love-photography-and-first-editions-i-have-that-in-my-genes-my/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [“It's really fine that you found a good archivist to do the basically difficult and at times harrowing work of cleaning out old papers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-k-fisher-2/it-s-really-fine-that-you-found-a-good-archivist-to-do-the-basically/)

[M.F.K. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-k-fisher-2/)

> [Linda Tripp has shown that a true friend is an archivist, a biographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/linda-tripp-has-shown-that-a-true-friend-is-an-archivist-a-biographer/)

[Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/)

> [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/)

[Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/)

> [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/)

[Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/)

> [The World Cup was the biggest thing ever for the national team, but the Champions League is the biggest thing for clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/the-world-cup-was-the-biggest-thing-ever-for-the-national-team-but/)

[David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/)

## More by Allen Weinstein

> [Research promoted by NARA within a major coalition of Federal and private sector research partners has at last demonstrated that an Electronic Records Archives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/research-promoted-by-nara-within-a-major-coalition-of-federal-and/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [Then as now, whatever disagreements over policies existed among Americans - and there were many such bitter policy disputes - the purposes and goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/then-as-now-whatever-disagreements-over-policies-existed-among/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [The Archivist of the United States essentially works for the American people across partisan lines and not, regardless of which Administration nominates the person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/the-archivist-of-the-united-states-essentially-works-for-the-american/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [But we will lose the millions of records being created daily in a dizzying array of electronic forms unless we find a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/but-we-will-lose-the-millions-of-records-being-created-daily-in-a/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [This awareness instills a fierce desire to protect that heritage and - in doing so - to educate Americans in the meaning and importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/this-awareness-instills-a-fierce-desire-to-protect-that-heritage-and/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [In the Federal Government, electronic records are as indispensable as their paper counterparts for documenting citizens' rights, the actions for which officials are accountable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/in-the-federal-government-electronic-records-are-as-indispensable-as/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [Thus, the Archivist must display at all times scrupulous independence and a devotion to the laws and principles which govern the responsibilities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/thus-the-archivist-must-display-at-all-times-scrupulous-independence/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [For the Archivist, this role is a result of his obligation to preserve and assure timely and maximum access to our governmental records in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/for-the-archivist-this-role-is-a-result-of-his-obligation-to-preserve/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [NARA must provide security at our facilities to protect our public patrons, our staff, and our holdings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/nara-must-provide-security-at-our-facilities-to-protect-our-public/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [We live in a world of increasing dependence on electronic records and retrieval, unprecedented security and preservation concerns, and insufficient attention to civic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/we-live-in-a-world-of-increasing-dependence-on-electronic-records-and/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

> [Our new strategic plan emphasizes the importance of providing access to records anytime, anywhere. This is one of many initiatives that we are launching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/our-new-strategic-plan-emphasizes-the-importance-of-providing-access/)

[Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

[Explore all 12 Allen Weinstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/)

## More Alone quotes

> [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/)

[Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/)

> [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/)

[Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/)

> [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/)

[Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/)

> [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/)

[Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/)

> [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/)

[Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/)

> [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/)

[Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/)

> [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/)

[Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/)

> [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/)

Luckybannu

> [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/)

[Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/)

> [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/)

[Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/)

> [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/)

[Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/)

> [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

[Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America's national memory.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Allen Weinstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who-work-for-nara-are-designated/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alone"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who-work-for-nara-are-designated/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/allen-weinstein-36914_alone_not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who_609985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America's national memory.” — Allen Weinstein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Allen Weinstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Not only the Archivist alone but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who-work-for-nara-are-designated/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/not-only-the-archivist-alone-but-all-who-work-for-nara-are-designated/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
