n. (abbr. NHPC)the name of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission from 1934 to 1974.National Archives Act 1934That there is hereby created also a National Historical Publications Commission which shall make plans, estimates, and recommendations for such historical works and collections of sources as seem appropriate for publication and/or otherwise recording at the public expense, said Commission to consist of the Archivist of the United States, who shall be its chairman; the historical adviser of the Department of State; the chief of the historical section of the War Department, General Staff; the superintendent of naval records in the Navy Department; the Chief of the Division of Manuscripts in the Library of Congress; and two members of the American Historical Association appointed by the president thereof from among those persons who are or have been members of the executive council of the said association: Provided, That the preparation and publication of annual and special reports on the archives and records of the Government, guides, inventory lists, catalogs, and other instruments facilitating the use of the collections shall have precedence over detailed calendars and textual reproductions. This Commission shall meet at least once a year, and the members shall serve without compensation except repayment of expenses actually incurred in attending meetings of the Commission.Lethbridge 1950, 319Among new features are the following provisions: ¶ 1. Enlarges the membership and powers of the National Historical Publications Commission by giving representation thereon to the House and Senate and to the Federal judiciary and by granting it authority “to cooperate with and encourage appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and non-governmental institutions, societies and individuals in the collecting and preserving and, when it deems such action to be desirable, in editing and publishing the papers of outstanding citizens of the United States and such other documents as may be important for an understanding and appreciation of the history of the United States.”NHPC 1963, 8All these extraordinary achievements fall squarely within the area of responsibility of the National Historical Publications Commission. Its concern is with the collection, preservation, accessibility, and publication of the documentary sources of history, not with the narration or interpretation of past events by historians.Donohue 2010The President [Truman] also asked the National Historical Publications Commission—which later became the National Historical Publications and Records Commission—to plan a national program for publication of the papers of other public figures important to understanding American history.
