Office of the Historian


The Office of the Historian is an office of the United States Department of State within the Foreign Service Institute. The Office is responsible, under law, for the preparation and publication of the official historical documentary record of U.S. foreign policy in the Foreign Relations of the United States series, which can be accessed at the Office's . It researches and writes historical studies on aspects of U.S. diplomacy for use by policymakers in the Department and in other agencies as well for the public.
The office also makes recommendations to other bureaus regarding the identification, maintenance, and long-term preservation of important historical diplomatic records. Its outreach activities include participating in the planning and installation of the historical components of the planned United States Center for Diplomacy in the Department, counseling private scholars and journalists on historical research issues, and responding to government and public inquiries on diplomatic history questions.
The current Historian is Adam Howard. Past Historians include Marc J. Susser, John Campbell, and Edward P. Brynn.