Dr Trudy Huskamp Peterson is a highly respected American archivist who is widely recognised as an expert in government records and a tireless advocate for archives relating to human rights. She is the second confirmed keynote speaker for the International Archives Congress—ICA Barcelona 2025, where she will share insights from her distinguished career in a closing ceremony address on 30 October. Her talk will highlight the vital role archives play in supporting memory, justice, and transparency.
Peterson was the first woman to serve as Acting Archivist of the United States, a post she held from 1993 to 1995. With over fifty years of experience, she has led major archival institutions, supported truth commissions and international tribunals, and contributed to the development of global standards for archival access and preservation.
Dr Trudy Huskamp Peterson was named an ICA Fellow at the 2022 ICA Conference in Rome, where she was honoured by David Fricker, the ICA President from 2014 to 2022.
Professional career
Peterson’s career spans senior roles in both national and international archives. She joined the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 1967 and rose through the ranks until her appointment as Acting Archivist in 1993. During her leadership at NARA (1993–1995), she addressed major challenges around modernising systems and improving access to public information, earning recognition as a reformer and an effective leader. At the same time, she was involved in humanitarian work, serving on the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs to help uncover the fates of those missing in conflicts from the 1940s to the 1980s.
After her time at NARA, Peterson continued her work internationally. She became the founding director of the Open Society Archives (OSA) in Budapest, Hungary, established in 1995 to preserve historical documentation on human rights. She later headed the archives section at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, managing records linked to emergencies and displaced populations. She also worked with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, helping to establish archival best practices in international missions.
Since 2002, Peterson has worked independently as an archival consultant, focusing on archives that document truth and justice. She has advised truth commissions, including in South Africa and Honduras, to help organise and preserve records of human rights violations. She has also supported international tribunals such as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal, offering technical expertise and staff training.
In Guatemala, she spent more than three years working with the National Police Historical Archive, training local staff in archival practices to safeguard records from a past repressive regime. From 2009 to 2013, she chaired the ICA’s Human Rights Working Group, editing a monthly newsletter that shared global developments and best practices in archives and human rights. She has also held leadership roles in the profession, serving as president of the Society of American Archivists (1990–1991) and as vice president of the ICA (1993–1995), actively promoting international collaboration and standards.
Academic background and contributions
Peterson studied in the American Midwest, earning a degree in History and English from the University of Iowa in 1967, followed by a master’s degree in 1972 and a PhD in History in 1975. She later gained professional certification, becoming a Certified Archivist in 1989 through the Academy of Certified Archivists. Her strong academic foundation in history and archival science has underpinned her pioneering work in records management, blending historical insight with forward-looking professional practice.
She is recognised as an authority on the judicial archives of special and international tribunals. Her research focuses on how to ensure the long-term preservation of records created by temporary courts—such as ad hoc international criminal tribunals—so they remain a lasting legacy for humanity. Her work has helped to reaffirm the idea that archives are not simply administrative tools but essential instruments for human rights, accountability, and collective memory.
Dr Trudy Huskamp Peterson’s impact on the field has been acknowledged around the world. In 2018, she received the prestigious Emmett Leahy Award for her sustained leadership and innovation in records management. In 2022, she was also recognised as an ICA Fellow—a distinction awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the archival profession.
References
- National Archives. (2016, March 8). Acting Archivist Trudy Huskamp Peterson. Prologue: Pieces of History.
- Iowa State University. (n.d.). LAS Alumni Awards Ceremony – Trudy Huskamp Peterson.
- Emmett Leahy Award. (2018). 2018 Trudy Peterson.
- Peterson, T. (n.d.). Resume — Trudy Huskamp Peterson.
- University of Iowa Center for Advancement. (n.d.). DAA Awardee: Trudy Huskamp Peterson.
