The inner workings of authoritarian regimes are, by their nature, opaque. Knowledge of how such a regime keeps records is usually understood only after the ruling elite collapses and some level of public access to the archives is gained. The continued public unmasking of authoritarian practices by journalists and researchers create important resources for those committed to a freer, more open view of the past.

About our speaker: Trudy Huskamp Peterson is an archival consultant and certified archivist. She holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Iowa. She spent twenty-four years with the U.S. National Archives, including more than two years as Acting Archivist of the United States. After retiring from the U.S. government, she was the founding Executive Director of the Open Society Archives in Budapest, Hungary, and then the director of Archives and Records Management for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m., join us for social connection and a meal! Please RSVP at the Constant Contact registration page by April 9th so we know how much food to order.

Presented in partnership with The University of Iowa Libraries.

This series is a cosponsorship between the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council and the Iowa City Public Library.