MEDIA CONTACT: info@chicagoarchivists.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2026
Pulitzer Prize Winner Jonathan Eig Joins Chicago Area Archivists in Concern Over Closure of Regional NARA Facility
Chicago, IL – Pulitzer Prize winning author Jonathan Eig made the following statement when learning from Chicago Area Archivists of plans by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to close the National Archives at Chicago facility and the co-located Chicago Federal Records Center:
“America is nothing without its history, and NARA is the keeper of our history. Local NARA facilities like the one in Chicago help preserve and enrich our national identity. Over and over again, they help to remind us who we are as Americans. They help us discover our history and ourselves. I’ve relied heavily on the Chicago NARA facility for my research. In fact, when I discovered thousands of pages of federal records from the federal government’s investigation of Al Capone sitting in liquor-store boxes in Nebraska, I purchased them and donated them to the NARA facility in Chicago, where they have since been available for all the world to see. To paraphrase Faulkner, the past is never dead; it’s not even past; it’s sitting in boxes waiting for us to dig through it, scan it on our cellphones, and usher it from the present to the future. But, of course, that only works if we continue to be responsible caretakers of our history. Our country’s future depends on it.”
—Jonathan Eig, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography and author of King: A Life, Ali: A Life, Get Capone, and other books
Mr. Eig’s remarks underscore the importance of CAA’s Call to Action to keep the National Archives at Chicago open and accessible for historians and all citizens. With more than 140,000 cubic feet of irreplaceable permanent records from 85 federal agencies across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, the collection documents the entire history of the Great Lakes region and its people—from records of momentous and historically significant events to routine paperwork that some citizens need to access in order to prove citizenship, obtain Medicare, receive other government benefits, and beyond.
What can you do?
1. Call, Text and/or Email Your Representatives
Use some of the language above to let them know what's going on and ask them to get involved to stop this closure.
2. Email NARA Leadership
Tell them you know about the intended closure, how it doesn't align with NARA's stated mission and that you are concerned.
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Ed Forst, Acting Archivist of the United States (Head and chief administrator)
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Jay Trainer, Chief Operating Officer
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Chris Naylor, Executive for Research Services
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Corey Cooke, Acting Chief of Staff
3. Tell our State Leadership
Let them know they need to intervene now before local records and knowledge are lost.
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Kwame Raoul, Office of the Illinois Attorney General - (312) 814-3000 (Chicago office)
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Alexi Giannoulias, Office of the Secretary of State - 800-252-8980 (toll free in Illinois); 217-785-3000 (outside Illinois)
4. Sign the Chicago Petition
Since 1982, Chicago Area Archivists (CAA) has provided opportunities for local archivists, historians, librarians and others in the Chicago metro area to meet together for discussion, social interaction, and education. Our membership includes archivists, librarians, and records managers in academic, corporate, governmental, institutional, library, and museum settings. Our goals are to share information on issues of interest to the local archival community, to advocate for preservation of and access to historically valuable resources related to the Chicago area, and to keep members informed about archival programs and resources
https://www.chicagoarchivists.org, info@chicagoarchivists.org
