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The National Archives has some explaining to do! The provenance of a work of art or historical artifact is a grave concern of the archivist. Items which have been uniquely crafted and have historical value are preserved for future generations. If a work of art has a troublesome period in which it is “lost,” its provenance may be questioned, and its value may decrease. Artifacts of dubious provenance may be interesting enough for a circus sideshow, but irreplaceable works of art and artifacts should be maintained under strict security. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is responsible to the American people to preserve and protect historical artifacts, documents, and the artwork that has been acquired by our country. I am writing this paper to scrutinize a particular egregious error that NARA has as yet ignored.Read More →