James B. Rhoads

James "Bert" Rhoads (center), the fifth Archivist of the United States smiles as he stands in the middle of family and GSA leadership. From left to right: Joe Moody, Deputy Administrator of General Services Administration (GSA); Mr. Lawson Knott, Administrator, GSA; Mrs. Rhoads, and his eldest daughter, Cynthia Rhoads. His younger children Marcia and James, Jr., stand in the front. (May 2, 1968)

James Berton "Bert" Rhoads (September 17, 1928 – April 7, 2015) served as fifth Archivist of the United States. Rhoads joined the National Archives in 1952 and was named National Archivist of the United States in 1968.

He was born in Sioux City, Iowa. Rhoads received his B.A., in 1950, and M.A., in 1952, from the University of California at Berkeley. He earned his Ph.D. in History from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1965.

Career James B. Rhoads joined the National Archives in 1952 and held a number of positions before he was eventually promoted to Deputy Archivist in 1966, under Robert H. Bahmer. Under Rhoads, Prologue — the National Archives' quarterly publication — was founded, and the regional archives system was expanded. At that congress he was elected as one of two vice presidents, in which capacity he was responsible for the organization of the next congress, which was held in Washington, D.C., in 1976, concurrently with the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists. Rhoads went on to serve as president of the ICA from 1976 to 1979.

After leaving the National Archives in 1979, Rhoads taught at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, before retiring. and as a council member from 1970 to 1973. He also served as president of the Academy of Certified Archivists, from 1992 to 1994.

Personal life Rhoads was married for 59 years to Sadie Angela (Handy) Rhoads. Angela, as she was known, died 8 January 2007 from Lewy Bodies Dementia. They had three children – Cynthia, James, and Marcia. Rhoads died on April 7, 2015, in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Footnotes

Works

The Campaign of the Socialist Party in the Election of 1920. PhD dissertation. The American University, 1965.