Larry J. Hackman (1942- ) received a BA and MA in history from the University of
Missouri at Columbia and an MPA from Harvard University. His long career has
primarily been centered around the archives profession. He was the first director of
the Records Grant Program of the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission (1975-1881) and Director of the New York State Archives and Records
Administration (1981-1995). In addition, Hackman also served as Director of the
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum (1995-2000) and President of the
Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs, the Library's
non-profit partner.
Hackman is a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists, and has served on its
Council, Executive Committee, and chaired the Program Committee. He has served on
the board of directors for the National Council on Public History, the Rockefeller
Archives Center, the New York State Forum for Information Management, and the
Missouri Humanities Council, among other organizations. Hackman has written and
lectured widely on archives, public history, presidential libraries, and the
development of archives, history, and museum programs.
After retirement, Hackman served as a consultant for the National Frontier Trails
Museums and the Missouri State Historical Society Records Advisory Board, and
continued to be involved in professional organizations like the Society of American
Archivists. Hackman continued to write and present, especially on advocacy for
archives and on public policy and practice relating to presidential libraries.
