From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chief Clerk (United States Department of State)
Chief Clerk (United States Department of State)
Clerk,
The Chief Clerk between 1789 and 1853, was the second- dence, and supervision of Department personnel and
ranking official within the United States Department of property. The office was abolished on January 26, 1939,
State, known as the Department of Foreign Affairs before re-established August 6, 1942, as the Office of the Chief
September 5, 1789. Section 2 of the Act of Congress of July Clerk and Administrative Assistant, and abolished in the
27, 1789 (1 Stat. 28) establishing a Department of Foreign reorganization of January 15, 1944. Although the Chief
Affairs, authorized the Secretary to appoint a Chief Clerk, Clerk was the second-ranking officer until 1853, the hold-
who would have custody of the Department’s records er of the office of Chief Clerk did not always become
whenever the office of the Secretary should be vacant. Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary’s absence, and
From 1789 to 1853, when Congress created the position sometimes that position was delegated to other Cabinet
of Assistant Secretary of State, the Chief Clerk was the members.
second-ranking officer of the Department of State, and
was responsible for supervision of Department person-
nel, distribution of correspondence, and day-to-day op-
References
erations. • Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs.
All Chief Clerks were designated, not commissioned. "Chief Clerks". Department of State.
After 1853, the Chief Clerk’s duties included at various http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/
times custody of archives, distribution of correspon- officers/cclerk.html. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
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Categories:
• United States Department of State officials
• United States government stubs
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