By Sam Prasad Jillella – Special to India This Week
WASHINGTON DC –– A trailblazing author and journalist, A’Lelia Bundles belongs to a lineage of America’s iconic trailblazers — ‘The Walkers.’
Elected Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the National Archives, Bundles began a three-year term on January 1, 2012 to succeed Ken Lore.
By Sam Prasad Jillella – Special to India This Week
WASHINGTON DC –– A trailblazing author and journalist, A’Lelia Bundles belongs to a lineage of America’s iconic trailblazers — ‘The Walkers.’
Elected Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the National Archives, Bundles began a three-year term on January 1, 2012 to succeed Ken Lore.
The Foundation for the National Archives was founded as an independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in1992 to serve as the private-sector partner to the National Archives to educate, enrich, and inspire a deeper appreciation of America’s national heritage through the collected historical evidence.
The Foundation supports the Archivist of the United States in developing 
programs, technology, publications and materials that introduce and explain the National Archives’ holdings to Americans and the international community.
The National Archives Experience, created by the National Archives in partnership with the Foundation, has transformed the visitor experience at the National Archives’ Washington, DC building,
The Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero said: “We are all honored and delighted that A'Lelia is assuming Foundation leadership responsibilities. Her history of scholarship, media sophistication, and passion for the mission of the National Archives will serve us well.”
Bundles became involved with the Foundation since 2005, and most recently as an officer and member on the board’s Executive Committee.
With immense passion for archives, Bundles told INDIA THIS WEEK: “Every time I enter the doors of the National Archives, I’m struck by the magic and the magnitude of this institution. As the repository for the Magna Carta and the Charters of Freedom, as well as the documents that tell the family stories of all Americans, we embody the strengths and aspirations of our nation. I’m honored to serve as chair of the board with a passionate group of board members, a talented staff, and a visionary Archivist.”
Bundles graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and Radcliffe College, and received a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. After a 30-year career as a network television news producer and executive with ABC News and NBC News, she now is president of the Madam Walker/A’Lelia Walker Family Archives, the largest private collection of Walker photographs, business records, letters, clothing, furniture and personal artifacts. Bundles also serves as a Columbia University trustee, on the board of the Madam Walker Theatre Center of Indianapolis, and on the Radcliffe Institute’s Schlesinger Library Council at Harvard.
Madam C.J. Walker is Bundles’ great-great-grandmother. Walker was an entrepreneur who built her empire developing hair products for black women. Upon her death in 1919 at the age of 51, she was considered to be the wealthiest African-American woman in America and known to be the first African-American woman millionaire. A civil rights activist, she donated large sums of money to the NAACP's anti-lynching campaign and later in her life revised her will to support black schools, organizations, individuals, orphanages, retirement homes, as well as YWCAs and YMCAs.
Thora Colot, Executive Director of the Foundation for the National Archives told INDIA THIS WEEK: “We welcome A’Lelia at a critical time for the Foundation, as we look to expand and enhance our support of the National Archives to serve both museum visitors and researchers. Under her leadership, and with the support of our major donors, we plan to open a new introduction to research and retail space at the National Archives Building in Washington later this year…”
Bundles’ dynamism gives the impression that she is bound to make a difference.
Courtesy: "INDIA THIS WEEK" – Washington D.C. based Newspaper
