Commemorating 150 Years of Foreign Relations

Did you know that…

• the U.S. Government used its own diplomatic correspondence as a weapon against the Confederacy during the Civil War?
• in 1991, Congressional action broadened the range of historical national security documents published by the Department of State?

The Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions. The series began in 1861 and now comprises more than 400 individual volumes. The FRUS series provides an indispensible resource for American citizens and others around the world who seek to understand U.S. foreign policy and strategic planning, international relations, economic affairs, and transnational social and cultural developments. The Foreign Relations series represents a longstanding effort to inform the public about governmental decision making while also protecting essential national security interests.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Foreign Relations series, the Office of the Historian at the Department of State is exploring the story behind FRUS to uncover how it became both an invaluable information resource and a leading example of the U.S. Government’s commitment to openness. Our research has shown that the FRUS series played an important role during seminal periods in American history, including the Civil War, the Cold War, and the dawn of the post-Cold War era. Our study of FRUS also sheds light on many other significant issues, including:

• The importance of the constitutional separation of powers within the U.S. federal government
• How definitions of “transparency” and “national security” changed over time
• Transformations in America’s role in the world
• How national security institutions evolved to meet new challenges
• How FRUS has influenced domestic and international politics

We are eager to share the story of FRUS with you. To learn more about our sesquicentennial outreach efforts, please contact history@state.gov or explore the events and other links here.