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National Archives chief unlocks secrets

Beverly-bred director pushes for openness

By Bryan Bender

 |  Globe Staff  

  March 13, 2012

As the United States “collector-in-chief’’ in Washington, Beverly native David Ferriero is now guardian of 12 billion pages and 40 million photographs that make up America’s documentary heritage, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. This is not a job spent simply cataloguing records, or imposing fines for overdue books. The former MIT librarian and New York Public Library director also is the referee in labyrinthine efforts to pry loose some of America’s oldest secrets, from the formula for invisible ink to battle plans for the Spanish-American War.

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