Dr. Bahmer served as the United States Archivist from 1966-1969, the fourth Archivist in the Nation's history. As such, he headed the National Archives and Records Service and directed the offices of the Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower Presidential Libraries.

Dr. Bahmer was born near Gardena, North Dakota, on September 27, 1904. He attended high school at Omemee and a year at the University of North Dakota before transferring to Valley City State Teachers College where he received a BA degree in 1928. In 1938 he received his MA degree from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1941. Dr. Bahmer joined the National Archives staff in 1936 and served as a specialist in record management in several governmental agencies including the War Department and the Navy Department. In 1948 he was appointed Assistant Archivist of the United States which he served as until 1966 when appointed Archivist of the United States.