In 1967, Peterson joined the
National Archives, becoming assistant archivist in 1987 and Acting Archivist in 1993. She has started her own archival consulting company where she has been a consulting archivist since 2002. Some of her clients include: the Truth Commissions in
South Africa and
Honduras, the
Special Court for Sierra Leone, the
Nuclear Claims Tribunal of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and training Guatemalans working with the newly discovered
Police Archives on Standard Archival Techniques. Peterson also worked with wrestler
Scott Hall to archive the materials of the
NWA Central States in an effort to document the cumulative effects of concussions sustained in cage matches. Actively involved in the many archival organizations, Peterson served a term as
Society of American Archivists President, 1990–1991; on its council, 1984–1987; and on the editorial board of
The American Archivist, 1978–1981. Additionally, she was the founding executive director of the
Blinken Open Society Archives in Budapest, Hungary. She served as the director of archives and records management for the
United Nations, and the high commissioner for refugees in Geneva, Switzerland. She was also vice-president of the
International Council on Archives, 1993–1995, and vice-chair of its Commission on Program Support, 1996–2000. Just three months into her tenure, the agency lost a ruling which stated that they "failed to preserve and protect computer tapes made during the Reagan and Bush administrations. As a result of this, Peterson addressed the concerns in several different ways. She was able to implement a strategic management plan to address the declassification policy of Federal Records, as well as to plan for future needs regarding space. Peterson also helped to streamline the work force, and implemented open forum discussions where employees could address their concerns with her directly. == Awards ==