Donald A. Ritchie (born December 23, 1945) is Historian Emeritus of the United States Senate.

[3] In 2009 he became the Senate historian, succeeding Richard Baker, and held that post until his retirement in 2015.

[4] Ritchie was responsible for editing the closed hearing transcripts of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's investigations,[5] and has authored a number of books including Electing FDR.

His book Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents won him the Richard W. Leopold Prize of the Organization of American Historians.

[6] He has served as president of the Oral History Association and on the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association,[6] as well as on the board of the Society for History in the Federal Government.