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And the 2002 SAA Awards Go To...
The Society of American Archivists recognized and celebrated
outstanding archival achievements for the calendar year 2001 at an awards
ceremony held August 22, 2002, during its 66th annual meeting at the Sheraton
in Birmingham, Alabama. Subcommittees of the Awards Committee, which was
chaired by Alexandra Gressitt, and Bill Brock, selected recipients of
the SAA-sponsored awards. SAA heartily congratulates all of the award
winners.
Distinguished
Service Award
J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award
Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer-Kegan Award
Fellows' Posner Award
Waldo Gifford Leland Award
Preservation Publication Award
Theodore Calvin Pease Award
Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award
Colonial Dames Scholarship Award
See also SAA Names Three New Fellows (Aug
2002)
Back to SAA Recognitions home page
Distinguished Service Award
DUKE UNIVERSITY is the recipient of the Society of American Archivists'
2002 Distinguished Service Award. Established in 1964, the award recognizes
a North American archival institution that has provided outstanding public
service and has made an exemplary contribution to the archival profession.
David Ferriero, Duke University Vice Provost for Library Affairs, and
Robert Byrd, Director of Rare Book, Manuscripts and Special Collections,
received the award on behalf of the institution.
Duke has long been a leader in regional, national, and international
archival efforts in descriptive standards, cutting-edge cooperative projects,
and professional development and involvement. Duke was a very early implementer
of Encoded Archival Description and helped to refine the standard. In
addition, Duke staff produced a best-selling archival publication, Encoded
Archival Description Tag Library, which was published by SAA in 1998.
For almost a decade the Digital Scriptorium has led the development of
best practices for online digital collections. As one nominator said,
"Duke University is a model for other universities in how it develops
its archives, hires and supports archivists, and commits itself to the
principles that are at the heart of the archival profession."
Previous recipients of the Distinguished Service Award include the Master's
of Archival Studies Program at the University of British Columbia, the
Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives at Johns Hopkins University, The Research
Libraries Group, Oberlin College Archives, and the Billy Graham Archives.
J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award
Retired systems administrator JOAN WINTERS (pictured at left)
and retired associate librarian LOUISE ADDIS, both of the Stanford
Linear Accelerator Center, are the recipients of the Society of American
Archivists' 2002 J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award. Established
in 1990, this prestigious award, named in honor of an historian and advocate
for the archival profession, recognizes individuals and/or organizations
that promote greater public awareness of archival activities and programs.
Ms. Winters and Ms. Addis not only grasped the historical dimension of
their participation in the working group that created the first Web server
in the United States, but also instinctively did the right things at the
right times to ensure that records of that project survived. Ms. Winters'
diligent safeguarding of superseded Web pages and system documentation
along with Ms. Addis scrupulous maintenance of electronic meeting minutes
and her firmly articulated record-keeping guidelines for the working group
created one of the most significant windows into the history of the Web
in the United States. The Society of American Archivists lauds Ms. Winters
and Ms. Addis for their farsighted efforts and sustained commitment to
promoting archival activities when they confronted the issues associated
with the rapid evolution of information technology.
Past award recipients of the Jameson Award have included former Senator
Thomas F. Eagleton (D-MO), Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), The Mellon Foundation,
Hudson's Bay Company, and New York City philanthropist Richard Benson,
Newsday, and Kraft Foods.
Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award
The VERMONT STATE ARCHIVES received the Society of American Archivists'
2002 Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award for increasing public
awareness about a specific body of documents. The award, established in
1973, honors the memory of two SAA Fellows and former presidents. Vermont
State Archivist Gregory Sanford accepted the award.
The Vermont State Archives' impressive Web site, "Continuing Issues
of Government and Governance," uses technology as an extension of
a traditional archival publication program, but is not limited to merely
posting electronic versions of finding aids or state records. In a proactive
and unique approach, the staff of the Vermont State Archives made the
extra effort to identify materials from the holdings of the State Archives
relevant to current issues and topics and then post that material to this
Web site (http://vermont-archives.org/governance/govern.htm).
It is a dynamic publication. The Web site is now an active outreach tool
known and used by legislators, the press, and the public.
Previous recipients of the Hamer Kegan Award include Jeffrey D. Marshall
for his publication, A War of the People: Vermont Civil War Letters
(which documents the lives and attitudes of rank-and-file Vermont soldiers),
the American Heritage Center at University of Wyoming, New York Public
Library, Minnesota Historical Society, and Delaware Public Archives.
Fellows' Posner Award
The Society of American Archivists' 2002 Fellows' Posner Award was presented
to TERRY COOK, professor in the Archival Studies Programme at the
University of Manitoba and an archival consultant, for his article, "
'The Imperative of Challenging Absolutes' in Graduate Archival Education
Programs: Issues for Educators and the Profession," published in
volume 63 of the American Archivist. The award, established in
1982 by the Fellows of the Society of American Archivists and named for
former SAA president Ernst Posner, recognizes an outstanding essay dealing
with some facet of archival administration, history, theory, and/or methodology
published in the latest volume of SAA's semi-annual journal.
Mr. Cook's article, which was published in a special issue on graduate
archival education, reflects on various themes presented at a 1999 archival
education conference and of the state of archival education at the beginning
of the twentieth-first century. It provides a model summary, acknowledging
the variety of perspectives presented in the other thought-provoking articles
in the special issue. Mr. Cook uses his platform to go well beyond a summation
of conference papers and offers a keen discussion of the relationships
among research, education, and practice.
In this well-written essay, he argues that archival educators should
ask not only, "What does an archivist need to know?" but also,
"How does an archivist need to think, and why?" For Mr. Cook,
this "approach advocates…a blend of the humanist and cultural
perspective that is (or should be) at the heart of any university education,
with professional knowledge and practical competence." He presents
a research agenda that notes the needs for varied types of research, and
research in varied settings. His broad, humanist essay illustrates how
faculty, students, and practitioners can be partners in advancing the
archival profession. While observing that, "Research by archivists
in daily work is not the same as archival research," Mr. Cook establishes
a continuing role for the practicing archivist in the archival research
agenda. He further notes that, "It is important for the profession
to remember that the opposite of practical is impractical, not theoretical.
Theory is rather the complement to practice, and theory and practice should
interact and cross-fertilize each other…"
Click here to subscribe to American
Archivist.
Waldo Gifford Leland Award
The Society of American Archivists' 2002 Waldo Gifford Leland Award for
writing of superior excellence and usefulness in the field of archival
history, theory, or practice was presented to RICHARD J. COX of
the University of Pittsburgh for his provocative monograph, Managing
Records for Evidence and Information (Quorum Books, 2001). Established
in 1959, the award is named for one of North America's archival pioneers
and SAA's second president.
Describing the work as an exploration of the fundamental principles
of archives and records management that must be understood before records
policy can be set, Cox asks records professionals to re-examine basic
concepts, beginning with the definition of a record. Drawing upon a wide
range of resources—archival theory past and present, his own research,
and insights gleaned from other disciplines—Cox turns his keen analysis
to other vital issues that should inform the setting of records policy:
the place of technology in defining and managing records; the central
role of sound records appraisal and maintenance criteria; the importance
of advocacy for the records enterprise; and the need to better prepare
future generations of records professionals. Some will differ with some
of his conclusions, but few will disagree that his presentation is forceful,
well informed, and impossible to ignore. Cox challenges archivists to
be bold enough to think along these essential lines with him, to ask big
questions about what archivists do and why. Managing Records as Evidence
and Information is a vibrant contribution to professional discourse.
Cox, a SAA Fellow, is a second-time recipient of this award, having
won it in 1991 for his book, American Archival Analysis: The Recent
Development of the Archival Profession in the United States. Other
previous recipients include Charles Dollar for Authentic Electronic
Records: Strategies for Long-Term Access, James O'Toole of Boston
College for The Records of American Business, and Anne Kenney &
Steve Chapman of Cornell University for Digital Imaging for Libraries
and Archives.
Preservation Publication Award
The Society of American Archivists' 2002 Preservation Publication Award
was presented to ROBERT E. SCHNARE, JR. for his publication, Bibliography
of Preservation Literature, 1983-1996 (Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2001).
Established in 1993, the award recognizes the author or editor of an outstanding
work, published in North America, that advances the theory or practice
of preservation in archival institutions. Mr. Schnare, director of the
library at the U.S. Naval War College.
This extensive annotated bibliography—and the excellent essay on
preservation management that is included—addresses the pragmatic
concerns of modern collection preservation. The book provides access to
the best strategies and advice currently available. On both the title
page and in his preface, Mr. Schnare credits and acknowledges the contributions
of the late Susan G. Swartzburg and George M. Cunha in the genesis and
development of the book. It is a wonderful tribute to these pioneers and
leading lights in the archives and library preservation field. The archival
community is grateful for this collective accomplishment, but especially
to Mr. Schnare for bringing the work to fruition.
Past recipients of the Preservation Publication Award include Gregory
S. Hunter for Preserving Digital Information: A How-To-Do-It Manual,
Eléonore Kissel and Erin Vigneau for Architectural Photoreproductions:
A Manual for Identification and Care, and James M. Reilly for The
Storage Guide for Color Photographic Materials.
Theodore Calvin Pease Award
The Society of American Archivists' 2002 Theodore Calvin Pease Award
was presented to RETO TSCHAN of the University of British Columbia
for his student paper, "A Comparison of Jenkinson and Schellenberg
on Appraisal." Established in 1987, the award is named for the first
editor of SAA's semi-annual journal, American Archivist, and recognizes
superior writing achievement by a student enrolled in archival administration
classes or engaged in formal archival internship programs. Mr. Tschan
received a certificate and cash prize. In addition, his paper will be
published in a forthcoming issue of the American Archivist.
Mr. Tschan's award-winning paper was prepared for a course on "Selection
and Acquisition of Archival Documents" taught by Professor Terry
Eastwood in the Master of Archival Studies Program at the School of Library,
Archival and Information Studies, University of British Columbia. The
paper examines the thinking of Hilary Jenkinson and T.R. Schellenberg,
two towering figures in twentieth-century archival theory, on the subject
of appraisal. After carefully reviewing the logic of the starkly different
approaches to appraisal taken by Jenkinson and Schellenberg, the paper
examines how their writings have influenced current debates on appraisal,
particularly in relation to the challenges posed by the appraisal and
management of electronic records. The result is a fresh analysis of familiar
themes and ideas and a thoughtful application of these ideas to current
archival thinking and practice. One member of the committee described
it as "a very creative re-examination of fundamental principles as
they are evolving and being applied in new circumstances," and added,
"the paper shows a very thorough understanding of the issues, creatively
re-evaluates basic source materials, and carries the discussion very competently
and usefully into the present."
Click here to subscribe to American
Archivist.
For more information on SAA student chapters, please click
here.
Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award
PETRINA D. JACKSON of the School of Information Sciences at the
University of Pittsburgh is the recipient of the Society of American Archivists'
2002 Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award. The award recognizes minority
undergraduate and graduate students of African, Asian, Hispanic or Native
American descent who through scholastic achievement manifest an interest
in becoming professional archivists and active members of SAA. The award,
established in 1993, honors the late Dr. Harold T. Pinkett, an SAA Fellow
who served with distinction during his long tenure at the National Archives
and Records Administration. The award included complimentary registration
to the annual meeting.
Ms. Jackson, a student in the archives/ preservation track in the M.L.I.S.
program, is the second student from the University of Pittsburgh to capture
the award. Tywanna Marie Whorley received it 1999.
For more information on SAA student chapters, please click
here.
Colonial Dames Scholarship Award
Three newcomers to the archival profession, IAN GRAHAM, VALERIE
J. FREY, and CHARITY ANNE GALBREATH, received the Society of
American Archivists' 2002 Colonial Dames Scholarship Award. Established
in 1974, the award enables new archivists each year to attend the Modern
Archives Institute of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Each scholarship covers up to $1,200 of the total tuition, travel, and
housing expenses associated with attending the institute. To be eligible
for this scholarship an individual must have been employed less than two
years as an archivist and work in an archives or manuscripts collection
where a fair percentage of the repository's holdings predate 1825. The
award is funded by the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter III, Washington,
D.C.
Ian Graham, special collections and archives assistant at Bowdoin College
in Brunswick, Maine, attended the winter institute. Both Valerie J. Frey,
manuscripts archivist at the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah, and
Charity Anne Galbreath, processing archivist at the Peabody Essex Museum
in Salem, Mass., attended the summer institute.
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