MetropolitanM e t r opol i t a n ArchivistA r c hi vi s t Volumeol 13, No. 1 um e W 13,inter N 2008 o. 1 Welcome New Members! BOARD OF DIRECTORS The following individuals have joined the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York since June 2007. Clare Flemming, MA, CA President Marcia Bassett Tiffany Loiselle Vanessa Cameron Queens Library Gallery Woody Guthrie Archives Columbia University Vice President Christina Benson Abigail Malangone Larry Weimer City of New York Department of The Winthrop Group Rutgers University Parks and Recreation Treasurer Mary Manning Melissa Bowling Adelphi University Mary Manning Student, Pratt Institute Adelphi University Joanne Devaney McIntyre Secretary Janet Bunde General Society of Mechanics Chris Lacinak New York University and Trademen AudioVisual Preservation Solutions Co-ordinator, Education Committee Jennifer Chang Dr. Patrick McNamara Rebecca Altermatt Diocese of Brooklyn Archives American Museum of Natural History Patricia Dohrenwend Co-ordinator, Communications & Westchester County Archives Karen Murphy Outreach Committee and Records Center City of New York DEP Aviva Gray Federal Reserve Bank of New York Diana Garcia Tiffany Nixon Co-ordinator, MSKCC Information Systems Meeting & Nominating Committee Carol Shulman Jacquielin Kilberg Student, Palmer School, Long McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Island University Webmaster Daniel Sokolow Ann Lee Charlotte Strum Kirkland and Ellis, LLP Rockefeller Archive Center Editor-in-Chief Kristen Leiper Cynthia Tobar Rachel Chatalbash Whitney Museum Features Editor Lindsay Turley Celia Hartmann Whitney Museum What can you do Book Review Editor to contribute Kristen Nyitray to ART-NY’s MEMBERS OLD & NEW success? Start by Newsletter Layout Volunteer with ART contributing to Bonnie Marie Sauer one of these Calendar: Review Contributions, Solicit Photographs committees. Contact: [email protected] Fundraising: Take part in coordinating efforts to meet ART’s Fundraising Goals. Contact: [email protected] Programming: Assist in selecting locations, topics, and speakers. Contact: [email protected] Communications and Outreach: Write for the Newsletter, Design Brochures and Invitations. Contact: [email protected] Membership & Nominations: Membership Directory, Monthly Meetings, Mailings, Award Recipients Selection for Annual Awards. Contact [email protected] www.nycarchivists.org Contents

Editor’s Note 4

Feature Articles Archives Internships: Creating Value for Students and Institutions 5 Rachel Chatalbash

Interview with the Archivist: William Casari 12 Ellen Mehling

Repository Profiles Saving What Is Already There: An Overview of the Brooklyn Navy Archive 11 Daniella Romano An Archives Helps History Look Forward: Central Synagogue 15 Anne Mininberg

Book Reviews Archives and Justice: A South African Perspective, by Verne Harris with a foreward by 17 Terry Cook. Review by Mario H. Ramirez The Rape of Europa, directed by Richrd Berge and Bonni Cohen. 18 Review by Jenella Young. Working in Women’s Archives: Researching Women’s Private Literature and 26 Archival Documents, edited by Marlene Kadar and Helen M. Buss Review by Penny Shima Glanz

ART News Archivists Rountable Awards 2007 19 Archives Week Celebrations Around Town 21 Celia Hartmann Archives Committee Seeks Volunteers and Nominations for 2008 24 Meeting Round Up: Fall 2008 24 NYU Creates Masters Program in Archives and Public History 25

Cover Image: Courtesy Brooklyn Navy Yard. Page 4

Editor’s Note

Happy 2008! This year brings a new “greener” Metropolitan Archivist. We have gone online. We hope the color edition that we can post on the website is pleasing to all. You may remember we notified the membership last spring of the change; however if you still require a paper edition of the newsletter, please email the editor at [email protected].

Also, the website has been revamped. The Board thanks Brain Stevens, former board member, for his work designing and facilitating the change to the new website. We believe the new site will prove to be more dynamic and reflects better our organization. We hope that more people will get involved with contributing current news for the website.

An early plug for those interested in getting more involved with the Roundtable… in addition to volunteering to assist board members or on the Calendar and Awards committees, you can run for office! In the Spring, elections will take place for President, Secretary, Membership Coordinator and for this position, Coordinator, Outreach and Communications. If you are interested in any of the positions, feel free to contact the board member currently holding the position for more information.

Rebecca Altermatt Coordinator, Communications and Outreach

The mission of the Metropolitan Archivist is to serve members of the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York (ART) by: • Informing them of ART activities through reports of monthly meetings and committee activities. • Relating important announcements about individual members and member repositories. • Reporting important news related to the New York metropolitan area archival profession. • Providing a forum to discuss archival issues. The Metropolitan Archivist (ISSN 1546-3125) is issued semi-annually to the members of ART. Comments, questions, or submissions for features should be directed to editor, Rebecca Altermatt, at [email protected]. Deadlines for submissions are April 30th and November 15th. Similar inquiries and submissions for reviews should be directed to [email protected]. Preferred length of submissions is 800-1000 words for feature articles and 400-500 words for reviews.

The Metropolitan Archivist and ART assume no responsibility for statements made by contributors.

The Metropolitan Archivist accepts advertisements from businesses which provide services that would be of professional interest to ART membership. Rates and other related information can be obtained by contacting the editor or visiting the ART website at www.nycarchivists.org. Job advertisements can be posted directly to the ART web sire by contacting the ART web master at [email protected].)

An advertisement (or sponsor recognition) appearing in the Metropolitan Archivist does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of the advertiser’s product or service by ART or the Metropolitan Archivist. Page 5

Archives Internships: Creating Value for Students and Institutions

By Rachel Chatelbash Interns working at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Processing Archivist, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Image courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.)

Perennially understaffed repositories with a large interns who are learning. I have created standard backlog of unprocessed records continually struggle series and headings for institutional records to to process collections more quickly so as to make make processing as simple as possible, and have them accessible to the public. In many cases, broken down large collections into project-sized interns fill this staffing gap. The obvious difficulty series for interns to process. In this way, interns in having a large intern contingent is interns’ are able to make the most of their projects and the lack of experience; an intern cannot be expected institution benefits from the success of their efforts. to be the equivalent of a professional archivist. I believe, however, that with the right guidance and Ensuring Value for All tools in place, interns can contribute positively and The question remains, however, whether it is the valuably to a repository. value of the project and skills learned that are most important in a successful internship or whether the Structuring the Internship Experience relationship fostered between intern and supervisor A successful internship must simultaneously is more critical. Does this answer differ depending address the needs of the institution and the needs on the role of the person being asked the question – of the intern. Furthermore, the intern’s needs for intern, supervisor, professor? I posed this question direction must be balanced with the institution’s to colleagues, archives graduate students, recent resources to provide this guidance. I believe the graduates, and administrators of local archives key to this balance lies in engaging with projects programs; their responses are presented here. and creating a work environment that includes highly structured work processes and a flexible Alice Flynn, Program Director, The Palmer School and supportive workplace. I require all interns to Manhattan: read and to reference our repository’s processing “What makes a successful internship? The manual, and to create and process a collection internship experience is a success when both the according to an approved processing plan. The student and the site benefit from the experience. processing manual and plan provide direction, At The Palmer School of Library and Information guiding the intern through many common Science (part of Long Island University’s C.W. Post questions and providing numerous examples to aid College of Computer and Information Science), comprehension. In this way, time spent in direct master’s degree candidates are required to do supervision is reduced. I regularly have interns an internship prior to graduating. We ask them who have been with me longer help newer interns to wait until they have completed at least 20 with their projects, thus fostering community and credits so that we can confidently say that we are leadership skills. Furthermore, I employ practices to provide a more straightforward environment for continued on next page Page 6 continued from previous page tasks, that they will be instructed in the ways of the organization, and that they will be productive sending professionals out into the field, and so that team members in the time that they are interning. supervisors can give these interns professional- Much of what we hope students will learn and level work with the confidence that the work will be taught has to do with how to function in the be well done. This hands-on component of their culture of the particular organization— how to program is meant to flesh out the theory that these learn to anticipate what’s needed and then do students have mastered in the classroom. Students it in a cooperative, creative way. Many of our complete a Learning Contract which asks them to students are offered paid positions at the end of consider their goals and exactly what they’d like to their internships. This has a lot to do with the accomplish during the time of the internship. Dr. preparation they’ve received in the classroom, but Mary Westermann-Cicio, Dean of the College of it also has to do with the kind of nurturing and Computer and Information Science says, ‘The most support they’ve been given at the internship site.” important factor in a successful internship is the dedication of our professional colleagues. I would Christine Persche, Librarian/Digital Archivist, also have to say that the Learning Contract allows Cooper, Robertson & Partners: the students to articulate those goals that are most “From a supervisory perspective, a successful important to them and to communicate those to the internship matches a realistic work need with an professional supervisor.’ eager and capable intern. The supervisor should clearly outline the objectives and expectations of Supervisors ask us what we expect from them the internship within a supportive and encouraging beyond the straightforward outcomes assessment atmosphere. In turn, the successful intern (student evaluation). Our hope, and the goal for brings to the experience the qualities of any good any successful internship, is that our students will employee - a willingness to learn and work hard be treated with the respect accorded a colleague, and a commitment to the process and ultimate goal. that they will be given challenging yet manageable Ideally, the intern has the privilege of experiencing a focused work environment and the supervisor has the honor of mentorship. This kind of relationship can continue to support both supervisor and intern throughout their professional careers.”

Jed Winokur, Project Archivist, The Winthrop Group: “Personally, it was really important that I experienced as many different aspects of archival work as possible while interning. The hands- on processing of a portion of an actual archival collection was an invaluable experience and also great for my resume. Equally as important was the daily interaction with archives staff and gaining an understanding of the general set-up of the archives, itself. Gathering information on what the day-to-day of an archivist looks like, while also seeing the challenges different institutions face, was also essential to the learning experience. Working under an intelligent and realistic archivist is a must, especially for someone like myself with little experience and who is coming from a job field far from the archives world. I think the best case scenario for an internship is one in which the intern gains a basic fundamental, hands-on

continued on page 10 Page 7

Interview with the Archivist: William Casari

By Ellen Mehling

William Casari is Archivist and Instruction Librarian at Hostos Community College in the Bronx.

The Hostos Community College Archives functions as the institutional memory of the college. The archives collects unpublished materials of permanent historical value including official records, correspondence, papers and publications generated by the administration, academic departments, faculty, staff, special programs and student organizations since 1970. Through its collections the archives promotes an awareness of the diverse ethnic and cultural history of this unique bilingual institution and the surrounding South Bronx community that inspired it.

The archives, a unit of the Hostos Community College Library, also maintains a comprehensive collection of works published by and about Eugenio María de Hostos, namesake of the college. (HCC Archives Mission Statement)

Ellen Mehling (EM) – Where were you born? in college… I was always interested in history; I Where did you grow up? took several American history classes and survey William Casari (WC) – Ah, where was I born? In courses but I don’t know particularly, childhood… Independence, Kansas. And when I was three no, I was always kind of interested in geography, I moved to Omaha, Nebraska. My Dad worked and maps and books but then in college I got a lot for Burroughs business machines and he got a more interested in history and then that’s how I got transfer, to Omaha, where…my family was from into archives, was through the history component. Lincoln, my mother and father’s family, so they So that’s where my heart is; it’s not in library were kind of close to where they’d grown up so…I science, although I like this, but my heart’s in the grew up in Nebraska. archives end of it.

EM – Do you remember much of Kansas at all? EM – So often archivists start off doing WC – Not really anything, just through pictures, something different, sometimes something and some home movies and we went back a couple completely different, and it’s always of times to visit but I was so young when I left I interesting to see how they found their way to don’t really remember anything at all. archives… WC – Right, well I studied…my major’s in EM – Was there anything in your childhood to journalism and minor in history so I didn’t plan on indicate an interest in history or archives? being an archivist but ten years went by and then I WC – God, childhood…um, well I always liked to went to library school. And the attraction was the read. I liked to read a lot and I had a grandmother archives component. who read to me and…so I always liked to read, I don’t know if that speaks to the history thing but… continued on next page Page 8

Interview with the Archivist: William Casari continued from previous page

EM – And that was where? EM – Yes, it is! So MIT would pay for you to WC – In Boston; I am a graduate of Simmons take classes at another school? College in Boston, from the Master of Science in WC – Yeah they had a really good tuition…it was Library and Information Science, MSLIS, with like $3500 a year so it almost paid for two classes. the archives concentration, which I think it’s…it’s quite a bit, it’s like four or five courses, so it’s a big EM – That’s very generous. concentration. WC – Yeah, it was great.

EM – So you started off in Nebraska studying EM - Your current position is Archivist and journalism and history; how did you decide to Instruction Librarian; how long have you been go to Simmons? working at Hostos? WC – Well that was interesting because it’s kind WC - I’ve been working here for four years. I am of a not-that-fascinating story; I was living in working on my second master’s degree in Liberal Boston and I was working as an administrative Studies; most of the classes have been in Sociology. assistant at MIT…and that was decently-paying Once I get my degree it may be time to reassess but not great and I knew I didn’t want to be an and decide if I want to do something different in administrative assistant my whole life, at least the future. the secretarial part of it, so I thought, ‘what can I do’? And MIT offered to pay for career counseling Hostos was founded in 1968 and chartered in 1970, – they did like once every three years they would so it is a relatively young school. The archives have pay up to $500 for career counseling and the been in existence since I’ve been here; before that career counselor suggested having a credential or the archival materials were stored throughout the a specialization would be a good thing to have, so school in various offices. New York State Archives we talked about it and I took one of those career Documentary Heritage Program grants funded the inventory tests and the Myers-Briggs and I think establishment of the Archives and the hiring of an Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory and…I sent assistant archivist. off for the Simmons catalog and read through it and it sounded interesting and I thought I would Right now I am the one staff member working in take one course and see, and then I took another the Archives; other responsibilities include teaching course… then I started getting into the archives information literacy and working at the Reference classes which is what I was interested in, and then desk. There is also one part-time assistant it got much better. Then I was almost halfway archivist funded by our fourth Documentary through and I just decided to finish. The best thing Heritage Program grant. was, MIT paid for at least half of it, and Simmons was across the street from where I lived… so that’s EM - What are some of the collections you the part that kind of like the no-brainer, it’s not have in the Archives at Hostos? like ‘Oh I researched, and I did this…and Simmons WC – The collection includes the usual founding came out on top’. It’s also the only library school in papers and charter, yearbooks, and course catalogs. Boston, and it was in my neighborhood, and MIT There is the Gerald Meyer Collection, which was paying, and I was like, ‘I’ll try it.” covers the history of the early years of Hostos, EM – So everything fell into place, it seems… and also the Museum of Contemporary Hispanic WC – And the courses then were, God, this was Art (MoCHA) Collection, which is the records of ten…this was twelve years ago, the courses then the Museum, which closed in 1990 and includes were $1800 a class, and by the time I finished I artist files, information about public programs think they were $2200 a course, so that, at that and exhibition catalogs. The Archives also has a time to start, that was almost a $25,000 degree. I collection of works by Puerto Rican writer, educator don’t know how much it is now. So to have more and patriot Eugenio Maria de Hostos (Obras than half of it paid for, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is Completas) and other materials about him as well. great!’ Right now the Archival space is sufficient for the collections, although more storage space is always needed. Page 9 EM – Who are the main users of the Archives visits to places like the new Yankee Stadium site and what are some typical inquiries? and the construction site that will become the WC – We had one Duke University student who Gateway Center, former site of the Bronx Terminal did nearly all of his thesis research on Hostos, who Market and the Bronx House of Detention, now used our collections and his thesis then won best both demolished. Other resources include the history honors thesis at Duke. Other inquiries are Bronx Historical Society and the Hostos Archives about past course offerings and college history. itself.

EM – I read a bit online about the ‘Grand EM – What do you like to do when you are not Concourse One Hundred’ proposal. How long working? has that been in the works and how did that get started? What are some of the goals of this WC - Biking; I do a lot of bicycle riding. I am going project? to do the “Tour de Bronx” this weekend, which is a WC – The ‘Grand Concourse One Hundred’ is an 40 mile bike ride. urban studies seminar that will coincide with the centennial in 2009 of the Grand Boulevard EM - Do you collect anything? and Concourse in the Bronx, where Hostos WC – Personal photographs, mostly. CC is located. It will include projects on local history, impact of the new Yankee Stadium and EM – If you could work at any archives, real or possibly research on Art Deco apartments in the fictional, what would be your dream job? neighborhood. There are a lot of Art Deco and Art WC – I would like to work in an archives with a Moderne apartment buildings built in the mid- media or moving image component. It would be 1930s and early 1940s, some in better condition great to work somewhere where you don’t have than others. I live in the neighborhood, in fact to constantly explain what you do and then I live in one of those Art Deco buildings. The justify why it’s important! I would like to make Concourse Centennial will form a cohesive element archival collections more integral to day-to-day for the students but they are free to choose among operations, not just anniversaries and exhibits. several research projects and will perform field Page 10

Internships continued from page 6 completed due to excellent supervisor has encouraged me to application of archival theory, professional guidance from join professional organizations such as the implementation of my supervisors and personal and electronic discussion lists, DACS and the production of an strong eagerness for becoming a and engages me in relevant EAD finding aid, which they can professional archivist.” discussions about the field. I then use to further understand believe that the mentoring aspect what they have been taught in Lesley Espenship, Student, Pratt of an internship, which provides the classroom. With the help of Institute, School of Information professional information and various internship environments and Library Science: encouragement, truly separates a I was able to gain a perspective “I believe a successful good internship from an excellent on the field which I then used internship depends upon a one. Preparation for the career to make the decision to earn an willing collaboration between ahead is a key attribute of a Archival Certificate - something both supervisor and intern. As successful internship, as today’s I had considered, but interning an archives intern, I expect interns are tomorrow’s archives helped me to solidify.” to be provided with enough professionals.” information to complete Sang Ae Park, Project Records my tasks, and also strive to A Wealth of Opportunities Manager, Town of Morristown, bring a willingness to work All responders described NJ: independently, to problem solve, internships as an opportunity “I think that archives internships research and most importantly, for students to apply their are one of the most helpful and learn. I feel I must be given a classroom learning, to develop valuable experiences in becoming balance of being taught and new practical skills, and to gain a a professional archivist. Through guided in constructive ways, better understanding of the field. internships, I have gained while being allowed the freedom Furthermore, they emphasize practical processing skills, to make mistakes and learn from the importance, of mentoring trained myself to arrange items them. relationships, both personally logically in a given subject and professionally. Interns field, gained comprehensive Another important aspect of the develop their skills and their understanding of the profession, internship experience is being professional identities through and learned to evaluate given the opportunity to work their internship experiences and researchers’ needs. Coursework on a wide variety of archives in the process, the institution at Pratt provided me with basic duties. This creates a broader benefits as well. and theoretical knowledge of understanding of the job of an archives. My internships, on archivist, which prepares me Rachel Chatalbash, Processing the other hand, were training for my future career. Also, it Archivist, Solomon R. sessions to enhance theoretical is important that the tasks Guggenheim Museum knowledge from school, and have I particularly enjoy, excel led me my goal of working in the at, or hope to improve upon Have you Subscribed to ART’s field. Creating processing plans, are considered, and that my Electronic Bulletin Board? selecting proper preservation responsibilities continue to evolve Post Job Listings methods, establishing series in a to accommodate my interests and Share News Bulletins collection, categorizing records, skills. Discuss Matters of Interest to the completing finding aids, and Local Archives Community encoding finding aids in EAD are Internships can provide a all skills I have picked up from wonderful opportunity to develop To reach the list, visit: my internships. I did not learn a mentor/mentee relationship www.topica.com/lists/NYART these skills in the classroom. between supervisors and interns. Here, you can join or read the list. Even doing labor-intensive work Throughout the course of my Once you have subscribed, you can in a dusty environment, I have internship, I’ve learned about post to the list either from the above become confident of my interests archival work in addition to web page or directly by email at in the field. I believe that my being offered a general overview [email protected] internships were successfully of the archives profession. My Page 11 REPOSITORY PROFILES Saving What’s Already There An Overview of the Brooklyn Navy Archive

An Archives Helps History Look Forward: Central Synagogue

Saving What’s Already There: An Overview of the Brooklyn Navy Archive

By Daniella Romano Chief Archivist, Brooklyn Navy Yard

Overview map of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, one year prior to decommissioning. 1965. (Image courtesy Brooklyn Navy Yard.) The Brooklyn Navy Yard is of the society that shaped it. West India Trading Company. located across on the East River The early success of the Archive They developed farmland and between the Williamsburg and is attributed to the continuing built a mill over an existing Manhattan Bridges. Today, it is support of the State Archive waterway. In 1781, real estate a vibrant and active industrial Local Government Records developer John Jackson and his park, with over 230 businesses, Management Improvement Fund; brothers purchased the land managed by the Brooklyn Navy to BNYDC senior management from descendents of the Rapelje Yard Development Corporation for support of the department’s family, built a toll bridge, a operating under mandate to growth beyond records shipyard and the 28-gun frigate create and retain industrial jobs management; and, to an invested USS Adams. In 1801, the in New York City. The mission community of Brooklyn, New Secretary of a fl edgling United of the Brooklyn Navy Yard York and national institutions, States Navy purchased the site Archive is to document the past historians and advocates eager to from Jackson to develop as one and present of the Yard, and to help us share this resource with of this country’s fi rst fi ve naval serve the BNYDC as it develops the public. shipyards. After 165 years of the Yard for the future. This The known history of service, the Federal Government particular parcel of land has the site begins with the Lenape, decommissioned the Yard in historically met the needs of the who found the natural wetlands 1966 and the City of New York nation’s military, and its aim a great spot for clamming. In purchased it for $24 million. now is to meet the industrial the early 1600s, furriers and Following a period of New York needs of Brooklyn and New York Belgian Walloons saw it was City industrial fl ight and decline, City. Since the earliest days an accommodating area to the Brooklyn Navy Yard numbers of colonial America, this site settle, and the Rapelje family are back up and industry is has been grown, reshaped and purchased land at the “Bend booming. resurfaced according to function in the River” from the Dutch and, as such, it acts as a mirror continued on next page Page 12

Brooklyn Navy the State Archive Archive Local Government continued from page 11 Records Management Improvement Fund to The Archive’s hire a part-time archivist flagship collection is to organize 2,200 cubic approximately 33,000 feet of rolled-up plans architectural and kept in two dusty rooms engineering plans dating along with paint buckets, from 1856-1966. The ladders and sundry other bulk dates correspond records. They got the to wartime for the grant and I applied for United States; peacetime the job. Upon hire, I typically meant periods requested a mask, gloves, of decline for this and and a Tyvek suit. This other naval shipyards. Above: Before: Brooklyn Navy Yard maps and plans. Early 2004. was not the corporation’s The primary collection Below: After: Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive, December 2007. first attempt at managing is essentially what these records; there were the Navy left behind in fact two prior attempts. when the Yard was The first was to hire an decommissioned, but engineer to go through there are many gaps in and label the rolls. In information. Luckily, the the 1990s our General Government keeps good Counsel undertook an records, and it appears innovative technological the majority went to approach to scan and the National Archive, to arrange the drawings College Park, MD and to within a facilities the Northeast Regional management database. Branch on Varick Street Neither venture was in Manhattan. Records ultimately successful, as of the Yard’s later period arrangement is the first went to the NAVFAC step to determine value Engineering Operations Yard, save for the extreme East and West ends, of the records, and for Command Archive at is almost entirely man-made. It is a tough site to that you really need the the Seabee Museum maintain because the water table inland as far patience and expertise of in Oxnard, CA. Other as Flushing Avenue is just a few feet down. The an archivist. plans and records, unless waterfront is built up on piles driven down over By September 2004, discovered in series at 100 feet to bedrock. Much of this work was done I was about three- NARA, seem to have over the past 100 years and maintenance of an quarters of the way disappeared. Some turn infrastructure that old makes use of historical through conducting the up on Ebay. A large records invaluable. Technology and standards simple inventory, and number might be up change, foundations are built and removed or built BNYDC hired me full- in the 10,000 square over. Subsurface information is critical to building time. It was already foot mould loft at Bath today, and soil samples, borings and test pilings apparent how much Iron Works in Maine, are phenomenally expensive compared to use of BNYDC needed these sent up to illustrate the historic records, so investment in building the records. The original operational value of the body of knowledge pays off innovatively and long- rush for information historic site as they were term for BNYDC. made for at least three considering its use in the In early 2004, Elliot Matz, BNYDC Chief requests a week, and we 1980s. Operating Officer hired archival consultant did not even know yet The Brooklyn Navy Gina Pollara to write a grant application to continued on next page Page 13 what information we had in the funding to grow the Archive by The cabinets, newly collection. Being an archivist and one-half. discovered F-numbers, and not an engineer nor architect, At the same time, Elliot the expertise of a trained I got as fast an education as I proposed the Archive be professional made access to the could from my colleagues. When permitted to purchase flat file plans and information much I had pulled materials together cabinets to house the documents simpler. BNYDC departments for a request, my colleagues, which were at that time laid out were getting their information and our consultant architects flat and in piles on a number within days instead of weeks, and engineers would go through, of tables in the 1,000 square and the plans were safely select what they wanted and foot Archive room. Though the housed. Everyone was beginning I would send out for copying. flattening made the plans more to understand the value of these Hoping to eventually provide accessible than they were in plans and their fragility. all services in-house, I asked rolls, lifting and shifting the So, now the plans were more everyone how they thought piles took extraordinary time safely housed, but no one could about information and how they and energy. We got approval to take them out of the Archive expected to find the materials purchase twelve cabinets and to use in the field. We copied arranged (provenance, though we applied for LGRMIF funding them, but were concerned about the sound approach in archive to purchase another 36 cabinets their safety and valuable time management, in this case was out at the same time as we applied spent with a vendor off-site. All of the question). I learned about to hire a second person with departments needed access to the various trades and disciplines trade expertise. When we got the information out in the field and discovered that most plans the award, we were pleased to be or distributed to contractors offer meticulous information over able to order the cabinets from working for BNYDC. We a broad spectrum. For example, a tenant on the Yard, the lowest understood the value of these a plumbing plan for Building 3’s bidder in the purchase process. plans and the idea of sending third floor might have electrical It was around this time I them off-site for any reason was diagrams to show where the came upon a serenditipitous find making senior management utilities are. An architect pointed at NARA on Varick Street. In worried. out to me that we might not have one box from Record Group 181, Our solution was to purchase many Building 3 electrical plans I found a few schematic plans a large-format scanner to scan but he could use what he found and a finding aid that listed plans as they were requested, in the plumbing plans. It was Naval Classification System and then catalog them in a clear we needed architectural “F-numbers”, labeled on almost Filemaker Pro database that and engineering expertise in the every plan we processed at the would be built internally by the arrangement process. We were Archive. This list answered a lot BNYDC IT department. just gearing up to apply for our of questions. F3 might clearly Gina Pollara wrote a third next LGRMIF grant. stand for Building 3, but what on successful grant application, Chloe Cerwinka, an earth does F623 stand for when and we were awarded the full architectural photographer who there has been no Building 623? amount to purchase an Océ had been working on a project Steam, F682 is High Pressure, scanner and create a part-time at the Yard, was planning to F623 Low Pressure. Now, it was scanner/cataloger position. leave an architectural firm to clear, we would stick with the Several people filled the position work part-time and focus on Naval Classification code. This over the course of the year, and her photography. She and I finding aid was not a definitive one stayed on to be currently had been exploring the Yard list but information derived by employed full-time by BNYDC. for months by this time, so she an earlier NARA archivist and Sara Fitzpatrick is finishing her could photograph and I could deciphering the F-numbers is MLS at St. John’s while working get to know the physical site still a work in progress. Between with BNYDC personnel, our illustrated in the collection. Gina it and Chloe’s expertise, however, consultants and contractors to wrote another winning grant we could avoid reinventing make information available. We application, and we received the wheel and get started on still get at least three document almost our entire request for arrangement. continued on next page Page 14

Brooklyn Navy Archive continued from previous page requests per week. Historical Society, we are officially launching an There are roughly 1,200 plans that are heavily oral history program, that was originally begun water-damaged and covered with mold. About 300 in partnership with local author Jennifer Egan; are so bad that we cannot unroll them so we cannot BNYDC funds the scanning and cataloging of an determine the information on them. Inspection early photograph collection of 17,000 images at the leads us to believe they are construction plans National Archive Northeast Region New York City for Piers J& K and Dry Docks 5 & 6, roughly half branch, where our equipment and needs have been the Yard that was developed during WWII. The generously accommodated by Regional Facility documents have both operational and historical Director Nancy Shader and the NARA staff. significance because on Pier K stood the largest Essentially, the Archive serves two crane in the world at the time of its construction, functions: first, to assist the Brooklyn Navy Yard the Hammerhead Crane lifted guns and turrets Development Corporation in fulfilling its mandate onto aircraft carriers built in the adjacent dry to create and retain industrial jobs in New York docks. For the fourth year in a row, we are City; and second, to share with the public the thrilled to receive LGRMIF funding. Additionally cultural boon that has resulted from gathering the Northeast Document Conservation Center together these records and ultimately the history (NEDCC) in Andover, MA will treat the drawings of a site that dates back to the earliest days of so we may ultimately incorporate them with the colonial settlement. Without the one, the other rest of the collection and fill significant gaps in would not have come about, because it is the use information. of history that keeps it alive. The Archive has Aside from the perpetual search and acquisition enjoyed incredible success early on, and that is of missing plans, efforts funded by BNYDC to fill due in large part to the New York State Archive the gaps have resulted in a greater body of cultural continued on page 25 memory. In partnership with the Brooklyn Page 15

An Archives Helps History Look Forward

By Anne Mininberg Archivist Central Synagogue

In 1993 the Central Synagogue Archives Committee initiated a project to have all of the 19thC Minutes, which are housed in our Archives, transliterated into modern German, and translated into English. These minutes consist of 1000 ledger pages handwritten in German, often interspersed with Hebrew and Yiddish words. The CK Bill photograph of the sanctuary building. 1872. (Image courtesy of project, accomplished over the last 15 years, went Central Synagogue.) slowly but kept its appeal by continuing to reveal interesting and worthwhile information about our and able, since this script was taught in German- congregation, Jewish life in New York and about speaking schools in Europe before World War II. New York City in general. The decision to do a Those here in the 1990s were already elderly. modern German transliteration along with the The person also had to have basic computer skills translation was key. As we went along we realized along with a great deal of patience. John Strauss, although many words and ideas have shifted the a grandfather of a Bar Mitzvah child at Central nuance of their meaning, we always tried always to offered to help us. He was a retired businessman, keep the sense of the original. Making the German who was educated in Germany and wanted to help available for future scholars to be able to refi ne our us in a way that also satisfi ed his intellect. His English interpretations if need be, without being work was exemplary; he was very proud of his able to read the archaic script enhances the long accomplishments and worked at it until he died. term usefulness of the project. Jules Schulback, a congregant and also a retired businessman who was educated in Germany, Central Synagogue’s Archives earliest became engrossed in the project. He handwrote out records date from 1845. These include some from many pages for which others then had to do the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim (founded in computer entry. These two gentlemen were able to 1839), which merged in 1898 with Ahawath Chesed do this as volunteers. Later, Inge Lasting Klepeis, (founded in 1846). The combined congregation was also German-educated, and a retired professor later named Central Synagogue. The handwritten of 19thC German literature, came to work for us script of these 19thC records is in a now archaic in a paid capacity. She was highly skilled in the form and much of the style of the language is no language but was not Jewish; therefore we helped longer used. Starting in 1899 the records were her learn many of the words relating to Jewish kept in English. A major hurdle was fi nding holidays and religious practices. people who could read this archaic script as well as the handwriting of the many secretaries who All along the way, consultations with our wrote the minutes over the years. We needed clergy, native Hebrew speakers, and scholars in people who were skilled in translation as well as several disciplines were needed to be sure that having very high caliber English skills. It was a situation of fi nding people who were both willing continued on next page Page 16

we had the best possible interpretations into rain damaged the interior. It was reconstructed English. We needed both knowledge of orthodox with the help of many of the archival records holidays and practices to understand the material of its original construction and many historic and the capability to read the 19thC Hebrew and photographs. The interior now has improved Yiddish references to get the full meaning. All of lighting, handicapped accessibility, and air these adjunct translators were invaluable to this conditioning. It reopened on September 9, 2001. project. Innumerable skills and support from many of Central’s The original ledger books multi-talented staff were also also required considerable invaluable. conservation. Northeast Document Conservation Center You can now easily read worked with us to make the about the many issues in New most useful and safest plan York City which concerned our for them. The conservation of congregation, its struggles, the largest ledger book, which and successes including the contains the material of the first decisions involved to build three volumes of the project the sanctuary building at the was conserved in 2003. NEDCC corner of Lexington Avenue made a microfilm master and and 55th Street, New York, service copies, CDs of the in which we conduct our original so it can be digitally services. The minutes also give accessed, and a facsimile copy much information about the of the ledger on paper giving community activities in which an extra wide margin at the the congregants participated head, tail and fore edge. They and the many social services made the gutter margin yet which they undertook for the wider so that the text can be benefit of congregants and the fully accessible on a copying

Jewish community of New York. Board of Trustees Minutes. 1872. machine with minimal stress on These minutes also highlight (Image courtesy of Central Synagogue.) the binding. This book allows the evolution of the congregation researchers to easily use the from its European orthodox traditions, its original text for reference and not do any damage reforming attitude and changes into what became to the facsimile or to the original ledger. The ultimately an American version of Reform Judaism. remaining ledgers are scheduled to be conserved soon in the same way. The 19thC minutes are now printed in five volumes as a research resource. Three volumes The sanctuary building is open for visitors each include the Board of Trustees Minutes 1864-1899; Tuesday and Wednesday from12 noon -2PM. Free one the Monthly and Special Meetings 1888- tours are given to the public on Wednesdays at 12: 1898, and one the General Meetings of 1867- 1884 45PM. No reservations are needed for individuals along with the 1845-1846 minutes of the group of or groups under 10 persons. Group Tours can be congregations which included Shaar Hashomayim. arranged through our Events Office at 212 838- An index has been developed for volumes I-III. 5122, ext. 3003. A fee may apply for Group Tours. Volume IV and V is to be done soon. With these Our website, censyn.org, has the latest information volumes our history is more accessible, and our of our services and special event schedules. ability to serve researchers greatly expanded. This substantial project was realized over the last The building, consecrated in April 1872 was 15 year with a great deal of volunteer dedication, made a National Landmark in 1975. It suffered a generous support from the Rubinstein Family devastating fire in 1998 which damaged the roof. Archival Fund, conservation support from the Gilder Water from the firefighters and subsequent heavy family and allocations of the Archives budget. Page 17 Reviews

laced interventions into our postmodernism and appraisal, assumptions of what constitutes identity and the law, the reader the foundations of our practice is indeed exhorted to consider the and the motivations behind our ways in which opening oneself up efforts to preserve the remnants to inclusion of the marginalized of historical memory. As Terry in the archival equation troubles Cook notes in his introduction the manner in which we to this compilation of essays, conceive of our main intents and Harris’ multidisciplinary and purposes as archivists. Never passionate approach to archives one to settle for a model of the demands a veritable paradigm archivist as simple handmaidens shift in the ways that we consider of knowledge and/or curators Archives and Justice: the premises behind what we of dust, Harris instead posits A South African do, “carrying archivists up out of a model of the archivist as a their traditional rhythms and set purveyor of difference, a subject Perspective. Verne Harris scores, to envision a new Future of politics who engages in the real with a foreward by Terry Cook. for our profession.” as well as documentary struggles Society of American Archivists, Although heady in his of the subaltern. 2007. 476 pp. evaluation, Cook’s words Indeed, Harris is at his speak directly to the rarity, best when, rather than simply Reviewed by Mario H. Ramirez. and therefore necessity, of explaining why he uses Derrida the type of interventions that and company, he uses the Often figured as technicians Harris attempts in his work. multifaceted analytical tool kit rather than thinkers, lovers By bringing to fore the work of at his disposal to interrogate of practice and the practical philosophers such as Jacques everyday questions of records rather than theoretical Derrida and Michel Foucault, destruction, police surveillance, ingénues, archivists by their and applying their thoughts political abuse and mnemonic own admission frequently on archives and memory to a censorship in South Africa. demonstrate a resistance to rethinking of archival theory Writing primarily for The the theorizing of their daily and practice, Harris seeks to Natal Witness, a newspaper process that risks arresting break with what he terms as based in Pietermaritzburg, the profession in a moment of a pattern of over reliance on Harris’ journalistic endeavors evolutionary stasis. Owing much “positivist formulations” in in particular, contained in the to the definitions and practical the archival world that have last section of the book, provide models posited by such figures heavily determined the primarily the reader with an insightful as Theodore Schellenberg and empirical focus of its training demonstration of Harris’ capacity Ernst Posner, as well their and consideration. Resisting this to use his training as an archivist own professional proclivities, tendency indicates to Harris a and his engagement with, for archivists are typically hard resistance to the profession’s a lack of a better term, post- pressed to reach beyond their insularity that not only delimits structualist theories towards current spheres of knowledge its receptivity to new ways of the revelation of new ways of and risk challenging what for thinking about itself, but also thinking. Although certainly them are a professional givens. its capacity to document all in evidence in his series of Into this admittedly tradition sectors of society. Throughout essays devoted exclusively to his bound realm steps the figure of this impressive compilation, work in South Africa, Harris’ Verne Harris. An archivist in which is made up of five sections ability to deploy the lessons he South Africa by trade, Harris has and includes twenty-one essays learned at Derrida’s knee is at gained notoriety in the archival on such varied themes as its most skillful when he uses world due to his deconstruction electronic records, description, continued on page 18 Page 18

The Rape of Europa. Directed by Richard Berge and Bonni Cohen. 117 minutes. The Rape of Europa the Nazi regime on art and cultural is a documentary based history through the extensive use Reviewed by Jennella Young. on by Lynn H. Nicholas’ of archival records, photographs book chronicling the and film footage. Viewers will systematic pillaging of hold their breath, whispering Europe’s cultural objects wishes of compassion and hope during the Third Reich. as photographs of a rabbi standing It was introduced at film atop of a mountain of Torah scrolls festivals throughout the taken from Jewish families killed country and remains by the Nazis linger on the screen; in limited distribution and as footage of the young Adolf around the country at Hitler’s watercolors, architectural alternative movie houses. renderings and models appear, viewers will find themselves This documentary looking for warnings of what is to Chaplain with Torahs presents a compelling (Image courtesy National Archives and Records come. Administration Archives in the Documentary Film, The retell of the impact of Rape of Europa.) The Rape of Europa Archives and Justice Review documentary does an excellent job on melding of deconstruction, continued from page 19 of illustrating the conflict between post-structuralism and archival the Nazi’s obsessive pillage and them unselfconsciously, neither theory for the uninitiated, this acquisition of cultural objects and justifying their usage or trying to book continues the conversation, their subsequent destruction of sell them to an archival audience, in tandem with special issues cities, European history and people. but rather giving of a perspective on archives and postmodernism that is different in its approach in such journals as Archivaria, It is a well researched documentary and methodology. on the possibilities for that features some of the world’s This is not to say that Harris’ rethinking questions of history, most revered archives and the interrogations of normative memory and archival practice archivists who curate and provide archival knowledge are not with the tools provided by access to the collections. necessary, but deconstruction, contemporary theoretical work as such, was never intended as in the humanities. Subject to the This documentary is about an object of study, but rather a disciplinary boundaries of history history, the attempt to decimate way of “reading” that could help and library science, the archival people, culture and memory, and open up alternative avenues of world rarely opens itself up to of course the phenomenal use of inquiry and perspective. Much a questioning of its own devices archives. like Derrida, Harris questions a by outside lines of inquiry. What literature and a discipline with Verne Harris does by bringing See the website for audio which he is deeply engaged, other insights is help point clips, more information leading to the asking of towards the implicit ambiguity about the author’s research increasingly in depth questions in archival thinking and to raise through international that are more demanding because the necessary questions that archives, historical timeline, there is an expectation that the will push the profession towards video clips, archival footage profession is capable of exceeding greater relevance. and links to prominent its boundaries and reaching stories about restitution: beyond its traditions. This is Mario H. Ramírez is Project www.rapeofeuropa.com. precisely why this compilation Archivist for the Centro de makes good, if not necessary Estudios Puertorriqueños at Jennella Young is a Graduate reading for the everyday Hunter College of the City Student at Pratt Institute. archivist. Serving as a primer University of New York. Page 19 ART News Archivists Roundtable 2007 Awards

Every year during Archives Week in mid-October, the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York presents awards celebrating professional achievement in three areas:

Outstanding Support of Archives Recognizing an individual or organization for notable contributions to archival records or archives programs through political, fi nancial, or moral support. Presented to EAI-IMAP Online Reseource Guide

Innovative Use of Archives Recognizing an individual or organization for use of archival material in a meaningful and creative way, making a signifi cant contribution to a community or body of people, and demonstrating the relevance of archival materials to its subject. Presented to Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery

Archival Achievement Recognizing an individual or archival program that has made an outstanding contribution to the archival profession, or a notable achievement of value to the archives community, its patrons or constituents. The recipient must be a member of the Archivists Round Table or an archival program operating within the New York metropolitan region. Presented to Brenda Parnes

Innovative Use of Archives: Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery was Many engaged in complex genealogical expeditions acknowledged for its comprehensive project of to locate and interview descendants. Several researching and restoring the tombstones of Civil from as far away as England, Germany and Spain War veterans buried there. Over the past 150 contributed family photographs and letters to years, many of the gravestones from this era had enrich these portraits published in Richman’s sunk beneath the grass, or names on existing plots book and accompanying illustrated compact disc, had become unreadable due to environmental Final Camping Ground: Civil War Veterans at damage. Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, in Their Own Green-Wood Cemetery historian Jeff Richman Words. organized what became a fi ve-year effort to The results are impressive: While it was trace and document Civil War veterans from the originally projected to discover 200 Civil War New York area interred at the site. He enlisted veterans onsite, volunteers amassed documentation hundreds of volunteers – genealogists, history for 2,298 soldiers. The U.S. Department of Veteran buffs, sometimes entire families – to undertake Affairs provided 1200 new replacement headstones the painstaking work of locating demographic and bronzes, which were dedicated as part of a information on possible inhabitants. Crosschecking well-attended Memorial Day ceremony. Moreover, 19th century burial ledgers, participants this project has inspired future efforts to recover searched government databases, enlistment additional Green-Wood veterans from all U.S. wars. records, necrologies and printed obituaries to cull biographical profi les of their selected soldiers. continued on next page Page 20 ART News

Archivists Roundtable 2007 Awards Elegant in design and easy to use, the continued from previous page Resource Guide’s interface is divided into three sections: Exhibition, Collection, and Preservation. This venture appealed to the Awards Each section offers best practices, case studies, Committee for manifold reasons, but most FAQs, sample forms, interviews with practitioners, importantly since this community-based initiative as well as budget and technical considerations. The restores dignity and recognition to forgotten Exhibition section helps users identify practical veterans of America’s deadliest war. Equally installation concerns such as media formats, signifi cant are the contributions of scores of display devices, video cables, and projection set lay researchers, who understand the value of up. The Collection component covers everything preserving civic records and personal ephemera to from acquisition to budgeting and documentation reclaim our shared history. As Jeffrey Blustein, (inventory, cataloging, numbering, labeling). The one of the volunteers, eloquently expresses, “This is Preservation section features condition reports, a work of historical rescue. History isn’t just about inspection, conservation and media migration. the rich and famous, it’s about all the forgotten Founded in 1971, Electronic Arts Intermix people, ordinary people who otherwise would never is a nonprofi t organization dedicated to distributing be known” and preserving media works by artists. It offers viewing access, exhibitions, public programs The award was presented by Richard J. Moylan, and educational services. Independent Media President, Green-Wood Cemetery, to Jeffrey I. Arts Preservation supports preservation of non- Richman. commercial electronic media through education and advocacy. Outstanding Support of Archives: EAI and IMAP merit recognition for the Online Resource Guide for Exhibiting, Collecting & Electronic Arts Intermix Preserving Media Art – an outstanding contribution and Independent Media Arts to the archival community. In creating this Preservation resource, they have provided both educational and Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) and Independent practical tools for handling complex and evolving Media Arts Preservation (IMAP) were jointly media issues. The citation was given with the commended for creating the Online Resource Guide recommendation that future funding be made for Exhibiting, Collecting & Preserving Media available to refresh and sustain this exceptional Art. This resource is accessible on the Web, and resource. is particularly helpful to archives and cultural heritage repositories with media-based materials. The award was presented by Dr. Howard Besser, As digital media continues to develop, a Director, Moving Image Archiving and Preservation corresponding need arises for information about Program, New York Univesity, to Galen Joseph- preserving and documenting new media. The Hunter, EAI; and Dara Kingsley-Meyers, IMAP. numerous and ephemeral media formats require expertise in identifi cation, terminology, migration techniques, assessment of degradation, and other Archival Achievement: specialized knowledge generally not found in Brenda Parnes archival repositories. Brenda Parnes has trained and advised The Resource Guide demystifi es the hundreds of New York City individuals and administration of media art collections where agencies in archives and records management. sophisticated technical staff is not available. An innovative and effective educator in new Although the Resource Guide is primarily intended technologies, Brenda is an archives evangelist to for media art, much information is applicable to single-channel video or computer media. continued on page 23 Page 21 ART News Archives Week Celebrations Around Town by Celia Hartmann Project Archivist, The Winthrop Group, Inc.

Various New York archival repositories marked Archives Week 2007 with special exhibitions and events. Two of them specifi cally, the National Archives and Records Administration and the Brooklyn Historical Society. recognized the efforts of volunteers and student interns in making important archival materials available to a wider public. National Archives and Records Administration

At the National Archives the District of New Jersey. Storehouse. and Records Administration’s Among the treasures from Northeast offi ce, an open house • From records of the Schooner NARA’s vaults on view only for on October 9 highlighted some Mary captured by the U.S.S. this event were examples of so- of their ongoing projects and Mackinaw in the Atlantic called Mediterranean Passports, showed some special “treasures” Ocean, checks, payable to allowing sailing vessels safe from its 100,000 cubic feet of ship’s Captain G.A. Johnson, passage through seas threatened holdings that are not usually for the sale of African slaves, by the Barbary pirates, each on display. Public Programs which contain the names of signed by a President and Specialist, Dorothy Dougherty the slaves. These extremely Secretary of State. Those on view gave a brief introduction to rare instances of slaves’ showed signatures of Thomas NARA , after which Nancy names are being entered Jefferson and James Madison, Shader, Director of Archival into a database for easier and James John Quincy Adams Operations, welcomed the retrieval. and Henry Clay group and Stacie Byas, Senior In summarizing the value Records Analyst, discussed • From the Voice of America of Archives Week events for records management issues. Project Master Broadcast publicizing the work and Then Archives Specialist Scripts, a 1952 broadcast collections of NARA available at Richard Gelbke introduced the in Vietnamese of “Tribute its Northeast region repository, volunteers, staff, and interns to Abraham Lincoln,” one Ms. Dougherty noted that “of the whose work in preservation, of the broadcast scripts 17 people who attended, 12 had processing, and indexing made in the collection for which never been to our offi ce before. possible the display of a variety identifying information is We love to fi nd new audiences of items: being entered into a database and these outreach efforts seem that will be searchable by to do well.” • From the U.S. Circuit Court language, title, and date. for the District of New Jersey For more information, contact Roll of Attorneys, 1790- • From a fi ve-year project -National Archives, Northeast 1911, a 1791 Attorney Roll to describe and enter into Region (New York City): 201 registering Elias Boudinot a database the more than Varick St., 12th fl oor, New York, - delegate and representative 22,500 photographs from NY 10014; phone (212) 401-1620 of the Continental Congress the New York Navy Yard or toll free 866-840-1752; fax from the State of New Photograph Collection, 1898- (212) 401-1638; email newyork.ar Jersey, and President of the 1940s, a 1918 photograph of [email protected] stockpile of bombs outside Continental Congress in 1782 continued on next page and 1783 - to act as counsel in of Bldg. No. 150: Ordnance Page 22 ART News Archives Week Celebrations Around Town continued from previous page Brooklyn Historical Society

To mark Archives Week at Navy Yard ID card and Brooklyn Historical Society, ephemera from the Yard’s four of its fall semester interns 150th Anniversary. created a small exhibition highlighting the collections they These student internship were have been processing. funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library • Kelly Chatain’s collection, a public denunciation of the Services that will underwrite the Henry H. Van Dyck paper’s management. 30 students over three years Correspondence, is participating in a semester-long rich with information • Brooklyn Independence internship at BHS, through regarding the U.S. Community Bank ended its GATEWAI program with Treasury in the years its independent existence the Pratt School of Library following the Civil in the community in 2006; and Information Science’s new War. On display were the bank has donated its archival studies certifi cate three colorful imprint records to the Historical program. Previous student proofs for the reverse Society, which has conducted interns have created fi nding sides of the $20, $500, oral histories former bank aids for several BHS holdings, and $10,000 1865 gold employees. Angela Perez perhaps most notably the certifi cates, as well as a assisted in coding the Sanitary Fair collections. letter from the Chief of interviews, and chose items the Currency Division refl ecting the bank’s baseball Archivist and intern discussing the certifi cates’ team, including a quote from supervisor, Leilani Dawson lauds design and efforts to foil Robert Vivo, two Savings the interns’ work for Brooklyn counterfeiters. Bank Championship signed Historical Society: “The baseballs, and a photograph archives would not be back • The Schroth Brooklyn Eagle of one of the teams. up and running if it were not collection, processed by Ilaria for the enthusiasm and skill the Papini, includes the records • The Society’s Brooklyn Navy students bring to the collections. of the last managing editor Yard Collections consist of I’m grateful for their efforts of the paper, Thomas N. several small donations from and am glad that the Historical Schroth, and documents the former employees of the Society is their introduction to labor disputes that marked Yard and their descendants. the profession!” the Eagle’s fi nal days. On Qing Shen processed these display were a promotional materials, the bulk of which For more information, contact document celebrating the cover the Yard from its -Brooklyn Historical Society: Eagle’s fi rst 100 years of heyday in World War II to its 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, publication and a Newspaper closure in the 1960s. Items NY, 11201; phone (718) 222-4111 Guild pamphlet titled Who on exhibit for Archives Week x 295; email ldawson@brooklynhi Killed the Brooklyn Eagle?, included Nathan Doctors’ story.org. Page 23 ART News Archivists Roundtable 2007 Awards continued from page 20 suggestions. Ms. Parnes’s advice and guidance were extremely public employees not trained as archivists. Since instrumental in obtaining the 1991 Brenda has been the Regional Advisory grants. Offi cer of New York State Archives for the New In addition to training and advising non- York City Region. In this role, she advises professionals, Brenda Parnes counsels professional government and affi liated agencies in the fi ve archivists about specifi c collections issues. She boroughs, and inspires ordinary local government has long been dedicated to the archival profession and school system staff charged with overwhelming and presently serves on the board of the New York archival responsibilities to produce extraordinary Archives Conference. She supports METRO as an results. observer member of their Documentary Heritage Brenda regularly conducts renowned and well- Program Advisory Council. Brenda also sits on the attended workshops on archival issues including Queens College Graduate School of Library and Preservation of Electronic Records, Conducting Information Studies Advisory Council, and is an a Records Inventory, and Disaster Planning and adjunct faculty member at the St. John’s University Response for Records Managers. These workshops division of Library and Information Science. help government agencies properly fulfi ll their Active in local history, Brenda is currently records and archives responsibilities. During a board member of Brooklyn Heritage, one these workshops and as part of her daily activities, of the partners currently developing the Brenda patiently explains diffi cult concepts and Revolutionary War Heritage Trail. In January policies, as well as fi elds questions ranging from 1999, she was recognized as an NYC Centennial records inventory to disaster recovery. Most Historian. Brenda Parnes is saluted for her importantly, she reassures those intimidated by longstanding support of the archival profession archival duties – sometimes via onsite visits – that and her enthusiastic training of archivists and they can accomplish proper management of their paraprofessionals alike. records. She also goes the extra mile to connect those who care for local government records to The award was presented by Christine Ward, professional archivists and records managers. Archivist, and Assistant Commissioner for Archives Norman Ringle of New Utrecht High School and Records, New York State. in Brooklyn sought funding with Brenda’s guidance. He declares, “Due to Brenda being Preceding the presentation of the awards, with me shoulder-to-shoulder all the way, we at a well-attended ceremony at the American have just received our third New York State grant Numismatic Society in downtown Manhattan, to preserve more than 50,000 records.” Eileen NYC Commissioner, Department of Records, Brian Antipas, Assistant to the New York City Register, Andersson, read a Mayoral Proclamation offi cially a fi rst-time grants writer who received two fully- declaring this to be Archives Week. funded New York State grants, comments: Brenda gave unstintingly New York Archives Week of her time, meeting with me is made possible in part on numerous occasions to through the generous support of assist in completing the grant The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation applications and assembling and the MetLife Foundation. them for submission. She Thanks also to the provided extensive advice on all American Numismatic Society the points that had to be covered for once again graciously hosting in answering the questions and this year’s event. was extraordinarily helpful with Page 24 Awards Committee Seeks Volunteers and Nominations for 2008 The Committee invites members to submit archivists, she says “We’re seeking to celebrate nominations for worthy colleagues, archival and publicize the archivist heroes and innovative organizations and innovative projects. Committee archival projects in New York City.” Chair Kenneth Schlesinger notes that “It’s a great The Committee does not involve a lot of work. way to acknowledge exciting work and sustained Its members meet twice during the spring – but contributions to our profession. Serving on this much of the work is conducted virtually. Meetings Committee is the highlight of my year and a are fun, informal, with snacks, Internet cruising satisfying means to give something back.” and plenty of gossip – from which the members What do they do, and how do they do it? The often get inspiration. According to Schlesinger, Awards Committee consists of a small group of “Oddly enough – and this is unplanned – we always individuals with a wide knowledge and interest manage to come up with an unusual thematic in the archival profession, its supporters, unity and harmony among all three awardees.” and practitioners. “While we actively solicit This year’s winners, he notes, “all made significant nominations,” Schlesigner explains, we rely on community-based contributions.” ideas through broad reading and professional If you’d like additional information or are networking. For this reason, we’re always interested in participating, please contact: looking for new members with fresh ideas and Kenneth Schlesinger, Chair perspectives.” Awards Committee Committee member Lois Kauffman suggests Leonard Lief Library “Tell us when you hear of an outstanding archives Lehman College project or initiative. Let us know about project 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West funders who merit special credit. Nominate Bronx, New York 10468-1589 colleagues who make heroic contributions to our 718/960-7776 field.” Echoing New York Times columnist Maureen [email protected] Dowd’s recent and oft-quoted characterization of

Meeting RoundUp: Fall 2008 November by Vanessa Cameron, Vice President, New York Archivists Round Table November’s meeting took place at Federal Hall National Memorial September making them available through where the National Archives The first meeting of the 2007- the OPAC. The Center for and Records Administration 2008 ART programming year Jewish History served as host. staff members discussed their brought us to the Center for public programming initiatives. Jewish History. Bob Sink, Chief October Tom Mills, Assistant Archivist Archivist and Project Director The Annual New York Archives for Regional Records Services for the Center, gave an overview Week Awards Ceremony at NARA, began the program of the Center’s ambitious project took place at the American by discussing the challenges of integrating its archival Numismatic Society in Lower and responsibilities of this collections into an Online Public Manhattan. Awards were outreach program. Lisa Rouse, Access Catalog. Laura Leone, presented to Green-Wood National Museums Coordinator, CJH’s Systems Librarian, gave Cemetery for Innovative Use of and Nancy Shader, Regional a presentation on the technical Archives; EAI Online Resource Archives Director for NARA’s challenges of integrating archival Guide for Exhibiting, Collecting Northeast Region, elaborated on metadata into a bibliographic & Preserving Media Art for their vision for the future of the cataloguing system. Finally, Outstanding Support of Archives, Northeast Region office. After Tony Gill, Director of the Gruss and Brenda Parnes for Archival the presentations Park Ranger Lipper Digital Laboratory, Achievement. See page XX Daniel Prebutt gave a lively and discussed his approach to for more details on this year’s digitizing objects and texts and awards ceremony. continued on next page Page 25

Brooklyn Navy Archive continued from page 14 ART News Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund, Gina Pollara’s skill, and NYU CREATES MASTERS PROGRAM IN the enthusiastic and engaged ARCHIVES AND PUBLIC HISTORY support of our Regional Archives Offi cer, Brenda Parnes. With Recognizing how a rapidly in the program include full- the support of BNYDC senior changing global and technological time historians and archivists management, in particular Elliot environment is affecting the at NYU, as well as archival and Matz and Andrew Kimball, the work of public historians and public history professionals who department has grown somewhat archivists, New York University’s currently work in the fi eld. beyond the scope of its original Graduate School of Arts and The program’s curriculum intended purpose. To share with Science has established a is designed to provide students the public what has effectively masters program in Archives and with a theoretical grounding become a “clearinghouse” of Public History. in such topics as memory, Brooklyn Navy Yard history, “The 21st century demands heritage, commemoration, we are restoring a historic that these professionals and historic preservation, and the building, scheduled to open in scholars have a broad education role of the archive in humanities the next 3 years to house the that will provide the necessary scholarship. Courses emphasize Brooklyn Navy Yard Historical intellectual engagement, contemporary standards Center and an accompanying conceptual tools, and practical and engagement with new exhibition. Finally, the Archive skills,” said Peter J. Wosh, technologies, as public historians is indebted to an invested director of the program and and archivists continually use community that recognizes a faculty member in NYU’s new methods and techniques and builds opportunities to Department of History. “This to engage non-traditional celebrate Brooklyn’s signifi cant new program at NYU will audiences. Students will work contribution to United States provide graduates with the collaboratively with NYU’s History. solid theoretical grounding, the Division of Libraries in the exposure to contemporary trends, areas of digital librarianship, Meeting Round Up and the collaboration with preservation, and collection continued from previous page broader communities necessary development. In addition, for future success.” the program fosters close informative tour of the building. Wosh, whose published involvement with New York Federal Hall National Memorial works include Covenant House: City’s array of archival and served as host. A History (2005), Spreading public history institutions. the Word: The Bible Business The new program combines December in 19th Century America (1994), two previous certifi cate programs The annual holiday party was and Privacy and Confi dentiality in archives and public history held at the newly renovated Perspectives: Archivists and that have prepared students MoMA Library & Archives Archival Records (2005), a for successful careers as Reading Room. The festivities co-edited volume, had been archivists, manuscript curators, consisted of plenty of food, drink, the director of archives at the documentary editors, oral socializing and a gift raffl e. American Bible Society and the historians, cultural resource Thanks to generous donations university archivist at Seton managers, historical interpreters, from the Municipal Archives and Hall University prior to joining and new media specialists for MoMA, many lucky attendees the faculty at NYU in 1994. He more than 25 years. won prizes. Those attending currently serves as editor of For more on the program, brought unwrapped gifts or print and electronic publications go to: http://history.fas.nyu.edu/ gift cards for children ages 5- for the Society of American object/history.gradprog.archivesp 12, which were donated to the Archivists, where he is an elected ublichistory Children’s Aid Society. fellow. Other faculty members Page 26

Reviews (cont’d.) Canadian women. Wouldn’t thou know? Working in Women’s The essays describe ‘Tis the soul’s highest privilege Archives: Researching difficulties encountered with below; Women’s Private archives of both famous A kind indulgence, by our Literature and Archival Canadian women, such as L. M. Maker given--- Documents Montgomery and Marian Engel, The mind’s perfection, and the Edited by Marlene Kadar and and those less famous, like stamp of heaven; Helen M. Buss Deborah How Cotton. I originally In this alone, the strength of 125pp. discovered this book due to its reason lies--- Reviewed by Penny Shima Glanz. connection with the editing of It makes us happy, and it Montgomery’s journals by Mary makes us wise. (p.36) I am neither a classically Rubio. Rubio’s contributed Kadar closes the essays by trained archivist nor a Women’s essay expresses, among other reminding the reader that as Studies scholar; rather someone frustrations, her difficulty to find scholarship and reconstruction who loves to read the published a source of funding allowing her of these lives grow, they will journals of her favorite authors. to edit and publish Montgomery’s “alter the way we read archival In this method, while looking for journals because male reviewers subjects in general, and the first volume of the Selected believed that Montgomery gender in particular” (p.115). Journals of L.M. Montgomery, “has a very limited appeal and Recovery, reclamation of lives I found a slender 125-page challenge” (p.52). Furthermore and quotidian experiences, volume, Working in Women’s the “shock” of Montgomery’s reclamation of writing, and the Archives: Researching Women’s journals shattered fantasies of ongoing rescuing of women’s lives Private Literature and Archival an idealistic life and provided and cultures from anonymity will Documents, edited by Marlene additional difficulties after assist us to understand a “part of Kadar and Helen M Buss, publication of the first volume our history and our present.” published by Wilfrid Laurier (p.65). University Press, Waterloo: 2001 The other essayists, while While this collection doesn’t (ISBN: 0-88920-341-5). Buss and united in “the conviction provide set answers to the Kadar have written on this topic that we are rediscovering a problem, the seven contributed in many of their other works part of culture that has not essays do highlight specific which are worth reading if one been appreciated a culture in difficulties associated with prefers a more detailed look at which women have inscribed working in these archives this topic. themselves” (p.5), bring a wide and support the necessity The book responds to the range of experiences to the of implementing changes to challenges scholars have faced collection. In reviewing the facilitate both Canadian women’s in researching literary women papers of Arian Engel, essayist archival research and research through essays written by Christl Verduyn found herself in this global interdisciplinary those performing research. in a conundrum echoed by her world. The issues and Traditionally one would pull subject—how to realign the exasperations of the essays echo research from diverse areas and conflict over interest in private similar cries found throughout piece together these fragments to papers with the knowledge of those in the archives world, form an accurate and fitting story a direct wish that attention be which include finding processed, of a whole. Today, this problem placed instead on published indexed, managed, and robust is exacerbated when trying to public work (92)? For Gwendolyn collections where women’s work learn the whole story of women, Davies and her experiences and life stories aren’t belittled. whose important papers have with Cotton, however, the historically been pushed to the difficulty was even greater with a Penny Shima Glanz is a side to make room for the “real challenge to find any material on candidate for the Masters work” of men. This problem has the author who penned the poem of Information and Archive proven a particular issue for “Recollection:” Management at Columbia those working in the archives of What Recollection is---oh! University. Membership Form

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